The Springfield herald., 1900-05-11
CHAPTER VIII.

words Lille turned and would have,
flown to Don's side: but at sight OF his
face she stopped short, paralyEed with
Amusement or fear or anguish. Which
was Il! Had she followed the hrst I'M
pulse to fly to him and beg him to deny
this vile slander, 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, and
he strode forward. like man who
knows his doom pronounced and goes
recklessly to meet 1t, realiEing there is'
no escape.
"I 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-denunciation he was
fated to speak.
"It Is true that was with Captain
Derwent at the time Of death; that IN
q moment of passion had pointed my
revolver at his breast; but, as heaven
is above US, know 1t was not my
shot, but a 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 flercest words
of accusation.
"Sir"-Don wheeled round now upon
his adversary. and his voice grew"
harder and stronger-"what did tell.
you was done in moment Of passion
moment shall regret to my last
hour. do not know by what means4
you have got your information; but to
accuse me OF taking his life In cold
blood l will not suffer-and defy you
to prove his death was by my hand!"
II have no desire to prove 1t fur
ther." was the contemptuous reply Of
the Prince. whose calm complaisanoe
now was as intense as was Don's hot.
doubt I could do so If chose. My
faithful sepoy, who follayed 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 to the motionless Lille.
He could swear that when Captain
r. 90
own suit, you deliberately fred your
revolver. and he fell at your feet, cry
ing: For Lilies sake, Gordon, have
a care!' All that could prove. Can
you deny 1T"
For one instant there was tense 81
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 l ask?"
You may" And the Princes smile
was not a 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 were 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, 81 fail to see the object of such
refined cruelty in bringing about this
this painful and untimely scene."
His tones broke little in spite Of
himself. The sight Of Lilies immov-
able features was killing him.
my object'-and now Prince Gle
ment Sing laughed shortly and moved
to the doorway-"my object was mere
ly to bring home your guilt to you,
and to humiliate yonder foolish crea-
ture who might have been n princess.
and has made herself the wife Of fel
on have the honor to bid you both
adieu."
STAY" Don's voice shook with the
frenzy of his passion. 81 will allow no
man, not even Prince Clement Sing, to
call me by that name! Your sepoy
shall be made to own 1t as per-