The Marshall republican., 1909-05-28
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til ~. .1ynOLLY ELLIOT sENWEu
.IY Jolly ELLIOT SEAWTII,

Lady Hawkshaw began to dance.
Such dancingi It was of the kind
that was fashionable before the Amer
lean war, and introduced SO many cuts,
capers. pigeon-wings, slips, slides and
pirouettes, that 1t was really an art
IN itself. And her agility was sur
prising. With her train over her arm,
her tiara blazing. and her bird of para
disc nodding violently, Lady Hawk
shaw's small. high-bred feet twinkied.
She was a large woman, too, and she
proved that her boast about her legs
was well founded. When she came
face to face with Sir Thomas Vernon
In the dance, instead Of turning him.
she folded her arms and sailed around
him, carefully avoiding touching his
hand, And he, the old sinner, being
acquainted with that ancient style OF
dancing, made a caper so exactly like
her ladyship's, with so grave a coun-
tenance, that the whole ballroom was
in a litter. But although the people
might laugh at Sir Thomas excellent
mimicry, the sentiment was totally
against him. and he found dificulty in
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ladies to. dance with him. With Lady
Hawkshaw, on the contrary, 1t was
every mans desire to dance; she was
besieged with partners, young and old
but having shown what she. could do,
she rested upon her laurels, and ga.
In state the rest of the evening, fan
ming herself with vast dignity and con
posture, and occasionally swapping at
Sir Peter. who, It must be admitted,
{ made nc great figure at a ball.
At last It was. over, and we returned
to our lodgings. The; next day but
one we were on our way to the assize
hall for the trial Of Giles Vernon.
A tremendous crowd was present, and
there was difficulty In gaining an en-.
trance; some one, however, In the mul.
titude set up a shout Of way for Lady
Hawksbaw!" and the people fell back,
leaving as a clear path, to the door,
and into the hall Itself.
Within that place OF judgment all
was dignity and decorum. The lords
Justices in their robes and wigs sat
like statues; and, presently, when we
were all seated and the crier had pro-
nounced the court open, Giles Vernon
was brought in and placed In the pris-
oners' dock. He looked pale from his
confinement, but I thought L had never
seen his plain features SO nearly hand
some. His fine figure was nobly set
on by the identical brown and silver
suit which the poor fellow had bought
for his wedding with Lady Arabella,
and, In a fash, came back to me that
strange vision / had had at his Lon
don lodgings on the night that this I'M
fortunate elopement was first talked
OF. between us. My heart stood still,
and I grew sick and faint at the recol-
lection OF the rest Of that dream. or
revelation, or whatever It was.
Giles, meanwhile, had bowed re-
spectfully to the judges, then to the
assembled people, who very generally
returned his salutation with every
mark OF politeness. Turning to where
we sat. he bowed and smiled. We all
rose, and Lady Hawkshaw and Daphne
made him deep curtseys. A jury was
soon selected and sworn, and the first
witness called was Lady Arabella
Stormont.
In a moment she entered, leaning
upon the arm OF Sir Thomas Vernon,
and was by him escorted to her place
in the witness-box.
Her beauty was almost unearthly.
She wore a black gown and a simple
white cap, under which the curls of
her rich hair shone like Furnished
gold. She vas perfectly composed,
and, after being sworn. began her
story In a manner the most quiet and
calm. A deep stiffness -eigned through
the vast room, and every N In II
caught her lowest word.
Her testimony was entirely clear
and straightforward. She related the
circumstances of her being dragged
of, while coming out Of the playhouse
at Scarborough; of finding herself
along in the chaise With Giles Vernon.
who told her he was taking her e
Scotland to marry. her; that she strug
gled violently and endeavored to gel
out of the chaisa and that she was
withheld by force by Giles. who
severely hurt her wrists, causing blood
to flow; and finally, that when she be
gan to scream. Giles put his hand Over
her mouth and stifed her cries. She
said that this conduct was kept up the
whole OF the night, Until they reached
Gretna Green at daylight; that all the
time Giles wal imploring her to marry
him, then threatening TO kill himself
or her; and that she told him many
times she preferred death to marriage
with him: and at last, on reaching
Gretna Green. she defed him and es
capped from him.
When she had concluded there was
an Aominous stiffness for a time. ant
then | saw something which struck
chill TO my heart, 4 had stealthily KEEP
my eyes ixed on the Judges to sec
whether they CAV in their counter
ances any signs OF lenity or severity
They were altogether unmoved, ex
cept one. who was reported to be 1
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