The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-10
CHAPTER xxx111.--continura.

Whilst helping to enveiop his face d
complete shadow. Ursula sat opposite
grey light falling fun upon her pale
face which plie turned sercnely, quite
impassively, upon her interlocutor.
my dear. cltid," he began once more,
and this time In tones of moro pro-
nounced severity, "a brave man. good
and chivalrous gentleman, Is about tol
suffer not only death. but horrible DIS
grace. va. On the other side OF these
thin walls the preparations are ready
for his trial by group Of men. whose
duty It Will be anon to allow the JUS
tice OF this realm TO take Its relentless
course. The accused will stand self
convicted. yet Innocent. before them"
Once more the Cardinal pauscd only
for n second this time; he noticed that
tho young girl had visibly shuddered,
but she made no attempt, to speak.
after awhile. Ills Grace has many
friends: not one OF them win believe
that he could be capable OF SO foul II
crime. But he has confessed to It. He
Will be condemned. and he---the proud
est man in England-will die felon's
81 know all that. your Eminence."
she said quietly, why should you re-
peat IL now?''
nal With seeming hesitation, You must
forgive an old man. my child me-
thought you loved Ills Grace of wes-
WHY does your Eminence pause?"
His Grace OF wessex 4. &. and ~
And yet, my child. through a.
st ho ee nay eu h ro9
death, but also from dishonor, you re-
main SILENT"
Your Eminence errs, as every one
else has erred she replied with tho
.n Y,lu rtl IL
cause have naught to say"
The Cardinal smiled with kind in
dulgence. like father who under
stands and forgives the sins OF his
child.
Let me explain. my daughter" he
said That fatal night when the
Marquis de suarez was killed. a
woman was seen to fly from that part
Of the Palace where. the tragedy had
"Well?"
DO you not see that II that woman
came forward fearlessly and owned
even to defend her honor. that His
Grace killed Don Miguel. do YOU not
see that no Judge then will find him
guilty of wilful and premeditated
crime?"
Then why does not that woman
come forward she retorted with the
first sign of vehemence. noticeable In
to CULVER of her voice and the sudden
she not speak ?-she for whose sake
HIS Grace OF Wesscx not only took a
mans lfe... bit is willing to sacrifice
his honor?"
said His Eminence softly. perhaps
she is dead Some say 1t was you"
he added, leaning slightly forward and
dropping his voice to whisper
there rhey ,r iie' she replied i, Il was not
Wessex will suffer both death and dis.
grace in silence"
This time His Eminence did not
smile There had been a sudden flash
in his eyes at this quick. sharp retort
Ia sudden flash as suddenly yelled
again. Then his heavy lids dropped;
once more he looked parental. benevo-
lent. only Just, with a soupcon of
aloofness of an austere man towards
the weaknesses OF more mundane crea-
lures.
Never for a moment did he reveal to
the unwary young girl all that he had
speech.
Her love for Wessex! that he knew
already! Its depth alone was revela-
ton to him. But her jealousy! How
twitched when speaking Of another. an
unknown woman. who had called forth
In Wessex, that spirit of noble self
sacrifice, that immolation OF his own
landed him in criminal dock.
a woman's passion and wonman's
jealousy! TWO precious assets in His
Eminence's present balance. He pond
victory doomed more certain than be-
fore. He loved this present situation,
the acute tension of this palpitating
moment, when he seemed to hold this
beautiful woman'9 soul. bare and fet-
tered. writing with agNoy and self-
torture.
woman's soul, bare and fettercd,
writhing with agony and self-torture.
tone OF melancholy prevailing his en-
tire attitude. III indeed 1t was not you,
my daughter. who We're with Don Mig
uaYe that nat nigh night than nauEht can
silence He Will die Tomorrow in
silence and innocent"
He had risen from his chair, and be-
gan wondering about the narrow room
-aimlessly--as II lost in thought. Ur-
sula was staring straight befor her.
The first revelation of her present
Danger had suddenly come upon her.
As IN flash she had suddenly realized
TO use her for his own ends. She felt
that she was literally In the position
or the mouse about to be sacrificed to
ahe ne, greedy ambition of this feline
at stake.
Yet after that one betrayal of her
emotions, she had made vigorous ef-
fort to regain her self-control. Every
INSTINCT of MISREPRESENTATION was on
the alert now, and yet she knew al
| ready that she was bound to succumb;
to, what she could not guess, but she
1elt herself the weaker vessel OF the
two. He was calm and cruel, passion
less and tortuous, whilst she felt with
all her heart and soul and with all her
| senses.
And, though he could not now see
| her face, the Cardinal studied her
every movement. He could see her
| Figure stiffen with the iron determine
! ton to retain her -possession,- and
inWardly he smiled. for he knew that
the next moment all>that rigidity would
vanish. the marble statue would be-
come living clay. the palsied nerves
would culver with horror, and she her.
self would fall, a weeping, wailing
creature. supplicating at his feet
And this, by such a simple method!
Just the opening of a door! gently,
noiselcssly, until the sound from the
Great Hall entered into this inner
room, and voices clearly detached
themselves from the confusing hubbub.
Thon His Emnence whispered:
''Husn my daughter listen! my Lord
High Steward Is speaking"
At first perhaps she did not hear.