Gilpin observer., 1905-05-04

.
mo? An improbable tale" he
cried.
Il have proofs" I retorted.
held out to him the tiny brooch.
He took 1t with shaking hand.
"His! not a doubt of it," he whis-
pered; "the martyred King's!"
He got up and paced the floor, look
ing at the jewel in his palm.
Yes, as child l have seen him
wear it," he murmured. "By what
Vaccinations did Lord Waters obtain
this brooch?" he said cuttingly.
Il told you, SIRE" I replied with
dignity.
He paced the floor with more hur-
ried tread, while he frowned and knit
his brow in deep thought. He said:
Now, remember having heard that
after the battle Of Marsden, being sep
arated from his guards, he had been
captured by a man serving on the
other side, but when the man found
that it was the King he held, he had
released him, even given him safe
conduct to his men, so that he should
not be retaken. It was told me by
General Lauderdale, to whom my
father had related the incident
Strange! the King, my father, did not
recognize SO familiar a man at court
as Lord Waters"
"He was much changed, SIRE" I
said, "and affected the puritanical
style. 1t was also dark and he wished
to be unrecognized."
What strange creatures men are!"
soliloquized his Majesty.
Il would have you know, SIRE" I
continued, that after that the old
love for his King returned to Lord
Waters. He resigned from Crom-
wells army, and went to his estate in
Long Haut. There he obtained a
divorce from his wife, and, after liv.
ing in retirement, married my mother,
who died in childbirth. During the
years of my minority the thought that
he might have wronged the King and
his first wife never left him. It made
him what he has been ever since, q
miserably sick man. Owing to his
condition he was not able to come
himself, SO he sent me to lay the mat
ter before your Majesty and plead for
forgiveness"
had finished and 1 knelt before
him.
"'Fore God! you shall have It," he
cried, as he motioned me to rise; "but
it seems to me that tits to Lady
Dwight you should go as your fathers
emissary to plead for forgiveness"
Lady Dwight" I exclaimed.
was too astonished to say more
"She is your fathers divorced
wife," he explained.
MY fathers wife!" I repeated.
Even so," he affirmed, none too pa
tiently.
Light dawned upon me and under
stood my lady's fainting fit; she, too,
was overcome by circumstances.
And Sir Raoul Dwight" I ques-
toned fiercely.
"Your half-brother," he answered;
''born in France. six months Gfter
your father left in such importunate
haste"
my God," cried. "And they talk
about instinct; had not the least in
nate feeling toward him. Why, we
were ever as cat and dog whenever We
came III SlSut Ol Oue duOlueT.
Even brothers will quarrel over a
woman" he smiled.
There need be no more quarreling
upon that score" I replied; "he is
welcome to the lady"
THAT is good, he enjoined. You
will return the paper at once to Lady
FELTON,, and renounce all claim to her
hand"
Certainly" replied. "I never In
tended to keep her to it. will get
the paper from the person who has it
and make her a present of it tonight
before I sleep. Had the lady been in
town she would have had it before
this"
Been in town." he began. "Ah.
yes. So you shall gladden. Raoul
Dwight's heart; he but now went
from here with a hanging head be-
cause would promise him nothing"
His Majesty yawned and then dis.
missed me.
Ito be continued.)