Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-11-12

Mary opened her eyes and, seeing
me looking down at her with intense
solicitude. gave me a responsive glance
that went straight to my heart.
could not but contrast her beauty-she
was the very image of the portraits
had seen of her prototype-with that
of the thin faced. skinny, wrinkled old
. woman who was personating Eliza
beth. When Mary had sufficiently re-
covered TO speak she begged me to go
for wine. thatshe might be strength
ened by it. told her that would do
so If she would promise that my place
beside her should not be filed with
another cavalier.
NO fear of that" she replied gloom
lily. NO cavalier could be devoted to
me and live"
went to the supper room and re-
turned with a cup of wine. What was
my establishment TO find everything
changed. Mary. whom I had left few
minutes before on a sofa. was being
tried for trea son. having aSpired to
the crown of her cousin. Queen Eliza
beth. That the trial was a mock one
mockery. for nothing was proved
Nevertheless the judge-the host-pro-
nounced a sentence Of death against
the accused. Then the court broke up
and the spectators scattered.
IF this were not so grewsome," l
said to one Of the guests. "if the ac-
tors were not so intense in their parts.
the enactment of "a historical occur
renee at a masquerade would be a
capital idea. shall suggest it for the
next masquerade ball to which / am
invited
The man to whom / made the re
mark looked st me as if he did not
quite understand my meaning, then
walked away
/ stroiled into another room. A
group occupied it. consisting of Queen
Elizabeth and courtiers. The queen sat
at a table, before her a parchment.
Scanning the document, she signed it
and handed it to one of the men pres
ent, and he carried it out of the room.
These scenes were becoming so real
istic as to be positively painful. 1 al
most wished myself back in my auto
mobile, facing the driving storm. But
the worst was yet ITO come. We were
all dancing a wild figure when sud
denly the stroke of bell brought ev-
cry one to q standstill. 1t was fol
lowed by others. Then from out one of
the rear rooms came a little process
sion, at the head of which walked
Mary For the first time glancing TO-
ward the other end of the room, / saw
| q block similar to the one shown to-
day in the Tower OF London on which
state prisoners were beheaded. and /
shuddered at the executiOner standing
beside it, leaning on the handle OF his
ak.
"For heavens sake" I groaned.
they're not going TO enact that
frightful scene. l hope! This is alto
gether too realistic. If 1 recommend
any such representation for a masquer-
ade III choose more pleasing one"
AS l glanced about me and saw seri-
BUSINESS depicted on every face. some of
Queen Mary's attendants weeping. the
queen herself pale as death, Mary ad-
vanced to the block and Invested her
self of whatever Of her clothing would
interfere with the death stroke. Then
she turned her eyes full upon me with
one last beseeching look. | started
forward to put a stop TO this frightful
impersonation. but was seized 10y two
men standing behind me and held in a
firm grip. Mary. seeing my intention
and its thwartinE. gave me last look
of mingled gratitude and despair. Then
she knelt before tie block. the execu-
toner swung the AK aloft. il descend
ed and amid 2 squirting of blood the
head Of the victim rolled TO the floor.
L tainted. When l came to my
senses several people in ordinary cos
tune were standing about me. looking
very anxious. | was in the room
where | had seen the tragedy enacted.
but not one of the masqUeraders was
there. was lying on the couch on
which l had placed Queen Mary. in
view of the spot where l had seen her
executed. I looked for the block. for
blood stains on the floor. They had
vanished
Where The deuce am I?'' exclaim-
ed.
Luckily not frozen" was the reply.
They told mo that I had been found
asleep in my automobile. had been car
ried TO the house in which l was and