Evening star., 1924-05-08
Mistress Wilding
By Rafael Sabatini
Author of "Scaramouche" captain Blood"
Copyright by Company
By Rafael Sabatini


me--failed me because he had be-
trayed and sold me-"
He had not. L tell you he had
not" she insisted "I swear it"
| He stared at her. There was no
one else for it, he made answer, and
bade her harshIy>stand aside.
Diana, huddled together, watched
and waited in horror for the end of
these consequences OF her work.
Blake made a sudden movement to
win past Ruth. Richard staggered
j to his feet intent on defending him
self; but he was swordless; retreat
| to the door suggested itself, and he
had half turned to attempt to gain it,
when Ruth's next words arrested him,
petrified him.
There was some one else for it, Sir
Rowland" she cried. TT was not
Richard who betrayed you. lit
was t.
Your The fierceness seemed all
| TO drop away from him, whelmed in
the immensity of his astonishment.
scornful disbelief. You think to
save him." he said.
Should L lie?" she asked him. calm
and brave.
He stared at her stupidly; he pass
ed hand across his brow and looked
| at Diana "Oh, it is impossible.' he
said at last.
You shall hear" she answered, and
told him how at the last moment she
had learned not only that her hus-
band was in Bridgewater, but that he
was to sup at Newlington's with the
dukes party.
II had no thought of betraying you
or of saving the duke" she said. IT
knew how justifiable was what you
intended But 1 could not let Mr..
Wilding go to his death. 1 sought to
detain him, warning him only when
L fhnnPht 10 re
him to warn others. But you delayed
overIong, and"
A hoarse inarticulate cry from him
came to interrupt her at that point
One glimpse of his face She had and
of the hand half raised with sword
pointing toward her, ard she closed
her eyes, thinking that her sands
That he should owe his betrayal to
her was in itself cause enough to en-
rage him, but that her motive should
have been her desire to save Wilding
-Wilding of all men.-that was the
last straw.
Had he been forewarned that Will
ding was to be one of Monmouth's
party at Mr.. Newlingtons his pulses
would have throbbed with joy, and
he would have flung himself into his
murderous task with twice the zest
he had carried to 1t. And now he
learned that not only had she thwart-
but had deprived him of the ardently
sought felicity of widowing her. He
drew back his arm for the thrust;
Diana huddled into her chair too hor
ror-stricken to speak or move: Rich
ard-immediately behind his sister
saw nothing of what was passing,
and thought of nothing but his own
safety.
Then Blake paused, stepped back,
returned his sword to it's scabbard,
and bending himself-but whether to
DOW or not was not quite plain-he
took some PAGES backward, then turn
ed and went out by the window as he
had come. But there was a sudden
purposefulness in the way he did it
that might have warned them this
withdrawal was not quite the retreat
it seemed
They watched him with many emo
tions, predominant among which was
relief, and when he was gone Diana
rose and came to Ruth.
Come" she said, and sought to
lead her from the room.
But there was Richard now to be
reckoned with, Richard from whom
the palsy was of sudden fallen, now
He had his back to the door, and his
weak mouth was pursed up into
semblance of resolution, his pale eyes
looked stern, his white eyebrows bent
together in a frown-
Wait" he said. They looked at
him, and the shadow of a smile al
most fitted across Diana's face. He
stepped to the door, and, opening it,
held it wide. GO, DIANA" he said.
Ruth and 1 must understand each
other"
Diana hesitated. You had better
go, DIANA" said her cousin, where
upon Mistress Horton went
Hot and fierce came the recrimina-
tions from Richards lips when he
and his sister were alone, and Ruth
weathered the storm bravely until it
was stemmed again by fresh fear in
Richard. For Blake had suddenly re-
appeared. He came forward from his
window; his manner composed and
full of resolution. Young Westma-
cott recoiled, the heat all frozen out
of him. But Blake scarce looked at
him; his smoldering glance was ali
for Ruth, who watched him with in
cipient fear, despite herself.
Madam he said, "'tis not be sup
posed a mind holding so much
thought for husbands safety could
find room for any concern rs to an
others. I will ask you, natheless, to