The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-03
CHAPTER xxx.
Cheek innfe

CHAPTER xxx.
Checknntc.
For some time already there had been
certain amount of cornmotion In the
palace. Mirrab's shouts when drst she
saw the combat. then her high.voiced
alteration with Don Miguel had reused
the attention OF come OF the guard who
were stationed In the cloiser Green
court close by. Some of the gentlemen.
too, were astir.
Wessex himself soon after he had
reached Ills own apartments heard the
sound Of angry voices proceeding from
the room which he had just quilted.
He could hear nothing distinctly. but
II seemed to him as IL woman and n
man were quarreling violently. He
tried to shut his .ars to the sound. He
would hear nothing. know nothing
more. OF the wanton who had fooled
AND Knocked him.
But there are certain instincts in
every chivnlrous man which VIII not be
galnsa!d among these is the impulse
to go at once to The assistance OF Il
woman II she be in trouble or difficulty.
II was that impulse and nothing more
which caused Wessea to retrace his
footsteps. He had some difficulty In
finding his way. now that there was no
moonlight to guide HIM but as soon
as he re-entered the last room. which
was next to the audience chamber. he
heard the ominors "a NOR. OF his
dying opponent. Also all round him the
ODS-OuS OF u
steps all tending towards the same
direction.
An icy horror suddenly gripped his
heart Not daring TO Imagine what had
tor he could see uothing-he contrived
10 lnd and open the door. and still
going forward he presently stumbled
against something which lay heavy and
inert at his feet.
In moment he was on his knees.
touching the PROSTATE body with
gentle hand, realizing that the unfor'
tunate young man had fallen on his
face, he tried With infinite care to lit
and turn him as tendenly as he could.
Then suddenly he became conscious
OF another presence in the room. Moth
ing more than q ghostlike form OF
man himself, whilst from the corridors
cluse by the sound OF approaching foot
steps. still hesitating which way 70 &c.
became more and more distinct.
Elurmur of distant voices. too gradu-@s
ally took on definite sound.
This Way
mo, that
In the court -
NO! the aud .ence chamber
The ghostly white-clad figure ap-
peared as II turned to stone.
Through the window" WHISPERED
Wcssex with sudden vehemence. ut Is
God while there's yet time"
That was his only instinct now. He
could not think OF her as the woman
he had loved: he understood nothing.
knew nothing: but In the intense gloom
which surrounded him he had lost sight
Of the wltch-like and horrible vision
which Shad dealt a death blow to his
love: he seemed only to see the green
bosquets Of the park. the pond. the
marpuerites, and another. white-clad
figure, a girlsh face crowned with
golden halo OF purity and innocence.
The wild passion which he had felt
for h err changed to an ugonizing horror
not only Of her deed. but ct the thought
OF seeing her surrounded. rough-han-
died blythe guard, STAINED and treated
as mad and drunken wanton.
He despIsed himself for his own
weakness. but at this awful and SUI
preme moment. when he realized that
the idol which he had set up and wor-
shipped was nothing but deflled mud.
he felt fol. her only tenderness and pity.
Love had touched him once. and he
knew now that nothing would ever tear
her image completely from out his
heart. Love-great, ardent, lmmutnhle
was dead but death Is oft more pow
erful than life, and his dead love
pleaded for his chivalry, for his pro-
lection. with all the power Of sweet
memories. and aided by the agoniz!nE
grip Of cold. stT hands clinGing to his
He pointed once more to the open
window.
quick! In Gods name!"
The girl moved towards him. !.
sAh mol no! for olty's sake! Coz.