The silver star., 1900-05-11
KING DOM.
ASIMY 0lanAAY ln MNDA
.-~nv nAvoR AALAm....
ASIoaY = laTAlYiM MtuDA.
4 4 i - =
.....DY MANoR ALLAM....

AlAllo etllu stood there motionlona II
seemed ALMOST without breath or be-
ing. She WAS not looking at Don any
longer now Her blue eyes were Ras-
Ing into Vacancy. with an expression
q horror In them. as IL they eased in
reality upon that ghastly scene the
Prince had Uainted-hsr husbands re-
volver pofnked at her fathers breast
me silence and the anguish of II all
grew more, than Don could bear.
"Lillie!" he cried.
She made no movement. II was as ~
she had become unconscious of his
presence or even life itself.
Lille! For mercy's sake, Lille.
look at met IAllie! Lillie!"
He had gone to her side now and
touched her cold hand. and at the
touch she swayed a little and would
have fallen senseless, but he caught
her In his arms and laid her on the low
divan. He.threw himself on his knees
beside her. and looked at her with his
breath coming in hard. quick gasps.
Despair and shame overwhelmed
him to suffocation, and paramount
through 1t all came the proud fear for
that self which had hitherto ever been
first with shim all his life long-the self
for which he had often sacrificed the
happiness OF others or well-nigh for
feited honor. for which at last in a
moment Of frenzy he had even sold his
soul.
He saw himself in that awful mo-
ment for what he was. and even with
Captain Derwent's dead body At his
feet he had failed to see himself.
Scorned and shamed before men, II
brought near to him another tribunal,
higher and aE-powerful, at whose DOR.
tals he must needs stand at the last
day. and he bowed his head in the
Mrst real prayer that had ever rent his
bleeding heart.
NY God. my God. be merciful!"
How would she for whom he had
sinned look at him when those closed
eyes opened! Would she not shrink
from his touch a. from some unclean
thingf Would her love not fall be-
tore this blow he had dealt It, or was
= that love possessed Of q divine pity
which would not turn even from the
hand that struck It? He took the ivory
fan which had dropped from her nerve
less fingers and waited It softly over
her psiid face.
Her long. thick lashes quivered, the
white eyelids opened at last, and her
blue eyes were looking into his.
He covered his face with his hands
and bowed his head ON the cushion b.
side her. for he could not dare to look
at her now. She put out q trembling
hand and touched his thick brown
hair.
"Don." she whispered family. 'tsll
me II n not true!"
II cannot!" The hoaree reply
pierced her very soul. Her hand
dropped. She burst into sudden and
passionate weeping. With . strong
effort Don recovered his self-control,
and spoke with laborsd intensity.
1T was not my shot that killed him
-as God 10 my Judge, swear to you
II was not: but. In a At Of anger, I
flred. and It might have killed him.
He insisted you were to marry that
dark fellow. and he would not listen
TO me. and lost my head. Lille, LII
lie! don't look like that! Don't! I
cannot bear III"
She had stayed her convulsive sobs,
and her blue eyes were regarding him
In . way that made his proud lips
CULVER.
you did that. yet you came back to
me and told me nothing Of 1t. and you
made me marry you!" The words
broke from her In low. hating SEN
tences. a. II they choked her to utter
them.
"Lillie. be merciful! It was my love
for you that made me reckless. What
good would Il have done to tell you Of
our quarrelf For never dreamt you
would come to know Of It." il
"Oh. why did you make me marry
your" she walled. And now she broke
down once moro and wept bitterly.
"Lillie!" he cried. beside himself
with remorse and suffering. you don't
believe mo guilty Of his deathf Don't
toll ne you DOUBT mel"
II do not doubt you." she spoke ct
last: but you have deceived me. and
oh. Don. Il has broken my hearth"
He looked At her wildly. and seemed
TO realise. with . new sense Of DESC
lation. that Il was indeed true. He
had shattered alike her faith In him
and her love.
"Ohi" he cried ont. ~ you had loved
me - love you. you would under
stand and be pitifuli"
II do love you." she answered bro
kenly-"you - you should b. ~ God
meant you 70 b.. not what you are."
"Don'ti" he cried again. "Oh, II you
only knew what . pursatory remorse
has made my life ever since that fatal
night you would pity me and for
givei"
II Do forgive you." she said. after .
silence that seemed IN eternity - The
man who hung upon her words; "but
iifs con never b ne sane asain-
navnF navaPiw