For Honour's Sake.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8107, 30 March 1906, Page 2

For Honour's Sake.

By-Bertha ML Clay. Author of" Wife in Name Only," iC Wedded and Parted," "Dora Thome," " A Queen Amomj Women," " A True Magdalene," etc., etc..

'CHAPTER Lli.—Continued

?f "Society" soon became aware of the main faots of the case, and it, was significant that all those who were personally acquainted with Earic stood by him. and held him blameless, in repudiating the -wife to whom he was illegally bound. Some of those who did not know him. condemned him as dishonourable. "He oould marry hor now; he ought to do it," said they. "All very flue," remarked Sir James Feltham, to one such objector. "You don't know Pauline Arnold— L do. I can tell you, my boy, that some men—not ruffians either —would have shot that woman." Both cases were set down for bearing, in their different courts, within three weeks of each other, the conspiracy case coming on first. I The paragraphs m the Vanguard hud ceased, and for a very saiieufc reason, for Captain Stewart walked into the editor's room one morning, and first informing that alarmed person that he was hardly worth a { horsewhipping, proceeded to warn him as to the futuro. "If any more such scandals are published,"" he said, "1 shall be at the pains of breaking a horsewhip across your back. Good-morning!" And no more such "scandals" appeared, but it got about that the editor had been "personally" warned, and his lifo among bis confreres was made very far from pleasant in consequence. ( It waß in the middle of November that the conspiracy charge came on ' for hearing, and if the court had i been ten times larger it could uot Jiave held the crowds of "smart" people who wanted to be present; and, surely, not often are so many aristocratic faces seen among tho .general public as that day jostled in the area of the court with the hum- , bier sort of people. Basil Tollemache, who had been Arrested at his own place in N irfch- , ampfconahire, was still weak from hi» wound. He looked dogged and sullen, and scarcely raised his eyes. His position was a perilous one, aud he knew it. Chris Davenant held himself erect, aud tried to ■"bluff it out," but even he felt abashed when he beheld so many well-known faces, and, after a glanoo at Claude, the nominal prosecutrix, and Stewart, who was close by with Lady Meldune, Mrs Westmore, Major Langdale, and Mao-lan he hardly looked that way again. Claude was very white, but she bore herself bravely, and listened attentively to the able epeech of I her counsel; aud then her name was called and she arose. Maida olaaped her hand for a moment. The girl tried to smile, and raised her eyes to Stewart's. She needed that look of his to give her courage, but the murmur ot admiration that ran through the court at the sight of her youth, aud beauty made her quail. She flashed, then crew deadly "white again. Her voice trembled as she took the oath but she masterod herself, and her first answer was given in clear, steady tones. Esrio's name, his pxesence, were her talisman; she must bear up for his sake. Her account of the abfluotion carried conviction with it. It was impossible to suppose that she had gone willingly with her captors; and it was at once seen, by the cross-exa-mination, that the defendant's counsel only intended to try tor mitigation of punishment on the ground that the prisoner, Tollemache, believed Miss Verner to be at heart well disposed toward him, and that he never intended to keep her in captivity, or do her any real injury, and that Davenant joined with him on those issues. In pursuance of that line he would try to pro re that Claude had - gone with Stewart as her lover, and Banc Stewart set his teeth and held his breath when Davenant's counsel approached the episode of the rescue, and Claude turned half sick with terror; but she never gave way outwardly. But Mr. Green abandoned that ruffianly defence. Claude's answers to her own counsel had made her innocence so clear; her looks, her rescuer's well-known oharaoter, the circumstances, were all so entirely in hor favour that not only the man felt he could not put such cruelly unjust questions to a sinless girl, but to do so would seriously prejudice his clients. lie did not even ask Claude any questions concerning her relations between her and Stewart; but he might not deal quite so gently with Stewart himself. A deep hum went through the crowd when Claude was released. Stewart could only feel a very passion of thankfulness that she wai spared. The worst was over. Wh9ti Claude came baok to her place, feeling half dizzy, for a minute or two, from tin fearful tension, tho unexpected relief, he managed, unseen, to got her hand into his, and pre 33 it closely; and that clasp, and his eyes as they mot hers, said what hi 3 tcngue oould not utter, and gave hor luck the strength that had almost faiiled her. T'leu Captain Stewart him33lf was called, and gwo an account of all that hud happen id siuoe his reception at M lien's tele*r-»ra; and often thoae who knew him—especially aroiy ru3u —smiled as they listened; the whole proceeding wa3 so like a soldier, so pre-eminently like Stewart of Loahmolir! Claude's counsel passed lightly over the shooting episode, but asked more pariaularly—for Claude's sake —about tho Raven's Tower, elioiting tho answers whioh showed Stewart had no choice between that hlaoe and remaining at the woodman's cottage. . ' ' , L'hode answers, the witness' whole mannor aud bearing, made Mr Green despair of gattiui? anything favourble to his clients out of a orossaexamination.

This Scotchman, true soldier and true gentleman, could not possibly be tbo b.iseat of betrayers. But counsel would do his boat. .After a few preliminary questions, be askod: "Now, Captain Stewart, was this very dramatic rescue undertaken by yon for mere friendship?" "I would have done as much for any woman," replied the witness, quietly, "friendship or no friendship." An outburst of app'auae, which maao Mr Gieou frown. The witness paused, he had not spoken for effect, but ho decidedly scored, nevertheless. (To be Continued).