The silver star., 1900-05-11
CHAPTER VIII.

Vk4AK WW vAAAs
"He 10 here TO snsweri"
As the Prince spoke those fateful
words Lillte turned and would have
Bovn 70 Don's side; but q sight oe his
lace she stopped short, paralysed with
kmasement or fear or anguish. Which
was Il? Had che followed the flrst Inn
bulse to ny 70 him and beg him 70 deny
his vile slandef, what might Don's an
Bwer not have been? But he saw her
hesitation and that spasm Of conflict
Ing emotions which swept her face. and
he strobe forward. like man who
knows his doom pronounced and goes
recklessly to meet It. realising there 10
no escape.
"r have heard, and l will answer" !"
came his deep. rich tones.
He spoke NO other words Of greeting
10 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.
1T Is true that was with Captain
Derwent at the time Of death: that in
o moment Of passion had pointed my
revolver at his breast: but. a. heaven
is above us. I know It was not my
shot. but a rebel bullet. which killed
him."
AN accomplice. perhapsf" suggested
the Prince. with a 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 hxed
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 vodce grew
harder and stronger-"what did tell
you was done In moment Of passion
a 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 will not sufler-and I defy yW
to prove his death was BY my hand!"
II have no desire to prove II fur
ther." was the contemptuous reply oe
the Prince. whose calm complaisaocs
now was ~ intense as was Don's hot
passion. II have not the shadow ot .
doubt could do 20 II chose. Ny
faithful sepoy. who folloved you whom
You left Pfndi 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 d.
clared you would kill both myself and
Captain Derwent sooner than allow
this lady 10 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 Ared your
revolver. and be fell At your fest. cry
Ing: For Lilies sake. Gordon, have
= carel' All that could prove. Can
you deny itf''
For one instant there was tense -
lence. then Don's voice came. strained
and hard:
II your sepoy could prove all this,
why did he not como into camp and
denounce mo before the whole army? /?
And for what purpose was he follow
Ing me from Pindi. may I askf"
You may" And the Princes smile
was not pleasant one to sse. you
must know. Captain Gordon. where ono
Of our royal house loves. II u not Gus
tomary for another man 70 lift his
eyes. Ny Jealousy Of you was reused.
and my sepoy was sent to watch you
and warn Captain Derwent Of my dis
pleasure. A. for your ilrst 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 ~ an hon.
orable soldier for the rest Of your nat
ural iifs."
The supreme sarcasm Of the Princes
words was lost upon the haggard man
who faced him.
Since you arc 20 generous" said
Don. with some calm scorn in his voice
plso. Il fall 70 ses the object Of such
ehned cruelty IN bringing about thls-
his painful and untimely scene."
His tones broke . little in spite Of
'imself. Tho sight Of Lillie's immov-
ble features was killing him.
MY objsct'-and now Prince Gle
nent Sing laughed shortly and moved
o tho doorway-"my object was mere
to bring home your guilt 70 you,
nd to humiliats yonder foolish cfsa-
are. who might have been . prlncsss,
nd has made herself the wife Of Q fol-
q. have tAs Aoeor 70 bid yoa both
dieu."
"stayi" Dons voice shook with ths
ensy Of his psssioA. n will allow No
an. not evsn Prince Clement Sing. "a
vi me hy that nAmei Your sspoy
pail b. nads 70 ewn it - . per-
pryi" =
"Find hin aad prove that. By I'll
eans' II ~ eaa." was the snssrins
aswer; "foe Who Win believe that thu
acs 70 whisA you have confessed VA
W' - ~ says, the shot which caused
JoDt0lD nnaupaAAba A>AAA9 uneannA