The diamond drill., 1921-09-17

~They Gay kiihcd Him"
helped Dou. Oontinue-please"
Her words had come slowly. IN gasps
almost, and her voice was 10 frayed
he could scarcely recognize H. All the
pride of her nature seemed shattered.
II kiihsd him. he said presently.
1T was becnue he tried to tempt me
from my allegiance 10 the crown, to
become a servant OF France, to-"
He stoppei short. for cry cnme
from her lips which appalled, him
MY Goi-my Godi- she said with
bioodles fips her eyes fastened ON
hts face. her every look and motion
the infection Of despair. Go on-tell
ALL she addai presently with more
composure
Swiftly he described what hap
pened In the little room at the trai-
tors tavern, Of the momentary recon-
ciiiation and the wine that he drank,
drugged wine poured out but not
drunk by Erris Boyne, and OF his later
unconsciousness At last be paused.
"Why did these things not come out
at the trialr she asked In hushed
tones.
He made a helpless gesture 4 aid
not spcak Of them because I thought
OF YOU / hid it, did not want you
10 know what your father was"
Something like smile gathered AZ
her pale ffps "You saved me for the
moment. and condemned yourself for
ever" she said In voice Of tortura
IF you had told what he was--if you
had told that. the jury would not have
condemned you they would not have
sent you % prison"
Il believe I did the right thing" he
said. "If ! killed your father, prison
was my proper punishment. But can't
remember. There was no other clue.
mo other guide TO judgment SO the
law said I killed him. and-he had
evidently not drawn his sword II
was clear he was killed defenseless-
"You killed a defenselcss man T"
IL
That wns mentioned az the trial
but did not believe II then-4n that
long ago. She trembled 10 her feet
from the bench where she WIS sitting.
"And do not believe IL now-no, on
my soul. DO not
but IL makes no difference, yuu
see. was condemned for killing
your father, and the world knows that
Erris Boyne was your father, and
here Lord Mallow. the governor, knows
II and there is no chance OF friend
ship between you and me. You dare
not be friends with mo"
Her face suddenly suffused and she
held herself upright with an effort.
She was about 20 say. Il dare, Dyck---
do dare y but he stopped her with a
reproving gesture.
"No, no, you dare not, and would
not let you II you would. am an ex-
convict They say killed your fa-
ther, and the way TO understanding
between us Is closed"
She made protesting gesture
CLOSED Closed But Is II closedf
No, no, some one else killed him, not
you You couldn't have done II. You
would have fought hlm-fought him
as you did Lord Mallow, and In fight
Ing You might have killed him. but
your sword never let out his life
when he was defenseless-never."
A look OF intense relief. almost of
happiness, came 70 Dyck's face. That
is like You, Sheila. but II does not
cure the trouble. You and I are az
far apart as noon and midnight. The
law has said the only thing that can
be said upon II"
She sank down again upon the
wooden bench. 'NOh. how mad you
were, not 10 Tell the whole truth long
ago You would not have been CON
demned, and then"
She paused. overcome, and his self
control almost deserted him. With
strong feeding he burst out: And
then we might have como togetherf
No, your mother-your friends. myself
could not have bet that be. See, Sheila,
VIII tell You the whole truth now
aye. the whole absolute truth. l have
loved you since the first day I saw
you ON the hills. Not a day has
passed snce then. when you were not
more 10 me than any other woman In
all the world
A new light came into her face the
shadows left her eyes and tho pallor
fed from her lips. You loved meT-
she said IN voice grown soft--hushy
stiil but son as the light In sum-
mcr heaven You loved ma-ond
have always loved me since we first
metT'
Il have afwnys loved you. shcfla.
and shall DO 80 while I have breath
and life. I have always given you the
best that ls In me. tried to do what
xas rood - us both. sinca mr. mis-