Show MW I 1 ch won 16 I 1 R I 1 A L STORY R DIM lip M a va 9 of she fa LAJ Y E LLA by MOLLY ELLIOT SEAWELL copyright UK 1906 dobbs bobbs merriu merrill co I 1 SYNOPSIS I 1 at 14 years of age admiral sir peter hawkshawe Hawk shaws nep nephew liew richard glyn rell fell deeply in love a at t with lady arabella stormont w who p spurned hla his at tensions tent lons ions Tho ladan orphan waa was given a i berth as midshipman 1 on the ajax by his uncle giles vernon nephew of sir rhomas vernon became the boys pal they attended a theater where hawk shaws nephew saw ladye lady arabella ver non met philip overton next in line for sir thomas vernons Ver estate they started a duel which was interrupted vernon i overton and hawkshawe Hawk shaws nephew found themselves attracted by pretty lady arabella the ajax in battle defeated french warships in the mediterranean richard glyn sot got 2000 prize r ze money he was e called home by lp lady a dy hawkshaw as he i was about to blow in hla his earnings with vernon at a hawkshaw party arty glyn dist covered that lady arabelia arabella Arabe fia was ads a poor fal but persistent gambler he talked much with her cousin daphne lady Av arabella ababella abella again showed love tor for gaming earning later she held glyn and overton prisoners thus delaying the thednel duel in the overton ver non duel neither vai was hurt lady aras bella humiliated richard by her pranks richard mchard and nd giles shipped on a 3 f frigate giles was captured by the r french en ch sir a peter arranged for his ox exchange change H ne n showed a liking for glyn who was then 21 years yeam of age Giles was released a gilas and richard planned elopements elope ments sir peter fleter objected to the plan to wed ff daphne by clever ruses auses giles and rich ard eloped with lady arabella and daphne respectively the latter pair were married daphne was pleased arabella raved in anger when the party returned arabella asked sir peter to rid idd in prosecuting giles in court on the charge of committing a capital crime all attended the trial CHAPTER IX continued the evidence being all in and the arguments made a recess was taken we were not the only ones who paid our respects immediately to giles vernon many persons went forward and shook his hand while I 1 think sir thomas did not receive a cordial greet ing from a single man or woman in the hall ball although he was known to every one present we got a hurried dinner at the tavern and returned at once to the hall it was about half past four in the winter t er afternoon and the day being dark and lowering candles were required the lord justices instructions to the jury were then read and my heart sauk sank as in a dreadful monotone he expounded the law to them alas As long as thet the statute kute against the abduction I 1 tio n of an heiress remained giles vernon was guilty of a capital crime and botone not one word uttered by yany any one of us who testified in his behalf did aught but prove the more strongly that he had carried lady arabella oft off against her will the jury retired and the day having been fatiguing the lords Judt justices ices de ter mined to waif in their retiring room for an hour where they could be called callea it if the jury promptly r reached a verdict this troubled me this thia expectation pec tation of bf a quick decision the judges having retired and sua su i the sitting of the court wo we at onca went over and sat with giles who maintained perfectly his hia manly 1 composure he laughed with sir peter over some of the events of the fight between the ajax and her two enemies complimented lady hawkshaw upon her triumph over the laws lawn of the i land rela relating to evidence and said many kind things to daphne while we were in the midst of a cheer cheerful ul conversation and not observant of what was gong on in the other part of tho the hall wo we suddenly heard the crier proclaiming the entrance of their lordships lord ships and at the same moment sir thomas vernon entered hy by another door hanging on his arm was lady arabella stormont and then the jury filed in with solemn faces and what followed all seemed to me like some horrid dream although several ier persons sons were moving about there seemed to me a dreadful silence and although though hl the candles burned and a great hobgoblin of a moon peered in at the windows there seemed an awful darkness and after a time in which I 1 was oppressed by this ghostly silence and darkness I 1 saw the senior lord justice put on a black cap and sentence giles vernon to be hanged by the neck until he was dea dead that thai day fortnight jr my eyes roved aimlessly around and fell at that moment on lady arabella Si stormont ormont A faint smile on her lovely mouth lf CHAPTER R X i jn ian that hour of horror I 1 bee became m e cef weaker aker and more helpless than the 1 weakest and most helpless woman sir peter and lady hawkshaw were too stunned studded to think I 1 remember now the look of despair on sir peters countenance where I 1 had bad never bemy r 0 senses seemed preternaturally acute fore seen anything but sturdy courage and it was an added terror and the one who retained retain edher her senses who suggested a forlorn hope was daphne the youngest the least experienced of us all to london she said to the king for pardon I 1 myself will go upon my knees to him he shall hall he shall pardon giles gewere we were all huddled together then in our parlor at the inn having just returned from the assize hall richard and I 1 will go said sir peter and da daphne p ahne and I 1 will stay and comfort giles spoke lady hawkshaw A week to london and a week to return was easy traveling but how long along would it take us to reach the king and what ministers would be in town and what would be the earliest moment we could leave london londen all these things were in m our minds to torment us nevertheless within hilf an hours we were on our way while we were demanding the best horses and having them put to an insolent groom came in the stable yard and asked aaker for horses tor for sir thomas and lady arabella stormont and lady marabellas Ara bellas companion mrs whitall and two ser Tants tor for london the head hostler replied roughly that they had no time to attend him then as they were starting staring sir peter hawk sh awand shaw and mr glyn off for london too to beg mr giles vernons Ver life the man at this grew saucy and offered a handsome bonus for the horses which were then being put to for us I 1 caught caugh thim him by the collar and threw him out of the stable yard where the hustlers hostlers host lers drubbed grubbed him soundly thank god one hurried kiss to daphne a brief farewell between sir peter and lady hawkshaw Hawlish aw and we were off for london our race into scotland was nothing to it the roads were much cut up and although we traveled day and night we were more than four days on the w way ay we reached london early in the day and without stopping for food or to chango change our linen we went to the admiralty there we got the information that the first lord was visiting in the country in kent within the hour I 1 was on my way to kent when i I 1 reached the place the first lord had left not more than two hours before tor for london I 1 had passed himon him on the fae road without knowing him I 1 re rb turned to london sir pete had seen several members of the government meanwhile and had been privately informed that the king was suffering mentally and although hopes were entertained that the spell would pass away without the necessity of informing the country or parliament still access to him was wab refused to all by his physicians except the members of his famia family and immediate household and they were charged not to mention business to him it would be impossible to approach ham I 1 when sir peter told me this I 1 became so weak I 1 was forced to sit down after a fermin few minutes utes of agony a desperate resolve came to me I 1 rose ai and a said 1 I have bev e a scheme desperate bit not impossible go with niel me to the prince princ e of wales he is at carlton hol house d b but goes gods back baci and forth to 1 1 I windsor Si sir peter jum jumped ed at this poor poof chit chance nce and we agreed to go immediately we had left york on i a friday and had reached london on the monday two days had abeen lost in the journey to kent and it was now late in the evening of wednesday we had luckily brought our uniforms along and dressing ourselves in them S bit peter with all his orders sewn on his coat we called a hackney coach and drove to carlton house when we got there it wag was about ten in the evening the windows were brilliantly lighted up and it was about the hour that the prince of wales was known to be in his best humor but the hour when he most hated to be disturbed we descended and the sentries passed us through on account of our uniforms and sir peters decorations on his breast we reached the door and knocked the porter opened the door gingerly when sly sir peter giving it a kick walked in followed by me the man attempted to arrest our progress but sir peter said to him fiercely do you think you damned lackey that you can be insolent to an admiral in his maje service the man apologized humbly and ushered us into a large reception room on the first floor saying he would call the gentleman of the chambers we seated ourselves even in that time of agony I 1 noted the beauty of the room indeed my senses preternaturally acute and every ln in aident of that dreadful time is deeply aed fixed in my mind the ceiling was of gilt while around them the walls were paintings of flora A gilt chandelier diffused light through the apartment and at one side was a pair of large folding doors after a long wait a gentleman mr digby appeared he received rec eved us politely but said it was impossible to di disturb s the prince then as he ws just sitting down to piquet sir peter remained silent he was used to giving orders and the words it is impossible to see his royal hi bigness gness were peculiarly culi cull arly disagreeable to hlen I 1 then made my plea I 1 told mr digby that the life of a gallant officer and gentleman was in jeopardy and that we begged to see his bis royal highness in the hope that the king might be approached that too Is impossible coldly replied mr no by the king Is far from fram well just then some one on the other side olde of the folding doors opened one bof of them the least bit in the world and then closed it but not before we had seen streams of light pouring from it a long table brilliant with plate and ornaments and a company of about 20 gentlemen sitting around it and at one end sat a personage whom we at once recognized as the prince or wales v without a word sir peter arose aroe an anti d darting toward the door for he be was I 1 ever an agile man threw It I 1 open and walked into the presence of his royal highness 4 sir said he marching up to the prince 1 I am admiral sir peter hawkshaw and i A have boarded you so to speak sir in order to save the life of one of the gallan test officers in the service of his majesty I 1 had always heard that his royal highness was a gentleman and I 1 s saw aw then such an exhibition of readiness and good taste as I 1 never saw before and never expect to see again every one at the table except the prince seemed astounded at the sudden entrance and stalling address of a short active little man in an admirals uniform but te tae prince offered sir peter his hand in the coolest manner in the world saying most happy to meet your you sir peter I 1 Te recollect collect well that you carried the I 1 indomitable ble by boarding very successfully but how did you g get et past afi the e watchdogs watch dogs at the door my dear sli sir by carrying sail hard bard your royo royal highness responded sir peter and seeing this door open falth aith said J to myself having risked mj my skin these 40 years rs for the king kin 9 and his successors sure I 1 can risk it once more by walking walking in on my prince and here I 1 am sir ready to state my case that bloody popinjay p jay digby digby was right behind him wanted me to let you alone because you were about to go to piquet but I 1 think no prince of england would sacrifice a mans life to a game of piquet certainly not sir peter answered his royal highness rising and now f I 1 have an hour entirely at your service sir said sir peter petar 1 I ask the honor of shaking hands with you not as a royal prince but as an honest man and good fellow I 1 think the prince was ever susceptible to honest praise for he was no fool andee and he was undoubtedly pleased when sir peter wrung his hand he then led the way into another room and the door was closed the rest of the party behaved very civilly to me and I 1 accepted thankful ly ay an invitation to have something to eat and drink they wore were merciful to me seeing my distress of mind and did not plague me with questions but resumed their conversation with one another TO BE CONTINUED |