The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-01-10

Scandal. never choice in the Span- ish court, having it's tongue sharpened by consuming envy, hesitated not to attribute the sudden rise of this young sun to the Queens love; but all the spying eyes in Madrid failed to find any proof rAa
 Ruy Bias and the Queen, indeed. only on public; occasions of state. | So matters went Ruy Bias content | merely to look at the woman he loved. and taking up the business of govern ment furiously in order to crush the passion in his heart. No word came | to him from Don Sallnste.s Ehe King. | far from court willingly. permitted his Queen to have what fayorites she pleased.
 Six months had gone, when one day | Ruy Bias burst on the affrighted coun- | cil with accusations of robbery and em- bezzlement. Fortified with proof he drove the nobles from court. The Mar | quis de Priego, the Count de Camp oreal and their adherents were exiled: and with firm hand the man who had
 been lackey seized all the disordered | affairs of Spain and set about to re- | form them. l The great deed carried the Queen away. She had listened from her gal- | lery to his impassioned- accusations | of the men before whom every one had trembled till that moment. Meeting | Ruy Bias alone, she said words that | brought him to her feet. Madfy he | poured out before her all the story of his love and-she listened. .. s I Don Ceaser," said she, trmebling, T am the Queen to others, but to you henceforth I am only woman. know that your honor will respect my own. belong to you with all my heart"
 She stopped and kissed him on the forehead. The news of Ruy Blas's daring stroke brought Don Salluste to Mad rid in haste. The exiled nobles were his friends, by whose influence he had counted on returning to power. He hurried to the capitol in disguise and made his way to Ruy Bias. ''The time has come" said he, when you must obey my orders again. First, however, you must undo what you have done in council. Forsooth, you seem to forget that you are not a parsonage. but only a laclxey." Silently Ruy Bias listened. Then | Don Salluste proceeded to sound the young man on his relations with the l Queen. Instantly Ruy Bias was arous- ed Although he could not divine Don -Salluste's plan, his intuition told him that there was danger to her. He
 
 am still the all-powerful Minister" said he. "I can curb you"
 "Ah, yes" said Don Salluste calmly, q foresaw that. You forget the let ters that you wrote" .-.
 The two letters stood before the eyes of Ruy Bias In words of flame. They had been impressed on his memory ever since the strange day when he wrote them. Now all at once he un- derstood the undated letter that Don Salluste had called a love letter.
 If you do not obey me in every word" said Don Salluste, "the Queens name shall be dragged through every gutter in Madrid within twenty-four hours; and I will send her the letter his master as faithful servant" T will do as you wish," said Ruy Bias, heavily.
 '"rhat Is we'll" said Don salIuste, ''I plan g, happy fate for you. Nows go to the house by the palace and stay there, waiting for what shall be. See that you do not fail" l He departed as he had come. What shall 'do?" groaned Ruy Bias. 'I can see only one thing. At any risk the Queen must be warned not to. leave the palace. But whom can I trust with the message?"
 At this moment a page entered with note. It was from Don Guirtan. saying that he had returned and l awaited satisfaction. "He is loyal and devoted" thought Ruy Bias. Hastily he scribbled a note, begging the old soldier to lay aside his ehmity for a time and guard the Queen, as danger | threatened her. Especially" prayed he in his note. "beg her not to leave the palace, whatever message she may receive"
 He also scribbled a note to the Queen saying: Believe Don Guitan. Do what he advises" More he dared not write, tor fear of Don Salluste's spies.
 Don Salluste learned of Ruy Blas's message soon after 1t had been sent,