The Saint Paul globe., 1899-04-30

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sUfhcient for Castemane. She had decided;
chance had favored ner, for his sake to risk
no stain on her reputation She had met
him casually at Victoria Station, when re-
turning from visit to a friend, and they
had driven to her home together, afterwards
proceeding to the French Ambassadors,
where he had left her"
That was all; no betrayal of that nights
Journey that would have saved him from the
imputation of a premeditated crime, nothing;
and it was with pale, stern face and a great
bitterness surging in his heart that Castle
maine stood up for his defence.
After a few questions briefly and quietly
answered, came the question of the day,
when he was asked to state his movements
on the evening of the attempted murder, and
his object in remaining in London after hay
| ing received instructions to proceed at once
for Russia, journey not undertaken until
the following morning.
To this question, listened to with breathless
expectation, there was no reply. The prose-
cutting counsel repeated the query.
Il decline to answer that question: was
the quiet reply, occasioning no little surprise
Castlemaine's manner was firm, his tone de-
cisive.
istrate, gravely. Remember this point is of
very Weighty impoI tance.''
No answer.
you still refuse tc do?"
! Il do" answered Castlemaine, firmly.
The question was passed over to another
What brought you to Victoria Station at
u o'clock on the night of the twentieth
where, according to the last witness, she met
you there by accident?"
| Again no answer.
d1smay, pervaded the whole court as the
prisoner stood there and calmly refused to
utter one reply, while the sea of faces round
expressed medley of conflicting feelings.
The Duchess of Craymore was looking
white but relieved. Lady Kathleen sat pale,
with passionate soon. The magistrate and
jury were grave the prosecuting counsel
amazed.
There was practically no defense
Meanwhile, the Earl of Krailin, knowing
more fumed with unavailing vexation
Bah! that fellow is simply throwing away
all chance of clearing himself for the sake
iof some wretched selfish woman" he NUT
tered, savagely, in his clear hard voice to
his daughter, while his glance fell with with
ering contempt on the duchess, who, after
leaving the witness box, had taken a seat
In the row before him.
She caught the words and the look for both
were clear and an expression of pain and
Il humiliation crossed her simple features
while, moved by sudden impulse, she
turned and leaned towards him.
i - dc. you think then, my lord his silence on
Fl this small matter will go against HMM
. fact, would have any weight towards his
.I IconVietion?' she whispered hurriedly.
Everything" he whispered back. decided
Ily. "Why, my dear duchess this is the great
point against him, and unless this woman
know there is a woman at the bottom of
this wretched business-will come forward
and behave as an honest creature and not a
coward clear this mystery of his shirking
the journey, and explain to the court why
he remained in London when he ought to
nave been we'll on his way to Russia, that is
to say crossing the channel, when you by
chance with significant smile, met him
at Victoria, nothing will clear him. though
everybody knows he is innocent"
1t was then that the one excitement Of the
mcnotonous trial arrived, and the astonished
silence was broken.
Rising slowly from her seat, white to the
lips, trembling but determined, the bereaved
duchess stood up and begged permission of
the magistrate to interrupt the proceedings. :
L wish to say that the statement 1 made
a snort time back is slightly inaccurate" she
said, in her low, clear voice; "and to add
that simply motive of chivalry has pre-
vented the accused from .tating his where
aoouts on the evening of the twentieth. And
am, at this moment, ready to declare my
oath, that according to the instructions of
the last noble witness, the accused did under
take at once the Journey to Russia: but,
meeting myself by accident at Dover, he at
my earnest petition, nut his own wishes on
one side, and accompanied me back to Lon
don.
"Ycur worship, until you command me I
will say no more; but that the incident Of
his return to London was simply due to the
chlvalry of an honorable man to a woman
who had claimed his protection. If, however,
you desire witnesses to prove the veracity Of
my story. shall be able to name them
1 So she had spoken at last-risked her repu-
tation, cleared his name, atoned for the past.
Was it we'll?
The Earl Of Kra1lie thought so, as he fell
back in his seat and wiped his hot brow, with
a sigh of satisfaction and self -congra tulation
that gave way to one Of intense consterna-
ton as Lady Kitty, in a dead swoon, fell
heavily against his shoulder.
CHAPTER TX.