The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1905-03-03

say it was evidence that Lord Neville
was murdered, and that his Eminence
bought jewelry for Hortense Mancini
in some irregular way. If l were Lady
Jevery, l would insist on knowing
from whom"
! oh, you do make one great mis-.
take, l do assure you! Mademoiselle
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. All 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.
ut was too mean, too savagely cruel
for anything!" she almost sobbed.
Men who can do such things are not
fit to be loved by women. They are
brutes. will write to Rupert at
once. l must know the truth of this
| matter. If such crime has been
committed, there is no king or prince
or priest on earth to absolve it, and
shall wash my hands forever of the
Stuarts."
She did not wait for any second or
| more prudent thoughts. She wrote
Rupert that hour letter. every word
of which was flame and tears. When
it was finished, she sent man with
it 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 precipitancy, and refused to move
in the matter at all. ct 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 is i'll,
worn out with sorrow and anxiety,
and if one OF his old attacks should
seize him at this time, it would have
the mastery. And when Cromwell
happen. The nation will give Charles
the Second trial. Then Matilda,
when Charles comes back, Prince Ru-
pert comes with him. We may need
the friendship of Prince Rupert to
save ourselves. No one can tell how
this reputedly good-natured Charles
will act, when his hands are able to
hi 1,,sly
an enemy of so powerful man as
Prince Rupert is like to be-
1t was rarely Sir Thomas spoke
with such decision, and Matilda was
much impressed by his words. They
made her hesitate still more about her
marriage with Cymlin.
During the first hours of her dis.
covery Matilda had wondered if she
ought to tell Jane what proof of
Cluny's death had come to them; for
in her heart she scoffed at the idea of
Cluny returning to Paris to sell the
jewels. But Jane did not visit her
for some time, and she was daily en-
pecting an answer from Prince Ru-
pert. This letter might be of great
Importance, one way or another, and
she resolved to wait for it. 1t came
| more rapidly than she had anticipated,
and it's contents temporarily famed to
a feeble flame her dying illusions con-
| corning her first lover. In this letter
Rupert ION his honor" reiterated his
first statement. He declared that he
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 mademoiselle's presence until he
saw her wearing the jewels, and then
make question concerning them and ii
not satisfied, go at once to her Uncle
Mazarin. He was sure it was now
only few weeks ere the truth would
be discovered. These promises were
blended with his usual protestations
OF undying devotion, and Matilda was
pleased, though she was not satisfied.
For to Rupert's letter there was
postscript, and in that postscript one
word which sent the blood to her
! heart. cold with terror
"P. S. 1t may be the Bastile, and
not the grave, which holds the Neville
secret
(To be continued.)