The silver star., 1900-06-01

Prince, had followed Don into Tirah.
His orders had been to shoot Don, but
in the gathering dusk Of the nullah he
had mistaken Captain Derwent for his
intended victim. He had thereupon
! graphically reported Don's every word
and action to try to account for the ex-
element which led to the misdirection
OF his own rife: but the excuse had
weighed not at all with the naughty
potentate. whose imperious will had
thus been frustrated.
And the sepoy. with that blind devo-
ton to his master which is the In
dams truest point, had willingly faced
death. disguised as a seaman. again to
make attempt to carry out the Princes
desire.
She realized with shudder the aw-
full strength of her royal lovers deep
rooted jealousy. She felt anew the
agony Of remorse doublefold.
In vain Diana. with her larger faith
and greater endurance. tried to solace
her. She knew intuitively that Di, in
her noble abandonment OF self, would
'@'t eANi ih'Cu uCI EEltI lOT IHt IAIntI
who was dead in order to teach the
comfort Of repentance at the foot of
the cross to the living husbands suf-
fering soul.
And now Don was dying-dying!
and that supreme privilege would new
er be hers. She might never hold his
hand and say: 'If we confess our
sins, He is faithful and just to forgive
us our sins, and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness." She had told Don
she forgave him, yet she had hidden
him go and work out his own re-
pentance and salvation, bereft Of
earthly comfort and companionship-
Don, whose nature she knew was so
weak to resist temptation or endure
hardship. who knew nothing of the
strength of self-reliance or the trust in
a redeemer.
All. what was her forgiveness
worth?
Colonel Gordon from Gadie arrived
at West Cowes on the second day fol-
lowing Roddy's message of Don's con-
dition. Though his son undoubtedly
held the first place in the old laird's
heart, his nephew Don had ever re-
ceived large share of his affectionate
solicltude. and he was profoundly
moved by the young officers illness.
Yet 1t was he who resolutely drew
Lille from the sick room. leaving
Roddy and Diana to watch with the
nurse through that time Of dread crisis.
He saw the strength Of the girl wife
was all but sapping beneath the aw-
ful strain, both physical and mental:
and It was In those short. calm con-
verses by the wide seashore at the
brave old soldiers side that Lille
learned the greatest Of faiths secrets
He doeth all things we'll"
And 1t vas then-then, when her
heavy-laden heart had found relief In
submission to that Higher Will than
her own. the vital wave Of Don's life
having ebbed to its furthest limit, be-
gan to how back. The doctors verdict
went forth that Il was possible Don
might live.
oh. the agony then Of those nights
and days! those alternate hours when
life and death struggled for supremacy
and each hung In the balance!
Once more Lille lowered almost in
cessantly by Don's pillow. living only
In that hope Of the first look. the nrst
word Of recognition. She hungered fos
1t with an eager intensity that had nc
thought Of self In II now.
She longed to pour out in his ears
the comfort Of that proof Of the
Princes guilt and his own innocence
She told herself not even death could
appal her now II but that brief com.
munion Of souls might be theirs, fol
suffering had taught her even resigna.
tion's wondrous hope.
II shall 90 to him. but ne shall moi
return TO me-"
The sun was setting over the gresn
sloping hills and glinted on the Aeets
Of yachts and little boats In the har.
Dor and on the castle at Its mouth
Away beyond the dividing River Msdi-
ma rose Norris castle. with IL fall
parks extending to TIE shore, and stiil
further were Just visible the two
square turrets Of the little island home
Of the sovereign lady. Queen Victoria
II was fair. fair scene. and ~ LII.
lie stood at Don's window looking ou,
upon II. her heart swelied with min.
gled patriotism and emotion. All
surely God. who was 10 merciful
would grant that Don. too, might yst
revel In the fairness she now looked
onf
Then suddenly. ~ she turned, che
saw Don's eyes were open, and he was
casing upon her with the rapture Of
full consciousness which once before
lit his fnco on board the great steam.
or. She went 10 him and fell on hel
knees beside his bed.
MY darling" he said family, and
his weak arms went out TO her and
gathered her nearer and drew her head
down 70 her breast. where are wef'
he asked khan nftnr n ,,ns,,u.st - -