The Mercur miner. [volume] (Mercur, Utah) 1895-1913, 1904-03-02

say IL was evidence that Lord Neville
was murdered. and that, bis Eminence
bought jewelry for Hortense Mancini
In some irregular way. II were Lady
Jevery, I would insist On knowing
from whom"
"Oh. you do make one great mis-
take. ! do assure you Madenoiselle
Mancini is impeccable You must
rest content that the jewels came into
her possession in the most correct
manner"
Barely listening TO these words,
Matilda curtsied and abruptly left the
room. III now seemed plain to her
Intelligence. Rupert had lied to her.
He had slain and robbed Neville. and
the jewels had been sold to Mazarin.
A sudden passion of pity for the
handsome young lord came over her.
1T was too mean, too savagely cruel
for anything" she almost sobbed.
Men who can do such things are not
III to be loved by women. They are
brutes, will write to Rupert at
once. | must know the truth OF this
matter. II such crime has been
committed. there Is no King or prince
or priest on earth TO absolve II, and
| shall wash my hands forever of the
Smarts"
She did not wait for any second or
more prudent thoughts She wrote
Rupert that hour a letter. every word
Of which was fame and tears. When
1t was finished, she sent a man with
Il on the instant to catch the Dover
mail packet. and all this was accom-
plished before she had any opportun-
ity to talk over the affair with her
uncle. When she did so. he regretted
her precipltancy. and refused to move
in the matter at all. 1T would be the
height Of imprudence," he said. The
young man is dead and gone. and we
cannot bring him back. though Eng
land went to war with France on
that quarrel The Protector H. Ill,
worn out with sorrow and anxiety.
and II one of his old attacks should
seize him at this time. II would have
the mastery. And when Cromwell
dies. there is no question of what will
happen. The nation will give Charles
the Second a trial Then Matilda.
when Charles comes back. Prince Ru-
pert comes With him. We may need
the friendship OF Prince Rupert 10
save ourselves. No one can tell how
this reputedly good-natured Charles
will act when his hands are able to
serve his viii, will not then mako
an enemy OF 80 powerful man a.
Prince Rupert is like to be-" ''r lnl
II was rarely Sir Thomas spoke
with such decision. and Matilda was
much impressed by his words. They
made her hesitate sui more about her
marriage with Cymlln.
During the FIRST hours Of her dis
covery. Matilda had wondered II she
ought TO tell Jane what proof OF
Cluny's death had come to them; for
q, nor heart she hcoffed AZ the iasA o
cmny returning To fsns
---s zane did not visit no
ior some time. and she was daily q,
peeting an answer from Prince Rr
pert This letter might be of grea
Importance, one way or another. an,
she resolved to walt for Il. IL cam,
more rapidly than she had Anticipated
and It's contents temporarily famed tc
a feeble fame her dying Illusions con.
corning her first lover. In this lottor
Rupert 'on his honor" reiterated his
hrst statement. He declared that ne
left Neville In health and safety. hav.
Ing at the last moment urged upon
him his own swift Barb, which offer
Neville refused He said he should
seek mademoiselles presence untll he
saw her wearing the Jewels, and then
make question concerning them land IL
not satisfied, so at once to her Uncle
Mazarln. He was sure II was now
only a few weeks ere the truth would
be discovered These promises were
blended with his usual protestations
, Of undying devotion, ard Matilda was
pleased, though she was not satisfied.
For to Ruports letter there was
postscript, and In that postscript one
word which sent the blood To her
heart. cold with terror
"P. S. II may be the Basti'a. and
not tho grave. which holds the Nsvllle
secret"
ITO be contlnued)