Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1909-03-18


wholly left them. And now-she had
driven him away and" She did not
want to think. Below, the jeweled
courtier awaited her, and sudden
truth came like a blow, sending the
hot blood leaping along its ways; he.
too. would claim her lips. With a
low cry she sank to her knees, hiding
her shamed face from the girl in the
mirror, covering those wanton lips
with low moan OF pain.
''Lilias." Her mothers voice held a
note that she dared not disobey, and
with a little sobbing underbreath, a
half-uttered prayer for a miracle to
happen, the saucy witch of Heathlands
no longer, but a timid, frightened girl,
went slowly down the STAIR trailing
the white robes step by step, and wish
ing that those same steps would take
her down, down, and out Of sight, she
came.
My Lord of Wycherly noted the lit
tie shudder that went through the girl
as she yielded her hand to his-and
laid 1t to future accounting. His eyes
gloated over the Wilderness of throat
and shoulders as he bent above her.
Lilias followed her mothers retreating
form, with agony In the glance. II had
come, and no miracle was at hand.
Madam Margaret has told me that
! may hope" he was beginning, when
the rattle of hoofbeats up the avenue
sent the red blood rushing to her fin
ger-tips. There was a faint murmur
of voices. and Lilias drew away hur-
riedly as the squire, followed by Bel.
lairs, paused in the doorway
Margaret" roared the squire, with
never word to my lord. What mean
you, dame, to leave the lass alone?
tbs time | camel" And he strobe to
the girls side and drew her head
against his shoulder.
Dame Margaret's eyes went from
Bellairs in the doorway to the squire,
holding Lilias away from Wycherly.
A fleeing instant of eye to eye; then:
You mistake, left her not alone. but
with her betrothed husband. Lord
Wycherly has honored our child with
his proposals and L"
Blood of Mary, madam! And you
have dared to set my word at naught!
Harry The squire, speechless, pur-
pie with wrath, pointed to Wycherly.
Bellairs cleared the space at bound,
slashing his glove across the smiling
face that blenched never so little.
And you carry sword, Sir Cory
DOM" To which Belairs replied:
when and where you will, so it be
soon. Dame Margaret's kinsman,
will act for you, | doubt not"
"Hush," Dame Margaret's slow
glance went from one to another, and
the quiet scorn of it abashed them.
What tavern brawl have you brought
to our midst, Harry Bellairs?"
The danes tone was warranted to
daunt the bravest, but the squire's
fighting blood was up.
"Silence," he Numbered. Woman,
an you will have it, then hear it. Yon
pothouse gallant that comes pran-
cling here to perjure honest men
thinks not enough of the lass he fain
would WOO, but he must bring his Lon
don drab a trailing at heel. This night
we found her, Harry and /, down at
the inn, clamoring for this great lord.
Moreover, it's a wife she claims to be.
no thanks to him, who hired his
hounds to strangle her when he had
done with her. IT'S rare tale, if it
be true!"
"A lie! A most damned lie!" Reused
1T 4, L.. 40
one step toward Dame Margaret, but
the sound Of struggle in the hall ar
rested him; then the curtains parted
and the woman, breaking from the
hold Of the servants, flung herself at
the danes feet, holding up her strip
of parchment.
Dame Margaret shrank back from
the heap of rags and tatters. With an
effort she took the parchment and
there was silence between them as she
read 1t through, while the woman,
crouching, moved not or spoke.
MY Lord of Wycherly, it were best
to remove your lady from this house,
whose roof you have betrayed"
Wycherly started, the mark Of the
blow lost in the deeper red of his dark
face, as that cold voice scared, its
meaning barring all doubt She had
read and Judged. With derisive
laugh he stirred the crouching figure
with his boot. Arise. my Lady OF
Wycherly! Since you have Travelled
far, and are somewhat stained there.
by, and the hour grows late, it were
well to seek the inn" The squire
stood aside with averted face as the
two passed out.
Lilias heard her fathers heavy tread
die away beside Dame Margaret s
lighter footsteps. She was left with
Bellairs. What would she see in his
eyes? Everything was against her
Nothing could make ii right, nothing I;
and yet, she had not intended it, II
only one little moment could have
been hers in which to utter her de.
testation of Wycherly. She raised her
head. Slowly, slowly her eyes sought
his. He was very near to her. She
could hear the quick come and go OF
his breathing, and still he made no
sign, uttered no word
The curved mouth grew piteous as
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