The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-02-09

compunction where his ambition was at
stake.
Yet after that one betrayal of her
emotions, she had made a vigorous eff
fort to regain her self-controi. Every
instinct of self-preservation was on the
alert now, and yet she knew already
that she was bound to succunb; to
what she could not guess, but she
felt herself the weaker vessel of the
two. He was calm and cruel, passion
less and tortuous. whilst she felt 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
tion to retain her self-possession. and
inwardly he smiled. for he knew that
the next moment all that rigidity would
vanish, the marble statue would be-
would culver with horror. and she
herself would fall. "a weeping, wailing
creature. Nsupplicating at his feet.
And this. by such simple method
Just the opening of q door! gently.
noiselessly, until the sound from the
Great Hall entered into this inner room,
and voices clearly detached themselves
from the confusing hubbub.
Then His Eminence whispered:
Hush, my daughter! listen! my Lord
High Steward is speaking"
At first perhaps she did not hear,
ertainly she did not understand, for
her attitude did not relax its unconf-
promising stiffness.
Lord Chandos was delivering his first
speech:
MY lords and gentlemen" he said,
I'VE are here assembled this day that
We may try Robert d'Esclade. Duke of
Wessex, for a grievous and heinous
crime, which he hath wilfully commit
ted.
1t was just the opening and shutting
OF door; the claw of the cat upon the
neck of the mouse. At first sound of
Wessex's name, Ursula had risen to
her feet-straight and rigid like g.
machine. She did not look towards
the door. but fixed her eyes on him
her tormentor--fascinate as q bird to
whom a snake has beckoned and bade
at to come ming.
The color rose to her cheeks, the
reality was gradually dawning upon
her. That man who spoke in the Great
Hall beyond was a Judge, there were
other judges there, too; when she ar
rived at Westminster she had seen a
great concourse of people, heard the
names of great legal dignataries whis-
pered round her and of peers who had
been summoned for q great occasion.
1udt OCCASiOn WIS the IEiaI OF puo
Duke OF Wessex on a charge of muir
der.
mo. no. no." she whispered hoarsely.
somewhat wildly. as she took a step
forward. mo, no, no not yet
It is not true not yet"
The thin crust of ice which had en-
veloped her heart was melting IN the
broad garish light of the actual. awful
fact; the commencement of Wessex's
trial.
She tottered and might have fallen,
but for the table close beside her
against which she leant.
Her calm and composure were filing
rom her bit by bit. She had at last
cun to understand--to realize. Up
now 1t had all been so shadowy, so
remote, almost like q dream. She had
moment when he. had pressed her
against his heart !. since then she
had only heard rumors wild
statements she knew of HIS self
accusation--the terrible crime which
had been committed--but her heart had
been numb through the very appalling
nature of the catastrophe, following so
closely upon her budding happiness
1T had all been intangible all this
while +. whilst now
1.-THE Duke hath made confession"
said the Cardinal, and his voice seemed
to come as If in direct answer to her
thoughts. I'm an hour at most. judg-
ment will be pronounced against him,
and then sentence of DEATH"
She passed her hand across her moist
forehead. trying to collect her scat
tered senses. She looked once or twice
at him in helpless, appealing misery,
but his face now was stern and i'm
placable, he seemed to her to be the
presentment OF a relentless justice
about to fall on an innocent man. Her
throat felt parched. her lips were dry,
| yet she tried to speak.
(Conffnued TOmOFrovv.l