The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-14

his bride to be wrote to her father and to
Peter Bronze; also the answers. imploring
and passionate. to the same. But there
were other letters and other answers which
she had not shown. 1t was afternoon,
swift horses were ready in the court
yard. and with them an escort, while dis
guised Az Moors, Castell and Peter waited
under guard in a chamber close at hand.
Betty, dressed in the robes of a Moorish
woman, stood before Morella, TO whom
Ihez had led her.
Il come to tell you" she said, that at
shutdown. three hours after we have passed
beneath her window. my cousin n mis-
tress will wait to be made your wife. but
IL you try TO disturb her before then she
will be no wife OF yours or any mans"
IL obey" answered Morella; "and. Sefora
Betty. l pray your pardon, and that you
will accept this gift from me in token OF
your forgiveness" And with a low bow
he handed to her a beautiful necklace Of
J pearls.
Il take them" said Betty, with a bitter
laugh, Sas they may serve TO buy me a
passage back to England. But forgive
you | do not. Marquis of Morella, and |
warn you that there Ia a score between
us which l may live to settle. You seem
to have won, but Goo in Heaven takes
note of the wickedness Of men and in this
way or in that He always pays His debts.
Now | go to bid farewell TO my cousin
Margaret. but to you l do not bid farewell.
for | think that we shall meet again" and
with a sob she let fall her VEIL which she
had lifted above her lips TO speak and
departed with 1hez. to whom she whispered
AZ they went: "He will not linger for any
more good-bys with Betty Dene."
They entered Margaret's room and locked
the door behind them. She was seated on
a low dlvan wrapped in o loose robe. and
by her side. glistening with silver and with
gems, lay her bridal veil and garment.
BE swift" said Inez to Betty. who
stripped on her Moorish dress and the long.
flowing veil that was wrapped about her
head. whereon II was seen that her hair
had changed greatly in color. from yellow
to dark chestnut indeed. while her eyes,
ringed around with pigments and made
l~ustrous by drugs dropped into them.
looked no longer blue. but black like Mar
garet's. Yes. the wonder Of wonders, on
the right side of the chin and on the back
of tho left hand were moles. or beauty
spots. just such az Margaret had borne
there from her birth. In short. their stat
ure being much the same. though Betty
was more thickly built, except in the strong
est light it would not have been easy to dis
tinguish them apart, even unveiled, for at
all such arts OF the altering Of the looks
Of women Inez was an adept. and she had
done her best.
Nov Margaret clothed herself in the white
robes and the thick headdrcss that hid her
face. all except IA little crack left for the
eyes TO Leep through. while Betty, with
the help of Inez. a.rayed herself in the
wondrous wedding robe beset with jewels
that was Morella's bridal gift and hid her
dyed tresses beneath the pearl sewn veil.
Within ten minutes all was finished. even
to the dagger that Betty had tied about
her beneath her robe, and the transformed
women stood staring at each other.
1T is time TO go" said Ifez.
Then Margaret broke out:
Il do not like this business: l never did.
When he discovers all that mans rage will
he terrible and he will kill her. 1 repent
that ! have consented TO the plot"
1T is too late to repent, now, SeIora,"
said Inez.
Cannot Betty be got away also2" asked
Margaret, desperately.
1T 10 just possible, " answered Inex: thus
before the marriage. according to our old
custom here, l hand the cups OF wine to
the bridegroom and the bride. That for
the Marquis will be ~drugged, since he
must not see too clear tonight. Well, I
might brew il stronger 80 that within half
an hour hs would not know whether he
were married or single, and then perhaps
she might escape with me and come TO Join
you. But il is very risky. and. Of course,
IL we were discovered-the stitch would be
out Of the wineskin. and the cellar floor
might be stainedl"
Now Betty interrupted;
Keep your stitches whole. cousin; il any
skins are to be pricked IL ant be helped, and
at least you won't have to wipe up the mess.
l arm not going to run away from the man;
more likely he will run away from me.
I look we'll in this fine dress Of yours, and
l mean to wear it out. Now begone-be-
sone before some OF them come TO seek
me. Don't you grieve for me. I'll lie
in the bed that / have made. and il the
worse ONE TO the worst I have money
in my pocket-or it's worth-and we will
meet again in England. Come. give my
love and duty TO Master Peter and your
father. and If | should see them no more
bid them think kindly Of Betty Dene. who
was such a plague to them"
Then. taking Margaret in her strong
arms, she kissed her again and again, and
fairly thrust her from the room.
But when they we're gone poor Betty
sat down and cried a little. till she remem-
bered that hot tears might melt the paint
upon her face, and drying them. went
TO the window and watched.
A while later from her lofty window
place she saw six Moorish horsemen riding
along the white road to the embattled
gate. After them came two men and a
woman, all splendid y mounted. also dressed
IA Moors. and then six other horsemen.
They passed the gate, which was opened
for them. and began to mount the slope
beyond. At the crest OF il the woman
halted. and turning. waved a handkerchief
Betty answered the signal and in another
minute they had vanished and she was
alone.
Never did 5 e spend a more weary after