The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1910-11-25
on his shoulder. Just disappearing
through q door into another room.

Elizabeth. BIT she faintS at b sight OF
the ex%ecutiOner." was obliged to
carry her to u lounge. where | placed
her. tanning her until she came back
to consciousness. was surprised that
none. of the ladies' came forward to
assist her. Looking about for some Of
them. ] saw them all dancing attend.
ance on the old painted bag. with her
enormous ruttied collar aud bet!izcned
with jewels. She cast a glance occa-
sionally toward me and my charge.
and a more malignant scowl ! never
observed on the face of any human be-
ing. 1t seemed intended to warn those
fawning upon her that the slightest
sympathy with the Scottish queen
would he visited with q frightful re-
venge.
Mary opened her eyes and. seeing
me looking down ut her with intense
solicitude. gave me a responsive glance
that went straight to my heart. ]
could not but contrast her b%eauty-she
was the very image Of the portraits l
had seen of her prototype-with that
of the thin faced, skinny, wrinkled old
woman who was p%elsonating Eliza
beth. When Mary had sufficiently re,
covered to speak she begged Inc to 20
for wine. that she might be strength
ened by it. l told her that l would do
so If she would promise that my place
beside her should not be filled with
another cavalier.
mo fear Of that" she replied gloom
lily. no cavalier could be devoted to
me and live"
went to The supper Don and re-
turned with Il cup Of wine. What was
my astonislln,cnt to find everything
changed. Mary. whom | had left a few
minutes before on a sofa, was being
tried 90" treason. having aspired to
the croWn Of her cousin. Queen Eliza
beth. That the trial was a mock one
l did not doubt. 1t was certainly a
ro"krry. 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 g%rewSome."
said to one of the guests. IF the ac-
tors were not so intense in their parts.
the enactment of Il historical occur
renee at a masquerade would be Il
capital idea. l shall suggest it for the
next masquerade ball to which l. am
invited"
The man to whom l made tue re-
mark looked at me as if he did not
quite understand my meaning. then
walked away.
| strOlled into another room. A
group occupied it. consisting of Queen
Elizabeth and courtiers. The queen sat
at Il table. before her a parchment.
Scanning the document. she signed it
and handed it to one Of the men pres
ent, and lie carried it out of the ROOM.
These scenes were becoming so real
istic as to be positively painful. ! al
most wished myself back in my auto
mobile. facing the driving storm. But
the worst was yet to come. We were
all dancing a wild figure when sud
denly the stroke Of a bell brought ev-
cry II to a %standstill. It was fol-
lowed by others. Then from out one of
the rear rooms came a little process
sion. ut the head Of which walked
Mary. For the first time CHANGING to-
ward the other end of the room. | saw
a block similar TO the one shown to-
day in the Tower Of London on which
prisoners were beheaded. and |
o1,l,I7ln1n>1 Ok f1,n oyoo,1ffN,op c<on1irn
beside it. leaning on the handle Of his
ak.
"For heavens sake" l groaned.
they're not going to enact that
frightful scene. | hope! This is alto
too realistic. If l recommend
any such representation for a masquer-
ade I'll choose a more pleasing one"
AS ] 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 AL
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
)ne last beseeching look. ! started
forward to put Il stop to this frightful
representation. but was seized by two
men standing behind me and held in a
grip. Mary. seeing my intention
md its thwarting, gave me a last look
# mingled gratitude and despair. Then
the knelt before the block. the execu-
Toner swung the ak aloft. it descend.
I'd, and amid Il squirting Of blood the
read of the victim rolled to the floor.
l, tainted. When 1 came to my
several people in ordinary eos
:ume We're standing about me. looking
very anxious. l was in the ronm
where I had seen the tragedy enacted.
but not one of the masqueraders was
there. was lying on the couch Oh
which l had placed Queen Mary. in
view of the spot where l had seen her
executed. | looked for the block. for
blood stains on the floor. They had
"wherc the deuce am II" i exclalm-
ed.