Bridlington and Quay Gazette. — 1897-08-13 (Bridlington, Humberside, England)

CHAPTER VIII.-NETELICA AS AN AUTOCRAT. •  Netelka went on her way, with as much surprise in her heart as she had left behind her among the occupants of the smoking-room. This Gerald Waller, against whom she had begun by conceiving a violent prejudice, had proved to be no scowling, dark-faced villain as she had imagined him, but a decidedly prepossessing person. 'Under the middle height, of slender and boyish figure, with a beardless face, of which the prinicpel features were a pair of large light blue eyes, a short nose, and a humorous mouth. Gerard looked even younger than his years. Netelka at once decided that, of the three young men she had to deal with, he was the most striking personality, and she knew that, if she were going to take the stand she intended, it was upon Gerard that she must first try her hand. She was so much interested to find the enemy less repellant tha nshe had expected, that when she came down, dressed for dinner, into the drawingroom, her face had lost the worried anxious look which it had worn since the trial. She had made up her mind to make an active protest, that very rf tht, against the gambling, for which she was sure the company had assembled. And if Linley would aot give her an opportunity of making it to him, .me would make it to the whole assembly. The decisitfn had given a little extra colour to her cheeks, a little more brilliancy than usual to' her black eyes. She found the whole party—for her husband and Moseley had now returned, waiting for her in the long, pleasant room, where deep window seats, and real cosy corners (not the modern upholsterer's mia r amed imitations), invited to enjoyment of book or tete-a-tete. The young men had all put on evening dress in her honour, and all wore that look of excited expectancy which is the proper tribute to the arrival of a beautiful woman.  —..-...—. There was a lull in the talk, and all heads were turned in her direction, as she entered, looking her very best in black velvet, with large sleeves o! orange-coloured silk, veiled with black lace. Gerard, who was the nearest to the door, offered her a chair. But she would not sit, being conscious, perhaps, that she looked more regal and therefore more likely to create the impression she wanted, with her train sweeping the ground behind her as she moved. Mr. Moseley could not conceal nis terribly evident admiration. Netelka felt that. she wished that h 3 would not 3mile so much as he almost ran forward and told her that she looked like a queen. "And that is exactly what I intend to be," east Netelka, significantly, letting her ey3s rest for a 'Dement on his smirking face with grest gravity. "And I mean to rule with a sceptre of iron." 'filen she caught Gerard's light blue eyes fixed upon her. Be had his hands still on the hack of the high chair he had offered her. "Ifs not a good beginning," he said, "to refuse your throne." "Why not? Doesn't it show a Famous modesty, and a wish to enjoy myself amiably among my subjects?" "I didn't a., it in tint light," said Gerard. "It looked to me too much like independence. And independence i na Sovereign in these Radical due is not to be tolerated for a moment. In fact, you've got to understand, your majesty, +kat o ire a queen only as long as your subjects please • that we will bow and kw your hands most loyally as long as you do just what we choose, just ss we choose; but that the moment you do the smallest thing we don't like, it's all up with Your. sovereignty.” Netellta laughed, and so did the others, Who were listening. They were all conscious, perhaps. that there was a little inure than mere idle d..ritpr rr) till up the time in the combat Of wits. Zietelka'a retort to her representative mbjects'utade her husband frown. "Perhaps I shall risk my crown in one grand  • • . . •  Tor Dream. nut as t lay, a nameless horror seized me—a horror of something which lay beside me—a something which I had neither touched nor seen, but of which every fibre of my body was conscious, and which caused my very flesh to creep on my bones, as it shrank back, shuddering from fear of contact. In one second I had drawn a box of matches from my pocket, and had struck a light; and then there rang out a shriek more awful than hell has ever known, for that something which lay beside me, was the body of the woman I had murdered, and which the waters had washed down from the crevice in which I had placed it, and carried to my feet an answer to my prayer.  "You have been ill, Monsieur," said the landlord of the hotel, when, on opening my eyes and finding myself lying on the bed which I had previously occupied, I asked him what had happened. "How long? and who is that?" I inquired, pointing to a man in uniform who stood near the window.  Monsieur, is a police officer, and you have been ill three weeks, and no wonder! You were found in the cavern—with Madame. Madame was dead, and— well the officer is waiting for you to explain." "Call the man here," I answered, but he was already beside me. "My good sir," he said, not unkindly, " there is really no need for anxiety. The doctors are all of opinion from the direction of the shot that it was a case of suicide, but the circumstances are unpleasant, and—well, you will have to explain them."  can explain them," I replied. "Of course you can, of course you can," he said "but don't let us talk about it now, for anything you say will be taken down, and might be used against you." "It .will not matter, in view of what I have to say," I answered, "for the woman you found was murdered, and I am her murderer." [The End.]