The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1935-04-19

well be such as to render a victory as
embarrassing to you as a defeat"
It followed out Of this, to the sur
prise Of those on the heights, that IN
stead of the attack for which they were
well prepared, they beheld a small COM
pany OF horsemen advancing under q
flag Of truce.
To Mary Stuart, in her short red pet
ticoat, seated IN a stone wall by the
roadside, came the perturbed French
man.
He bowed low under her astonished
eyes. "Serviteur, Madame. I have warn
ed the lords that this is a thing that
will grieve the King, my master"
"You did them a kindness there" said
she. Her garb might be unqueenly, but
her spirit was royal enough.
81 cannot deceive myself that my
warnings have been needed"
why then have you troubled to
Gomez"
Her tone increased the distress in his
countenance. TN the hope that blood
shed may be averted."
well talk of that when they have
laid down their arms"
ITO that, Madame, I have failed to
persuade them. They offer you alter
natives"
Goods mercy!" she flushed. "They
offer :. Oh, but let us hear their in
science then"
Either that your Majesty abandons
your husband, or else that my LORD
Boutwell, will maintain a challenge to
single combat, which he nailed on the
door of the Tolbooth at Edinburgh, and
so decide the ISSUE"
"And you excellency dares to carry
such a message!"
"Madame!"
She rose. go back to them. Go back
to those rebels, perjured knaves, who
themselves acquitted him of the crime
of which they now accuse him, VINO
themselves signed a bond to uphold his
marriage and by that emboldened him
to the violence he used with me. For
this violence it was for me to pursue
him, and to pursue them, who are his
abettors. But since I have forgiven
him and taken him into my favor, 1t IS
not for them to NEEDLE. So bid them
submit and sue on their knees for
mercy if they would have it."
Monsieur du Croc was in despair.
Mon Dieu, Madame, but that, in their
present temper, they will never do"
1902" She looked at him in angry
silence. Then: There is no o to
be said, Monsieur. I thank you for
coming. You have leave to return"
But Boutwell,, riding up at that mom-
ent delayed his departure.
He came lightly to the ground despite
his armor, and stood, a powerful, dom
inant figure, to learn what brought the
envoy.
Gathering fresh hope, Monsieur du
Croc repeated his message.
1T is answered. It is finished" said
the peremptory Queen.
But Boutwell, did not heed her. His
bold eyes we're on the Frenchman.
$50 that their quarrel is only with
me them"
"Of their loyalty to her Majesty, I
have their assurance"
1.-THE assurance of these perjurers!"
she ragged. what is it WORTH"
And then Boutwell,, in n Of his
tempests Of angers, stormed for all to
hear him. They were all false, treach-
erous, lying hell-hounds, each greedy
Of power for himself. Their hostility,
which today was aimed at him, could
equally be aimed at any other who
stood in his place.
Monsieur du Croc was diplomatic.
THAT I can believe. They may well be.
But today it is your lordship who &C.
cupies this enviable place. And today
their quarrel is with you"
$50 be it, then" Monsieur du Croc
could but admire his vigor and his
courage. II agree to their terms. Let
them send forth a champion who is
my equal in rank, and I'll waive my
privileges as her Majesty's consort. I'll
meet him in the field and prove their
treachery on his foul carcase."
The Queen stood before him with
eyes that blazed through tears. "This
is my quarrel, and his excellency al
ready has my answer. The lords shall
yield, or they shall take their chance
in battle. Not another word ON this,
Monsieur du Croc. I order you to go
at once"
Monsieur du Croc departed.
But the day passed its hot meri-
dian, and the afternoon wore on, with
out movement from the enemy. The
lords might have known that to be
victorious they had merely to remain
inactive.
There were some wine-casks in the
rear of Bothwell's army, and to these
his men were drawn by the heat and
the lack of better occupation. Stern Or
ders to return to the lines bred a pas-1
sively mutinious spirit. The wine
brought torpor. It began to occur to
them that the weather was too hot for
fighting; and those who perceived it
skunk away to shadier places. Others,
ON the flanks, were taking advantage
Of the undeclared armistice to frater-
nize with the enemy.
Desertion is an infectious disease. BY
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