The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-01-20

IfI
 (Contfnued.)
 The worthy watchman had naught to do but<to obey. There was no ques- tioning an order given by so great lord as the Cardinal de Moreno him self. The good man discreetly with drew, His Eminence quietly waiting until heA was out of earshot.
 Now. child, have no fear" said the Cardinal gently. "Teil me-you wish to speak with the Duke of WessexT'
 She turned resolutely towards him.
 "You'1l take me to himr she asked. Perhaps" he replied. N great struggle must have been raging within her. Even through the gloom His Eminence could see her shoulders and breast working conyul- sively. whilst her breath came and went in quick. .feverish gasps.
 T have been watching in the Gar dens at night" she murmured at last. flor he is great lord and I dared not approach him by day. He saved my lifes sand can read the stars. see that great danger threatens hims - s "Oh! must warn him." she added In sudden outburst of passionate vehemence. must go to him' T must"
 Lord Everingham tried to .intefpose. but His Eminence restrained him with a quick touch upon his arm. The Car dinaFs hands were beautiful, white and caressing as those of a woman. deli cately scented and be-ringed. He passed them gently over the girls head, whilst he whispered softly:
 "So you shall. childs SO you shall sThen. tell mes - His Grace saved your life, you say2--and you are very grateful to him. of course' more than that, perhaps you love him very dearly, eh?' ."
 Whats that to you?" retorted the girl sullenly. i
 as if he would interrupt this curious interrogatory His loyalty to his friend rebelled against this prying into matters which might prove unpleasant for Wessex. That. the girl vas no Court lady out on some mad frolic was patent enough. whilst the passionate ring of her name. proved very clearly that she had seen him. and seeing him had perhaps learnt to love him.
 Who knows? Some secret intrigue. not altogether avowable. might lay at the bottom of this strange adventure. Everinghan's heart misgave him at the thought that Wessex's most open enemy should perhaps learn secret hitherto kept from all his friends.
 The girl on the other hand, seemed willing to trust the Cardinal, She re- Fpeated doggedly once or twice:
 You'll take me to him?s sat once? s1
 If I can." replied His-~ Eminence. still very protecting. very suave and 1 Kind, but not just nows . sEIis Grace | is with the Queens syou are too 1 sensible and earnest. I feel sure. to wish to intrude upon hims sBut will | you not trust me a little while?s Ss and I promise you that you shall see him"
 Nay! I've nothing to lose by trust ing you or anyone" she replied. "If | you do not take me to him. Til find my | way alone" ,l Come. that's brave independence But. child, if am to help you with His l Grace of Wessex, must at least know who, you are"
 They cau me Mirrab." l
 At the sound of the name Evering- ham started. One or two vague recol- | lections in connection with the sooth- sayer of East Molesey Fair seemed to be chasing one Another in his mind. 1 but he could not give them definite shape. - l
 Astrangel feeling. made up of un. easiness and shame, coupled with ex- him to go and pick up the watchman's lanthorn which lay on the ground close by.
 When he was near the girl again. he held 1t up and the light fell full on | her face. -
 Then he remembered.
 It was Mtrrab, the necromancer, the l Kitchen wench, used by a vulgar trick | ster to hoodwink some gullible bur gesses and their danes at a Village | Fair, but whom Nature had, in one | of her unaccountable freaks, endowed | with the same golden hair, the same | exquisite features. the same deep and | wonderful eyes as the most beautiful | woman at Mary Tudors Court, the | Lady Ursula Glynde. |
 The veil which usually enveloped | Mirrab's head had fallen round her shoulders, her dress was. of course, woollen stuff, open at the neck and short in the sleeves; the arms ana hands rough and clumsy in shape pe- trayed the girls humble origin. ana the likeness to Lady Ursula was com fined to the face and hair. But is was there, nevertheless; quite unmistakabie even bewildering to the two men wno were gazing-speechless-a this strange spectacle.
 Then Everingham put down the ian thorn. He dared not look at the Car dinal, half-fearing perhaps that the wild thoughts and schemes which nad suddenly dTlSSH HI AAAo AAAAhN eN this extraordinary freak of Nature. should have already found more definite shape in His Eminence's astute and far-seeing brain.
 strangely enough. at this moment, the practiced diplomatist, the willy and un- scrupulous Spaniard. met the more simple souled Englishman on common ground. and at once felt sure of his CO., operation.
 Both had the same end in view; which may have sprung up between the Duke of wessex and the beautiful