Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1935-04-06

| COURAGEOUS MARY,
QUEEN or SCOTS.
What is not to be explained is why
having determined upon Ny Lord
Darnley's murder, Of all available
methods the nnisiest, In every sense Of
the word, should have been chosen.
What need TO blow him I'D with gum
powder? What need to murder him at
alp The Queen could have impeached
him for high treason and 50 substan-
tiated the impeachment that Darnley
would have died execrated whilst her
justice was acclaimed. But she had
hesitated, because 10 punish DarnIey's
treachery was no longer all her object.
There was her love for Boutwell,, q
matter neither difficult to understand
nor easy to condemn. She may have
known him for a libertine, q rough
tongued, violent border ruffian. But
young handsome, audacious he had
been In every emergency her champion,
to promote whatever was her viii. And
when he had done her viii by removing
Darnley in the decorating manner that
had shaken Edinburgh, physically as
well as morally, her impotence OF the
fruits betrayed her.
Accusation grew from whisper into
outcry. The Queens husband had been
murdered by the Queens lover.
In Scotland. I.ennox Darnleys father,
was father also of the accusation. In
England, Darnley's mother was deaf
ening the ears of Queen Elizabeth with
cries for justice The despised Darn
ley became q sacrificial victim on the
altar Of guilty love.
Appalled,, the Queen Of Scots must
yield to all their urgings.
Since Lennox accused him, let Len
nox come and prosecute But being |
permitted TO bring no more than six at |
tendants with him, Lennox, for fear Of ]
assassination, stayed away.
There being in his absence no ac-
cuser, no witnesses and no evidence,
Boutwell, was pronounced not guilty OF
a deed which none doubted he had
performed, and Parliament confirmed
the acquittaI on the morrow. On the
morrow Of that Boutwell,, In high spir-
It's, sought the Queen, and found her in
an intimate little room Of Holyrood
Palace. Spring was 1aggard that year,
and the day-a Sunday-was cold and
gloomy.
The leaping flames from the logs on
Inc hearth set glow upon BothwelI's
orange doublet, flashed upon the heavy
gold chain across his breast, struck |
ire from the jewel in his ear. F:
The golden-headed young Queen, all
n black save for the white fur on the
edge of her short mantle, had risen
eagerly to receive him, dismissed her
aides.
he moved to her with swift, 1.-the }
race, an air of triumph in his swarthy
ountenance.
God save your grace" with flour
IN he preferred parchment. q
he glanced over his shoulder at the Y
rras that masked the doorway. From n
he gallery beyond to which her ladies I
ad withdrawn came triu Of laughter v
iuted by the closed door.
Tread for yourself, sweetheart" he +
rged. ii
She moved aside to sink into the tall b
acked chair by the hearth, and scan
ed the parchment. 81
When at last she looked up, her face n
as blank with astonishment. Smiling, q
: explained the document.
9 o Al
He had hidden the mobiles and prel- 1
es who had composed the Parliament y
supper last night at Ainslie's Tav- u
n, where, as he announced with grim
two hundred Of his hag- al
Itters had formed a guard Of honor 10
There was good cheer. am not mig Il
rdly when I play the host. And these te
J thirsty men. We were merry. When
M