North Park union., 1900-05-18

He Ii here to answer"
As the Prince spoke those fateful
words Lille turned and would have
flown to Don's side; but at sight Of his
face she stopped short, paralyzed with
amaxement or fear or anguish. which
was It? Had she followed the drst I'm
pulse to fy 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 strobe forward. like a man who
knows his doom pronounced and goes
| recklessly to meet it, realizing there Is
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-denunciation he was
fated to speak.
1T Is true that was with Captain
Derwent at the time of death; that in
a moment of passion l had pointed my
revolver at his breast; but. as heaven
is above US, l know 1t was not my
shot. but q 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 nxed
upon him with an agony that was
harder to bear than the hercest 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
a moment l 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 sufier-and l 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 complaisance
now was as intense as was Don's hot
passion. 81 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
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 fred your
revolver. and he fell at your feet, cry
ing: For Lilies sake. Gordon, have
a care!' All that l could prove. Can
you deny it,"
| 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 I 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 nrst question,
your movements were a secret with
him alone until he had my sanction
to divulee 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. "I 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 a princess
and has made herself the wife of fel-
on. 1 have the honor to bid you both
adieu."
STAY" Don's voice shook with the
frenzy Of his passion. 81 will allow nc
man. not even Prince Clement Sing. to
call me by that name! Your sepoy
shall be made to own 1t as a per.
jury!"
Find him and prove that. by all
means. II you can," was the sneerins
answer: for who will believe that the
Dot to which you have confessed was
not. as he says. the shot which caused
Captain Derwent's death? l repeat
your ignoble secret Is safe with me-"
The Prince waited for no reply. Fol
. long moment there was silence
silence full of the bitterness Of
death.
Lille still stood there motionless. II
seemed almost without breath or be-
ing. She was not looking at Don any