The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-01-10

1 full well that want is low door that forces the tallest to bend down the most. But Fate has ebb and flow" Nay" said Ruy Bias passionately. | T have been overwhelmed by . dread- | full thing. This hateful livery which ! I wear today for the first time covers l within me something that consumes
 mel Listen, zafari. you that were as my brother when we were poor but | happy. Since I have been with Don | Salluste. dwelling in that little secret ! mansion of his near the palace, where there are none but two mute black ! servants, I have seen the Queen pass from court to church. many times. And, | oh! the life of that poor thing is one long weariness. Think what it is for
 one so young, so radiant. to live in this dull court of hate and hypocrisyf
 To be married to a king--a fool an
 imbeciiei A creature already old at | 30. unfit to live. unfit to reign!
 What misery for one so young. SC. | fair. to be married to the Second i Charlesi Poor creature! She loves a | she loved it in Germany. learned i of that.as Zafari. each day I go a league 1 to Characterized. the only place where | 1t grows in Spain. At night scale
 the wall around the royal gardens and
 at risk of my life lay the blossoms on
 her favorite bench. Brother. brother. | pity mel Last night dared to put .
 letter among the fiowerst I. a iackey,
 love the Queen!.
 | Even Don Ceasar. who feared neither
 man nor devil, recoiled step and look ed at his friend with staring, bewiid- l cred eyes. Recovering hfmsaif he
 caught his hand. Before ne could say
 word. Don. Sailuste entered the room.
 He advanced softly, looking at the two | v0nnr man wifh nrofaund aftAntfon
 In one hand he held a plumed hat and
 sworj. which he laid on an armchair. | In the other he held a heavy purse | which he carried to the table.
 ''The devilt' muttered Don Caesar,
 when he saw Don Salluste. "The fox
 must have been listening to usl Well.
 what matter"
 He turned to the table and handled the ducats delightedly. Don Salluste
 slowly and silently stepped backward. watching carefully that Don Caesar and Ruy Bias should not be looking. As soon as he was sure that he was | unobserved. he opened a little door at his right. Three alguazils dressed fin
 black and armed with swords. appear | ed in the opening. Don Salluste point | ed to Don Caesar.
 When that man goes hence," said | he, ''seize him silently. carry him to the seashore and sell him to corsairs | for Africa. Pay no attention to his claims. They are mad. A thousand
 plastres for you when you have obey ed"
 The door closed again. Don Sal- .luste, watching the two young men
 with the light of great idea in his
 eyes, said to himself: "It will io, it
 will do. They are near enough alike. Indeed. 1t Is striking"
 Come. Ruy Blas," said Don Caesar. 'sTake half this gold. Come, be free.' Ruy Bias shook his head, Don
 Caesar gathered the money into a bag and said: "Adieuw The afr of the
 of freebooters and the friend of
 thieves. sgs
 Scarcely had he gone when Don Sal-
 luste approached Ruy Bias and asked: Has any person in Madrid seen you
 in this livery7' ~ s.F.Q 1 When Ruy Bias answered in the
 negative Don Salluste ordered him to
 take off his coat. "close the door"
 said he. Now sit down and write.
 You shall be my secretary today and
 write a love letter for me. You see
 that I hide nothing from you. It is
 to a woman whom I admire most in
 tensely. Now write: Great danger
 threatens me. My Queen alone. can
 save me. by coming to my house to-
 night. If she fails, I am lost. My
 heart, my reason, my life, lay before
 at the end of the avenue. One who is
 devoted will be there to open the | door!' now sign it Caesar" Ruy Bias looked puzzled. "She will understand" said Don Salluste. "And now. Ruy Bias. wish to better your condition here. Write once more: L Ruy Bias, serving man of the most l Map .io nf gage to serve him faithfully on all oc-
 casions as a servant true Now sign your name and date."
 He folded both letters and put them | into his portfolio Then he arose and l took up the sword which he had laid on the arm chair. Lifting the rich.
 painted silken scarf over the young
 shoulders. T declare" said he. you
 look a nobleman every inch"
 The next moment footsteps approach i ed the door. "They are coming" said
 Don Salluste. 'The Queen will be here
 soon' Quickly he unfastened his cloak and threw it around Ruy Bias | just as the door opened to admit the immediately stepped toward him, hold
 ing. Ruy Bias by the elbow. Yet me present to Your Grace" ssaid he, "my cousin, Don Caesar, Count of Garofa"
 Ray Bias, too bewildered to speak
 bowed silently. Don Salluste led him l from grandee to grandee, introducing l him and explaining his history in l snatches here and there, till everybody knew that this was the young spend
 thrift, long thought dead, returned to
 redeem his name. To the old Marquis de Santa Cruz. Don Alvar de Bazar l Benavides, a kInsman, he whispered | that he would pay the prodigal's debts | and Begged that he be helped In his designs to gain good place at court | for the young man.
 There was whispering and joking.
 The wild history of Don Ceasar was 1 well known in Madrid; but the spend thrift had not been seen in ten years l Few of those en at court had known 1 him. Those who had been acquainted
 with him were not surprised that time | and change should have altered him from the dissipated lad that they re- | called.
 1 "The Queen" cried an usher.
 l In magnificent attire, under a canopy l of scarlet velvet supported by four
 gentlemen, while ladies and pages
 walked before and behind, the beauti-
 full Maria de Neubourg entered the l great chamber. Ruy Bias trembled as he gazed at her. His knees seemed to
 give way. His heart stormed.
 He was aroused by Don Salluste. who
 picked up the plumed hat and set 1t 1 on his head "Coverw said he. You
 are a grandee of Spain, Don Ceaser."
 What would you have me do."
 asked Ruy Bias. his brain a-whirI. l The scene seemed to him delirious