Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1900-05-03

uoWn 10 Ion SIDE; Dut at Slgnt OF nj
face she stopped short, paralyzed will
amazement or fear or anguish. Whicl
was It? Had she followed the first i'm
pulse to fly to him and beg him to den!
this vile Islander, what might Don's an
swer not have been? But he saw he
hesitation and that spasm Of conflict
Ing emotions which swept her face, anC
he strobe forward. like man wht
knows his doom pronounced and goei
recklessly to meet 1t. realizing there |.
no escape.
Il have heard. and | will answer.
came his deep. rich tones.
He spoke no other words of greeting
TO his untoward visitor. He looked
neither at him nor his wife. but
straight before him. as II he saw writ.
ten there the self-denunclation he was
fated to speak.
1T Is true that I 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 1t was not my
shot. but rebel bullet, which killed
him."
An accomplice. perhaps?" suggested
the Prince. with sneer.
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
harder to bear than the fiercest words
Of accusation.
"Sr'-Don wheeled round now upon
his adversary. and his voice grew
harder and stronger-"what ! did tell
rou was done in moment of passion
moment 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 I will not suffer-and | defy you
TO prove his death was by my hand"
Il have no desire to prove 1t fur
ther. was the contemptuous reply of
the Prince, whose calm complaisance
now was as intense as was Don's hot
rN'NAo@As nav hOt lHt SlduOW Oh
doubt l could do so IL chose. My
faithful sepoy. who followed you when
you left Pindi for the camp. and shad-
owed very 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-
elared you would kill both myself and
Captain Derwent sooner than allow
this lady to become my wife,
He bowed to the motionless Lille.
He could swear that, when Captain
Derwent repeated his refusal to your
own suit, you deliberately fred 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.
III 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 pleasant one to see. you
must know, Captain Gordon, where one
OF our royal house loves, 1t is not Gus
tomary for another man to lift his
eyes. My jealousy of you was reused
and my sepoy was sent to watch you
and warn Captain Derwent of my dis
pleasure. As for your first question
your movements We're a 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. Il fail to see the object of such
refined cruelty in bringing about this
this painful and untimely scene.p
His tones broke little in spite of
The sight Of Lilies immoy-
able features was killing him.
My object"-and now Prince Gle
ment Sing laughed shortly and moved
TO the doorway" object was mere
ly to bring home your guilt to YOU.
and to humiliate yonder foolish crea-
ture. who might have been a princess.
md has made herself the wife of a fell
IN. l have the honor to bid you both
ldieu."
STAY" Don's voice shook with the
frenzy oil. his passion. 81 will allow no |
nan, not even Prince Clement Sing. to |
all me by that name! Your sepoy
shall be made to own it as per-
ury!"
Find him and prove that, by all
means, II you can" was the sneering
answer; for who will believe that the
hot to which you have confessed was
lot, as he says, the shot which caused
iaptain Derwent's death? repeat,
our ignoble secret is safe with me-"
The Prince waited for no reply. For
! long moment there was silence-a
ilence full OF the bitterness of
leath.
Lille still stood there motionless, 1t
eemed almost without breath or be-
ng. She was not looking at Don any
ongeri now. Her blue eyes were gaz-
ng into vacancy. with an expression
Il horror in them, as II they gazed in
eality upon that CHASTITY scene the
'rince had painted-her husbands re-
oliver pointed at her fathers breast.
The silence and the anguish Of 1t all