The Glenwood post., 1909-07-03

mons arms, she accepted the protec
tion of a relative of his, one Mrs.
Whitall. a decayed gentlewoman, and
went to live at small town near
York until the assizes, when she
would be called upon as the chief wit
ness for the prosecution. Great stories
were Immediately put forth that Sir
Thomas Vernon was deeply smitten
with Arabella's charms, and that, after
visit with Mrs. Whitall to Vernon
Court she looked very kindly on Sir
Thomas. All this might be true, and
Sir Thomas might flatter himself that
he had won her favor; but, knowing
Arabella well, l did not credit her
with any sincere desire to be kind to
Sir Thomas Vernon, although she
might make him think so, for her own
purposes. l suspected, however, a
motive far deeper, in any matter con-
nected with Sir Thomas Vernon. Over
ton was the next heir after Giles; Sir
Thorn 8 was extremely rickety, and
not likely to be long-lived; and If, by
merely telling what had happened,
Lady Arabella could safe her resent
ment, which was deep and furious,
against Giles, and at the same time
greatly benefit Overton, Il think she
would not have weighed Giles life at
penny. My Daphne, whose faith in
human nature was angelic, in her be-
lief in ultimate good. prayed and be-
sought Arabella to leave the country
before the trial came off; but Ara
| he1la pp1v caid cpptem ntupue1y.
You are a child and chit. Giles
Vernon contemplated doing me the
greatest wrong man can do a woman.
Do you think l shall let him go un-
punished? If so. how little do you
know Arabella Stormont!"
Then l, from loyalty to Giles, and
not from any hope l had from Lady
Arabella, went to her and made my
appeal. She heard all my prayers
playing with her lap-dog the while. At
last. l said to her:
Tell me, at least. who is to be bene-
| flied by the conviction Of Giles Yer
non? Not you. certainly; for you will
be loathed and Stunned by ALL"
The person dearest to me in the
world" she replied; 1.-The person | love
better than my life or my SOUL" and
| then, as if she had admitted too much.
she stopped. turned pale, and seemed
altogether disconnected. She had, in
truth. admitted too much. The person
she had ever loved better than her
soul was Philip Overton.
l had the self-possession to leave
her then, and went off by myself to
think over the strange motive which
had been revealed to me. Arabellas
infatuation for Overton had always
been abnormal, touched with unreason.
And could fate have woven closer
web around Giles Vernon than in ma
king him fall SO madly in love with
| Arabella Stormont?
Giles had promptly surrendered him
self, rightly judging a trial better than
being fugitive from justice and de-
serter from the naval service. He re-
paired to York. after having duly re-
ported to the admiralty. and was jailed
Immediately, and indicted.
The Hawkshaws. my Daphne and I
remained in Scarborough during the
| two dreadful months that passed be-
fore the trial came of. Sir Peter
easily got leave from the admiralty
for me, hoping, not only that my testi-
mony, but the example of the felicity
in which Daphne and lived, might not
be without its effect upon the Jury that
tried Giles.
Offers of money to assist in his de-
fense came from many quarters and
from several ladies-two in especial,
her grace of Auchester and Mrs.
Trenchard. Lady Hawkshaw, however.
claimed the privilege of bearing the
expenses of the trial out of her private
fortune, which was large. Sir Peter
and she had it hot and heavy, he de-
string to contribute; and for one of
the few times in his life, he carried
his point against her. Two great bar
risters were to be brought from Lon
don to assist Giles in his defense, be-
sides another one in York itself
(TO BE CONTINUED)