Avon Modern Short Story Monthly #36 — page 15: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

_— HISTORICAL NIGHTS’ ENTERTAINMENT 5 so that none might hereafter charge her with complicity in what should follow. ae I hope that in this I do her memory no injustice. It is thus that I read the sequel, nor can I read it in any other way. She found him abed, with a-piece of taffeta over his face to hide its disfigurement, and she was so moved—as it seemed—by his con-— dition, that she fell on her knees beside him, and wept in the presence of her attendants and his own, confessing penitence if anything she had done in the past could have contributed to their estrangement. Thus reconciliation followed, and she used him tenderly, grew. solicitous concerning him, and vowed that as soon as he could be. moved, he must be taken to surroundings more salubrious and more befitting the dignity of his station. Gladly then he agreed to return with her to Holyrood. “Not to Holyrood,” she ‘said. “At least, not until your health 1s mended, lest you should carry thither infection mag ht to your little son.’ “Whither thén?” he asked her, and when she ‘seutoned Craigs millar, he started up in bed, so that the taffeta slipped from his face, and it was with difficulty that she dissembled the loathing with which the sight of its pustules inspired her. “Craigmillar!” he cried. “Then what I was told is true.” “What were you told?” quoth she, staring at him, brows knit, her face blank. A rumour had filtered through to him of the Craigmillar belek He had been told that a letter drawn up there had been presented to her for her signature, which she had refused. Thus much he told her, adding that he could not believe that she would do. him any hurt;” and yet why did she desire to bear him to Craigmillar? “cc . . ‘“c Pal You have been told lies,’ she answered him. “I saw no such letter; - I subscribed none, nor was ever asked to subscribe any,” which in- deed was literally true, “To this I swear. As for your going to Craig- millar, you shall go whithersoever you please, yourself.” He sank back on his pillows, and his trembling subsided. “I believe thee, Mary. I believe thou’ld never do me any harm,” he repeated, “and if any other would,” he added on a bombastic note, = Gomichbooks cor