The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1905-03-03

say 1t was evidence that Lord Neville
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 anne over her.
1T 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. / must know the truth OF this
matter. If such a crime has been
committed, there is no king or prince
or priest on earth to absolve it, and
l shall wash my hands forever of the
Stuarts."
She did not wait for any ecOnd or
more prudent thoughts. She wrote
Rupert that hour a letter, every word
CT which was fame and tears. When
it was finished, she sem a 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 10Y
in the matter at all. 1T would be the
height Of i~nprudence," he said. The
young nan is dead and gone, and we
cannot bring him back, though Eng
and went to war with France on
that quarrel. The Protector is Ill,
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
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 to
save ourselves. No one can tell how
this reputedly g~ood-natured Charles
will act, when his hands are able to
serve his will. l will not then make
an enemy of so powerful a 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 sull 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 ex-
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, hay.
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 ace to her Uncle
Mazarin. He was sure it was now
only a 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 a
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"
Ito be continued.)