The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-01-10
nAnlYnr noOREDO DOUTHITCRENrKsAn THE JnNcX.HlS 4cT AhD-oM. lls1EMEn

and answered her indifferent questions, until she had succeeded in learning that he had written the letter at the Kings
 Realizing what his answer meant, and overcome by terror lest he be driv- en from her presence with the scorn and wrath that his presumption deserv- ed, he reeled and would have fallen, had he not managed to stay himself on the back of a chair. L As he did so his cloak slipped aside and the Queen saw that his left hand | was. bound up in eslinen bandage.s At the same instant her quick woman.s eye | saw that the lace on his sleeve was the | very same as the bit that she was hid 1 ing fin her bosom. In her trouble she put her hand to her breast and half | drew it forth. She recovered her pres- 1 ence of mind again instantly, but not before Ruy Bias had seen 1t.
 Let the Count of Garofa be led to l an apartment" said the Queen, rising. 'It is our will that he remain in Mad | rid in attendance on us for the pres ent." She signed to her attendants and retired.
 "Jackanapes" muttered a tall, thin man of about ffty-fve, whose gray mustache and fierce face showed the soldier, though his garb was of such exaggerated elegance that it made him look like a dandy, while the ridiculous abundance of ribbons that futtered around him all the way to his shoes would have proclaimed him. even to a stranger as an old flop. This was Don Guritan, Count donate, notorious throughout Madrid as Q squire of danes.
 Just now he imagined himself in love with the Queen, as all the court knew. By virtue of his post as Chamberlain he rivaled the Duchess d'A1buquerque in wherevef the Queen might be. there would be Don Guritan, standing In at tendance like an old heron.
 Scarcely had the Queen disappeared before Don Guritan stalked up to Ruy Bias and gravely compared swords: | What do you mean. sir 2" demanded the young man.
 Forty years ago." said Don Guri- tan. q killed a Itobleman who was | prouder than the captain of an ad- miral's ship. He had looked to near on lady loved. And after that Git was in 1866. some sixteen years after the firsD the Count of Iscola crossed my path in love. I slew him. And | later, about the year eighty. had cause to feel offended at a youth who was so rich that he had mules shod with pure gold. He rivaled me. I killed him. You, sir. are Don Ceasar de BaZan. 1 am Don Casper Guritan Aasslsey Guegarra, Count of Onate. Tomorrow morning at sunrise we will | meet behind the chapel"
 Well. sir" said Ruy Bias, coldly. | q will be there"
 Neither had noticed that the Queens confdante, Casilda. had remained in the room, listening. Unseen. the girl glided out and hastened to tell the Queen the interesting news.
 Within few minutes there was 1 the sound of a. key in a small door that led to the Queens apartments. The Queen appeared and stepped to- ward, Don Guritan with so gracious a smile that the old gentleman quite lost his shaky old senses with de- lighted pride. In her hand she bore a l casket which she set on the table.
 Smiling at Don Guritan she said:
 Don Guritan, desire service from you that l would grant to none except yourself I would have this casket carried forthwith to Neubourg. to my father, the Elector. I would have you start at one, this very night. The casket contains precious relics. There is no other hand to which I would in- 1 trust it."
 The Chamberlain looked proudly at Ruy Bias. He whispered:
 When I return we will settle our affair" and withdrew. Ruy Bias stepped backward, slowly, lowing low. and they left the Queen alone. She sank into a chair and said: No! I cannot bear that he should be killed"
 While the old grandee carried his loyal gout-racked bones over the awful | 500 leagues between Madrid and Neu- bourg, Ruy Bias, as Don Ceasar, be- came the court favorite. He was promoted from honor to honor. With | in few months he was made chief secretary to the council. Then he was invested with the Golden Fleece. | Finally he was made Duke d'Olmedo. and when he had attained this rank he was the unquestioned leader of the council ana became it's president