The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-08-18
Fair Margaret CaStell
BIT n. RIDER HA0oARD.
Copyright 1907, bV IA. Rider Haooard.
(Continued.)

hat the court was ended. for many Of them
'egan to rise. but the Queen held Up her
'and and said:
There remain other matters on which
We must give judgment. The senora here.
md she pointed to Betty. asks that her
marriage should be declared valid. or ~
va understand, inc the Marquis Of Morells
skis that his marriage with the said sonora
,hould he declared void. or 30 we under
tand. Now this lie a question over which
70 claim no power. 1t having TO do with q
acrament OF the Church. Therefore We
cave IL to his Holiness the Pope In person.
" by his lsgate. TO decide according to his
wisdom in such matters as may seem best
% him IL the parties concerned should
,hoose to lay their suit before him. Mean
while, we declare and decree h a the
.enora born Elizabeth Dene shall every
where throughout our dominions, until or
unless his Holiness the Pope shall decide
to the contrary. be received and cknowl-
edged as the Marchioness OF Morella. and
that during his lifetime her reputed hus-
band shall make duo provision for her
maintenance. and that after his death,
should no decision have been come to by
the court Of Rome upon her suit, she shall
inherit and enjoy that proportion OF his
lands and property which belongs to . wife
under the laws OF this realm
Now. while Betty bowed her thanks to
their Majesties till tho Jewels m her bodice
ratified, and Morella scowied TIL his face
looked as black as q thunder cloud above
the mountains, the audience. whispering
to each other. once moro xose to disperse.
Again tho Queen held up her hand. for the
Judgment was not vet finished.
we have a question 30 ask OF tho noble
Sir Peter Bronze and h Dona Margaret.
his afianced 10 IL still their desire to take
each other In marriagc2"
Now Peter looked at Margaret and Marga-
ret looked at Peter. and there was that in
their eyes which both OF them understood.
for he answered In a clear voice:
Your Majesty. that is the dearest wish OF
both Of U.S."
The Queen smiled a little Inc asked:
And do you. Senior John Casten. consent
and allow your daughters marriage to this
knighti'
Il do indeed he answered gravely
Had 1t not been for this man. Int he
glanced with bitter hatred at Morella. they
would have been united long ago; and to that
end" he added with meaning. such little
property as 1 possessed has been made over
10 trustees in England for their benefit and
that of their children lam henceforward
dependent upon their charity
Good said tho Queen. Then ono quez-
ton remains to he put, and only n IL IL
your wish. both Of you, that you should be
we'd before the single combat between the
Marquis Of Morella and Sir Peter Brome2
Remember. Dona Margaret, before you
answer. that In this event you may soon be
made a WIDOW. and that II you postpone the
ceremony you may never be a wife,"
Now Margaret md Peter spoke . few
words together, then the former answered
for both OF them
Should my lord fail" she said in her
sweet voice that trembled as she uttered the
words, sin either case my heart will be wild
owed and broken. Let me live out my days.
therefore. bearing his name that. knowing
my deathless grief. none may henocforth
trouble me with their owe who desire to re-
main his bride in heaven"
well spoken" said the Queen. W de-
cree that here in our cathedral Of Seville you
twain shall be wei on the same day. but
before the Marquis Of Morella and you. Sir
Peter Bronze. meet in single combat. Fur
Their. lest harm should be attempted against
either Of you " and she looked sideways at
Morella. you, Sonora Margaret. shall be
nv guest until you leave my care TO become
q bride. and ou, Sir Peter, shall return TO
lodge in prison whence you came. but with
liberty to see whom you will, n to 60
when and where you will, but under u
protection. lest some attempt should be
made or you"
She ceased. whereon suddenly the King
began speaking in his sharp, thin voice
Having settled these matters Of chivalry
and marriage" he said, there remains
another which | will not leave to the gentle
lips Of our sovereign lady that has to do
with something higher than either Of them
namely, the eternal welfare Of mems souls.
and Of the Church of Christ on earth. II
has been declared TO us that the man yonder.
John Castell, merchant of London, is that
accursed thing, a Jew, who for the sake
Of gain has all his life feigned TO he a Chris
tian, and, as such, deceived a Christian
m into marriage ; that he Is, moreover,
OF our subjects. having been born in Spain,
and therefore amenable TO the civil and
spiritual Jurisdiction Of this realm"
He paused. while Margaret and Peter
stared at each other a~ffrighted. Only
Castell stood silent and unmoved, though
he guessed what must follow better thar
either Of them.
we Judge him not, went on the King.
who claim no authority in such high mat
ters, but we do what we must dove commit
him to the Holy Inquisition, there to take
his trial
Now Margaret cried aloud. Peter stared
about him as though for help. which he
knew could never come, feeling more afraid
than ever he had been in all his life. and
for the first time that day Morella smiled.
A, least he would bc rid OF one enemy.
But Castell went TO Margaret and kissed
her tenderly. Then he shook Peter by the
hand. saying:
Kill that thief, y and he looked at Nor
ella. "ss I know you will. and would if there
wero ten as bad at his back. And be a
good husband to my girl. as I know you
VIII also. for / shall ask an account OF you
Of these matters when We meet where there
is neither jew nor Christian, priest nor
King. Now be silent. and bear what must
he borne as I do, for I have a word to say
before I leave you ard the world.
-Your Msiesies, ! make no plea for N.Y.