The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-02-19

iy. s.and now. my friends, I'd have you believe that twas not idle curiosity which hath brought me here beside you. But yesterday. stood like you. accused of offence against the law oI the land. have known the sorrows and humiiiatfons of a public trial. by Her Majesty's grace. you have escapeu that trouble this time, and have U at heart that all of you, who, like my self, have passed through prison doors, should not again be tempted to break the dictates of your lawgivers. Hun ger and sorrow are evil counseIioTs. ,.s. Though know naught of the one, Ia have you think sometimes of me as one who has tasted of the bitter cup of sorrow, and. thus thinking. I'd have YOU pray to God for mercy on my soul and on that of one who is more sinful more misguided than yourselves.
 It was q strange little homily. thus delivered without any affectation. py this high-born gentleman. to his fel- lows in sorrow. They did not per haps altogether understand him. but Tn his own quaint way he had appealed to a conlradeshfp of misery, and the hearts of his hearers went out to him in vague feeling of pity and rever- ence.
 They had no need to call for liar gesse." for with his own hand he w9s aiTeauy ulStEtU0ttuk 80tu tV e&f>-H - - whom he had asked prayers.
 .tGod save your Graccw muttered men and women as one by one their rough palms closed over the munificent dona- tions.
 The ladies and gentlemen on the ter race had all watched this ifc<le scene from afar. After awhile the curiosity of all these gay idiers was stili iur- ther aroused. Some of them wished 10 watch 1t a little more closely and began slowly strollin9 down the terrace steps towards the quaint group, made up of all these miserable vagrants, surround ing the imposing, sahle-ciad figure or the Duke.
 The Queen herself. attracted by the novelty of the spectacle, and her heart eyer yearnins for the near presence of fine man she stiil loved so dearly, turn ed her steps towards the marble basin, with His Eminence. the Cardinal--ever a faithful attendant---by her side. When Mary Tudor, closely followed by her ladies and courtiers, thus reach- ed the scene where the little drama was being enacted. they saw His Grace standing somewhat irresolutely beside the huddfed figure of a woman. whose tawdry drapines and matted brilliant hair presented q strange contrast to the dull greys and browns of the other people around her.
 aWfit thou not hold thy hand out to me. wench?" his Grace was saying somewhat impatiently. T would fain help thee as 1t hath pleased Heaven l should help thy companions in misfor- tune"
 The servitor who had stood close by all this while, lest the people prove too fmportunate or troublesome, now came up to the woman, and, less benevolent ly inclined than His Grace. he caught hold of her. somewhat rudely by the shoulder:
 Come. wench. wake up" he said roughly; think thou His Grace hath moro time to waste on thee. She seems somewhat draft, so please your Grace" l" added the man with 8 shrug of the shoulders. @and hath not spoken since her arrest"
 ''Who is sheT'
 "Some vagrant or worse. so please your Grace. She was arrested a fort night ago, and hath. never been heard
 ''Wilt look up, wench?" said wessex gently.
 under her breath.
 .'Dare notg Why? I'll not harm thee"
 @'Tis Ihave wronged thee Jso.'
 wessex laughed lightly. Clearly the poor wretch was demented, but he would have liked to have put some scrupulous person should rob her Of his gift. Therefore he said as kindly | as he could:
 T forgive thee gladly any wrong thou may'st have done me and now wilt look at me in token that thou'rt no more afraid"
 There was silence for few moments. | rrN. l. f.w.w& wsrkk kfA Rfa | gifts in their hands, scared, too. by the ! presence of so many lords and ladies
 among whom they, however, had mol | yet recognized the Queen, all retreated 1 into the background, leaving Wessex 1 and the strange woman alone and 1 isolated from their own groups. his rich black doublet and fine mantle and plumes contrasting strangely against the dank, mud-bespattered white dress | of the unfortunate vagrant.
 What a quaint picture did they 1 present, these two, whose destinies 1 had been so closely knit. No one l spoke. for everyone felt that curious
 unexplainabIe awe, which falls upon | the spirit of every man and woman when in the presence of an unfathom- | able mystery And that mystery had such solemn ring in it when she | said: Iris have wronged thee so!'
 In the very midst of this awec l silence, the woman suddenly threw
 back her head. brushed the hair back l from her face and looked straight into
 the eyes of the Duke.
 She was wan and pale with hunger
 smears of mud spoilt the beauty of hel | features. but there was a look ever
 now in that face which made Wesse1 | recoil with horror He did not utteI word but gazed on as if ghostls
 vision had suddenly appeared befor,
 him and was mocking him with itl
 terrifying aspects.