Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-23
I'm MARY'S REIGN.
Copyright. 1907. BY
EMMUSKA ORGY.

full. BY the Mass! the story was we'll con-
cocted. and 1 must congratulate you. fair
Bacchante" He laughed bitterly. IRON
lcaily. Your honor threatened,-by time
ly interference!-and 1 who feared for the
moment you might make full confession"
Confession of what? -you are mad, my
lord
She had drawn nearer to him. and for
the first time since the commencement of
this terrible tragedy of errors one corner
of that veil Of impenetrable mystery was
lifted from before her eyes. She did not
make even remote guess at the truth as
yet. but vaguely she became aware that
she and thus man whom she loved were at
some deadly cross purposes, were playing
at some horrible hide-and-seek wherein
they were stalking their life and happi-
ness There was something in his look
winch suddenly revealed TO that unerring
feminine instinct in her that his bitter
ness, his cruelty. his insults. had their
rise in heart overburdened with a hope
less passion. He the most perfect gen.
tieman. most elegant courtier of his time
did NOT even try to curb his tongue. when
speaking to her, who had never wronged
him. and who had nobly saved his life,
when he must know that she had done il
out of disinterested self-sacrifice.
Did he know that?
The question struck at her heart with
sudden, overwhelming power. The look
on him. his whole attitude. told her in a
vague. undefina BILE. ununderSta ndable way
that it was herself whom he loved: that
he despised her for something she had
not done, and yet that he spoke of her,
when he sighed after an illusion.
confession of what?-You are mad. my
lord!' she repeated wildly.
Ave madr' she said bitterly; "mad
when l feel the magic of your eyes steal
ing my honor away!-mad. indeed. for,
with fellow-creature'S blood still warm
upon that dainty hand, I long to fall on
my knees and cover it with kisses"
HIS voice broke almost in sob, now
that at last he had given utterance to
that which had weighed on, his soul all
these days. He loathed her crime, yet
loved her more passionately than before
Oh! eternal mystery of the heart of man,
Blood on my hands?" she retorted
violently; you are mad, my lord-mad.
l savi-A mans blood Did you not
then, kill Don Miguel to save her whom
you oved?-did YOU not suffer disgrace,
prepare for death. all because of her.
Did not lie for you? give up mine honor
mime all for you?-Is it 1 who am mad,
my lord. or your
Nay. an you will have it so, fair one"
he replied, trying to steady his voice
which still was trembling. "'tis l am mad
I'll believe anything. doubt everything.
mine eyes. mine earS-the memory of
you-as / saw you that night-Tll try to
remember only that / owe you my life
dened at the thought that you are beaut:-
full"
Ursula watched him with wild, burning
eyes. Was the truth dawning at last?
She. as the woman. was bent on know
ing what Law hidden beneath the express
sion of this debasing passion. He, as
the man. had fought battle and lost;
he loved her too madly. too completely.
to tear her out of his life His passion
had become base: he despised himself
now more than he had ever deSpised her,
but he could no longer battle against
that overpowering desire to fold her once
more to his heart. to forgive and forget
all save her beauty and the magic of her
presence.
But she-though loving. as ardently as
he-wanted the truth above all. Never
would she have accepted this degrading
passion. which would have left her for
ever bruised and ashamed. She muster
ed up all her energy, all her presence of
mind: it was her turn now to fight for
happiness and for honor.
Who knows what destiny fate would
have melted out to these two young peo-
pie. if only she had been left free
hand? Would she have brought them to-
gether or parted them finally and forever?
The tickle jade smiled upon them for a
moment or two. then allowed stronger
hand to lead her away into bondage.
So accurately had the Cardinal de
Moreno calculated his chance of final sue
cess that he himself was able to lead
the Queen of England to the great hall.
for the approaching ceremony, at the very
moment when Wessex and Ursula were
on the point of understanding one an
other.
Ursula had just uttered an energetic
and momentous:
INV lord!-"
She had stepped away from him. and
was looking him fearlessly in the face,
resolved to question and croSs-QueStlon
until she understood everything, when the
door was suddenly opened ana Mary
Tudor appeared. escorted by some OF her
ladies, and accompanied by his eminence,
the Spanish envoy.
1t was the stroke of a relentless sword
across the Gordian knot which she had
sought to unravel. sShe had only just
made up her mind to stake her all upon
a final throw of the dice-an explanation
with Wessex. He was still completely
deceived. She could see that what she
already more than guessed. he had not
even begun to suspect. The idea OF
gigantic misunderstanding had not yet
entered his brain; she would have brought
it before him. made him UNDERSTANDABLE
fate suddenly said no!
Fate or that cruel hand which pulled
the strings. that brought all puppets for
ward on this momentous stage! Inc cardl-
nal had darted a quick, anxious look on
Wessex and then had smiled with salts
faction. Ursula caught both look and
smile and also that sudden hardening of
the cardinals clever face. and knew that
her last chance had gone.
WesseX had seemed relieved when the
oueen entered. and Ursula knew that
never again would she be allowed TO see
him alone never again would she De able
to speak to him undisturbed.
Nothing flies more quickly than an
illusion when it is on the wing!
Nothing.-save happiness-when it be-
gins to slip slowly away. and tired hands
are too weak to retain it,