Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1897-1902, 1900-05-25

words Lille turned and would nave
flown to Don's side: but al sight of his
face she stopped short parllyzed with
amaze ment or fear or anguish. Which
was It? Had she followed the first i'm
pulse to fly 10 him and beg him TO deny
this vile SANDER what might DOn's an
swer not have been? But he saw her
hesitation and that spasm of conflict
ing emotions which swept her face, ana
he strobe forward, like 4 man who
knows his doom pronounced and goes
recklessly TO meet it, realizing there IS
no escape.
4 have heard, and | Will answer,
came his deep. rich tones.
He spoke no other words Of greeting
70 his untOward visitor. He looked
neither at him nor his wife, but
straight before him. as if he saw writ
Ten there the self-denunciatiOn he was
fated to speak.
1T Is true that ! was with Captain
Derwent at the time of death: that in
moment of passion | had pointed my
revolver at his breast: but. as heaven
Is above us. | know it was not my
him.
An accompiice. perhaps suggested
the Prince, with s9eer.
Lille had spoken no word. She
stood as motionless as one turned to
stone; and though he would not meet
her eyes. Don felt them to be fixed
upon him with an agony that was
Of accusation.
SIr'-Don wheeled round now upon
his adversary. and his voice grew
harder and stronger-"what l did tell
you was done in moment OF passion
moment I shall regret to my last
hour. | do not know by what means
you have got your information but to
accuse ME of taking his life in cold
blood l Will not sutherland defy you
10 prove his death was by my hand"
Il have no desire to prove it fur
ther,' was the contemptuous reply OF
the Prince. whose calm complaisauce
now was ds intense as was DOn's hot
passion. Il have not the shadow of a
doubt | could do so if | chose Ny
faithful sepoy. who followed you when
YOU left Pindi for the camp, and shad-
owed every step you took whilst you
were there. could testify TO each word
Of your last converse with Captain
Derwent. He could tell how you de-
clared you would kill both myself and
Captain Derwent sooner than allow
this lady to become my wife"
He bowed 10 the mOtionless Lille.
He could swear that, when Captain
Derwent repeated his refusal to your
own suit, you deliberately fired your
revolver. and he fell at your feet, cry
ing: For Lilies sake, Gordon, have
care All that could prove. Can
YOU deny it,"
For one instant there was tense ST.
lence. then Don's voice came, strained
and hard
If your sepoy could prove all this.
why did he not come into camp and
denounce me before the whole army?
And for what purpose was he follow
ING me from Pindi. may | ask?''
You may" And the Princes smile
was not a pleasant one 20 see You
must know. Captain Gordon, where one
of our royal house loves, it is not Gus
tomary for another man TO lift his
eyes. Ny Jealousy of you was reused
and my sepoy wac sent to watch You
and warn Captain Derwent of my dis
pleasure. As for your first question.
your movements were secret with
him alone until he had my sanction
TO divulge them. He Will never receive
that sanction. for now. with this un-
fortunate marriage, my interest in the
subject has waned. You may rest as
sured you are free to pass as an hon.
orable soldier for the rest OF Your nat
ural life"
The supreme sarcasm Of the Princes
words was lost upon the haggard man
who faced him.
Since you are so generous" said
Don, with some calm scorn in his voice
also, II fail TO see the object of such
refined cruelty in bringing about tbs
this painful and untimely scene"
His tones broke little in spite OF
himself. The sight Of Lilies immov-
able features was killing him.
Ny object"-and nov Prince Gle
ment Sing laughed shortly and moved
10 the doorway object was mere
~ 20 bring home your guilt to Won
and to humiliate yonder foolish crea-
ture. who might have been a princess
and has made herself the wife of a fell
on. / have the honor to bid you both
adieu"
Stay" Don's voice shook with tha
frenzy OF his passion. II will allow no
man. not even Prince Clement Sing. 20
call me by that name, Your sepoy
shall be made to own it as a per-
jury"
Find him and prove that. by all
means, II you can, was the sDeering
answer; for who will believe that the
shot to which you have confessed WIS
rot. as he says, the shot which caused
Captain Derwent's death? repeat.
your ignoble secret is safe with me-"
The Prince waited for no reply. For
a long moment there was silence-a
silence full OF the bitterness of
death
Lille still stood there motiOnless. it
seemed almost without breath or be-
ing. She was not looking at Don any
longer now. Her blue eyes were gaZ
ing into yarapcv with pXDrpSSiOO