The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-08-11
Fair Margaret Castell
NJ n. RIDER HA0GARD.
copyright. 1901. bp n. Rider Ha00dTd
(COntinucc.l

Yes. Betty IL was without a doubt. though
r~enenherIng her in her humble, woollen
dress at the old house In Holborn IL was
hard TO recognize the poor companion
in this proud and magnificent lady. who
looked AZ though all her life she had trodden
the marble floors Of courts and oonsorted
with MOBILES and with queens. Up tho
great hall she came. stately. imperturbable.
looking neither 10 the right nor to the
loft. tRking 10 note of the whisperings
Bbout her. no, nor even OF Morella or Of
Margaret, tll she reached the open space
=. mont OF tiie bar whore Peter and his
guards. gazing with all their eyes, hastened
TO make place for her. Thee she courtesied
thrice, twice 20 the Queen and once TO the
Ting, her Consort; then. turning. bowed
70 the Marquis. who fixed his eyes upon
the ground and took no note; bowed 10
csstell and Peter. and lastly, advancing
10 Margaret, gave her cheek to kiss. This
Margaret did with becoming humility.
whispering in her car:
How fares your Grace2'
Better than you would IN my shoes. v
whispered Betty back with ever so slight
attending of her left eyelid while Margaret
heard the King mutter TO the Queen:
"A fine peacock of a woman Look at
her figure and those big eyes. Morella
must be hard 10 please"
Perhaps he prefers swans to peaoocks."
answered the Queen in the same voice
with a glance at Margaret. whose quieter
and more refined beauty seemed to gain
by contrast with that of her nobly built
and dazzling skinned cousin. Then she
motioned to Betty TO take the seat pre-
pared for her, which she did. with her
suite standing behind her and an interpreter
At her side.
81 am somew hat bewildered." said the
King, CHANGING from Morella to Betty and
from Margaret 90 Peter, for evidently the
humor of the situation did not escape him.
What is the exact case that we have 10
try?"
slcaldes, rose and said that the matter
before their Maiesties was a charge against
the E%nglishman at the bar Of killing a
certain soldier of the Holy Hermandad,
hut that there seemed TO he other matters
mixed up with il.
81 7 gather, answered the King; for
instance. IN accusation Of the carrying
m of subjects OF a friendly Power out OF
the territory of that Power; a suit for nullity
If a marriage, and a cross-suit for the
VI tdNlbll w Nv ANNA w eio e'At hihoi
riage-and the holy saints know what
besides. Well, one thing at a time. Let
us try this tall Englishman:"
So the ease was opened against Peter
by q public prosecutor. who restated it
as it had been laid before the Queen. The
Captain Arrano gave his evidence as TO
the killing of the soldier. but in cross
examination by Peters advocate adj
mitted. for evidently he bore no malice
against the prisoner. that the said soldier
had roughly handled the bona Margaret
and that the said Peter. being a stranger
10 the country. might very well have taken
them for a troop of bandits. Also ne
added that he could not say that the
Englishman had intended to kill the soldier.
Thcn Castell and Margaret gave their
evidence. the latter with much modest
sweetness. Indeed. when she explained
that Peter was her affianced husband,
to whom she was to have been we'd on the
day after she had been stolen away from
England. and that she had cried out to
him for help when the dead soldier caught
hold Of her and rent away her veil there
was a murmur Of sympathy and the King
and Queen began to talk with each other
without paying much heed to her further
words.
Next they spoke TO two Of the Judges
who sat with them. after which the King
held up his hand and announced that they
had come to a decision on the case. IL
was that under the circumstances the
Englishman was justified in cutting down
the soldier, especially as there was nothing
TO show that he meant to kill him. OF that
he knew that he belonged to the Holy
Hermandad. He would therefore be dis
charged on tine condition that he paid a
sum Of money, which indeed it appeared
had already been paid TO the mans widow.
in compensation for the mans death, and a
further small sum for masses to be said
for the welfare of his soul.
Peter began to give hanks for this
Judgment. but while he was still speaking
the King ask cd IL any Of those present
wished to proceed in further suits. In
stantly Betty rose and said that she did.
Then through her interpreter she stated
that she had received tho royal commands
10 attend before their Majesties and was
now prerarcd to answer any questions
or char 80 hat might be laid against her.
-Nhai /, your name. Sehora?" asked the
King.
-Ei:za y,h. Warehouses of Morella. born
ElizaLeth Dcne, of the ancient and gentle
family of Dene, n resident IN England
answered Betty in a clear and decided
voice.
The King bowed. then asked:
Does any one dispute this title and
description"
FL do" answered the Marquis of Morella.
speaking for the first time.
"On what grounds?" Marquis.
o every ground" he answered. She
ia not the Warehouses Of Morells, irssmuch
as ! went through the ceremony Of mar
rage with her believing her to be another
woman. She is not of ancient and gentle
family. since she was a servant in the house
OF the merchant Castell yonder. in London"
That proves nothing. Marquis inter-
rupted the King MY family may. l think.
he called ancient and gentle, which o
will be the last to deny. yet | have played
The part Of a servant on an occasion which
l thnk the Queen here will remember
an alIusion 'st which the audience. who
NEW well enough to h il referred,
.sughed udibly as did her Majesty