The Elbert County tribune., 1900-05-10


words Lille turned and would have
flown to Don's side; but at sight OF his
face she stopped short, paraiyzed with
amazement or fear or anguish. Which
was itY Had she followed the first i'm
pulse to fly to him and beg him to deny
this vile slander, what might Don's an
swer not have been7 But he saw her
hesitation and that spasm Of conflict
Ing emotions which swept her face, and
he strode forward, like a man who
knows his doom pronounced and goes
recklessly to meet II. realizing there Ii
no escape.
'I have heard, and 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
moment of passion had pointed my
revolver at his breast; but. as heaven
Is above us. know It was not my
shot. but rebel bullet which killed
him."
AN accomplice, perhaps?" 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 fixed
upon him with an agony that was
harder to bear than the fercest 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 a moment OF passion
moment l shall regret to my last
hour. do not know by what means
yon have got your Information; but to
accuse me of taking his life in cold
blood Will not sufrer-and defy you
to prove his death was by my handl"
81 have no desire to prove 1t fur
Z ther." was the contemptuous reply of
! the Prince, whose calm complaisance
now was as Intense MS was Don's hot
/ passion. Il have not the shadow OF a
doubt could do so II chose. My
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
I 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
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
a care!' All that could prove. Can
you deny it7"
For one instant there was tense al
lence, then Don's voice came. strained
and hard:
IF your sepoy could prove all this.
denounce me before the whole army7
And for what purpose was he follow
ing me from Pindi. may asR?'
You may" And the Princes snstle
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 were secret with
him alone until he had my sanction
to divuIge 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
iy to bring home your guilt to you,
and to humiliate yonder foolish crea-
ture. who might have been a princess,
and has made herself the wife OF fell
on. / have the honor to bid you both
adieu."
"Stayi" Don's voice shook with the
frenzy OF his passion. Il will allow no
man. not even Prince Clement Sing, to
call me by that namel Your sepoy
juryi"
Find him and prove that. by all
means. II you can" was the sneering
answer; for who will believe that the
shot to which you have confessed was
not, 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, 1t
seemed almost without breath or be-
ing. She was not looking at Don any
longer now. Her blue eyes were gaz-
ing into vacancy. with an expression
Of horror in them. as II they gazed in
reality upon that ghastly scene the
Prince had painted-her husbands re-
voIver pointed at her fathers breast.
The silence and the anguish OF 1t all
grew more than Don could bear.
'TAlfSei" he cried.
She made no movement II was as II
she had become unconscious OF his
presence or even life itself.
\ 'Idiliel For mercy's sake. Lille.
look at mel Lflliei Lillie,"