The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-10-02
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.sf3oa shgll judge me and deal with ma rs deserve,v he said graveiy. VI win put myself into the hands Of my 1oilo wmer, and they, too, shall Juose.
 s.No," she cried sharply. as though lne words had stung her. you must nor x3o fhat You must keep silence. What has been done has been done. Con1es- sion is not atonement. God will Juuge you. not your fe1low-men.'
 The man stared at her in amusement Yfe fyd not understand how such woros could fall from the lips of an honorable and high -principled woman. He ofd not realize that the first natural m stinct of woman is to shield and pro . tect those whom she loves, and that she will s3i this with her life and even with
 T would rather confess" he said t---eas. .srhe truth must come to light some day.
 you must not confess" she answer Cd firmly: you must keep silence for my sake, You can do no good py confession. God, not your fellow-men must judge you. Promise me that you will keep silence.
 T promise" he said in low voice. Then, clasping her in his arms, he kiss ed her on the lips. and left the room without another word.
 And, when he had gone. the womans calmness and 4 courage broke doWn under the strain, and she sobbed blt- terly in the silence, praying to God that He would be mercifui judge.
 CHAPTER HI.
 On The Altar of Love.
 For more than an hour Laura Nane sat before the fire, aching under the blow that had fallen upon her. Her tine, sensitive nature shrank from the truth. But the sturdy courage she had inherited from long line of clean living yeonen gave her the strength to face the situation. Mentally her back was against the wall. and her womanIy nature. was up in arms to do battle for the man she loved. Excuses for his conduct were ready to her hand, and she flung them one after the other against the stern, immovable fact or his sin
 m Tn argument she was worsted. The truth remained unshaken. John Shh had killed Ben Holland. Yet what woman cares for argument? All her feelings were enlisted on the side of her lover, and she flung defiance in the face of truth. Yet. strange as 1t may seem, she could not face the dudg- ment of men. Her only fear was that the world might know the facts. and that John shil might be brought to the bar Of human JuStlce.
 This battle with her own conscience was interrupted by another knock on the hall door; there was an imperious voice in answer to a woman's protest. and then. a few seconds later. man flung himself unceremoniously into the room and closed the door behind him.
 Laura vane rose to her feet with flaming cheeks and angry eyes. The man advanced towards her with an air of easy assurance, and held oe: :s4@ hand
 Good evening. Miss vane." he said cooIly. Surely you will not refuse the hand of an old friend--of one who wishes, and has always wished. you we'll" He paused and smiled with the air of a man who holds the best cards in game of chance.
 "what is the meaning of this intru- sion. MT. Tankerlane?' she cried, stung for the moment out of her self-posses- sion. HOW dare you come here. after ---afSaSA A-2But, thank Heaven, am not without friends. You shall pay for this insult-this impertinence."
 T am willing to pay anything for the pleasure of seeing you, Laura" he replied Every day seems to add a fresh beauty to your Ioveliness, a fresh charm to your character"
 Are you going to leave the room, IT. ly, "or shall I have to ring the bell, and get some of the farm hands to throw you out?"
 T am afraid, Laura he said polite Iy, ..that you would find some difficult ty in persuading them to obey your instructions. My father might object"
 Your father" she replied calmly, lis an honorable gentleman, and you - She did not finish the sentence, but it was effectively completed by the contemptuous look in her eyes.
 Yet outwardly William Tankerlane was no mark for the contempt of woman. He was tall and athletic, and his clean-shaven, handsome face bore the stamp of high birth and fine in- tellect He was no ordinary young rake, given up to wine and women, but a man who could think and act. Only the lower part of his face betrayed the