s own life.
The civil authorities will not unveil the dark past of a man who once
wore the Queen's uniform in honor. General Wragge and the authorities
have softened the blow to Justine Delande, whom he would have made his
dupe. You must only know this, darling, from me--from me, alone! And
so, to shield poor, faithful Justine, we will all leave Jersey at once.
Strange irony of fate. The Viceroy has cabled that Ram Lal Singh has
paid over twenty thousand pounds, to be held for Justine Delande, to
whom Alan Hawke left all his dearly bought bribes; and also the money he
left hidden at Granville--jewels and notes to the value of ten thousand
pounds more. The wages of sin, even death, was all he gained, and,
strangely, through him, Justine will be shielded from penury; for she
bears a broken heart. All that she knows is of his sudden death.

"And now, darling, for I must tell you, the assassin of your father
has saved his miserable life by a full confession made to General
Willoughby. None but myself must ever tell you that your father's
memory, your uncle's liberty were all involved in a tangled story
of olden greed, intrigue, shame, and crime. Let the dead past rest
unchallenged. The seal of the tomb will be unbroken. And it is your
mother's tender love that will gild your bridal. Let me be your sister
forever. None but you and I must know the history until others have a
right to it."

"Has--has Harry told you of our coming marriage?" faltered Nadine,
hiding her head in her kinswoman's breast. There were fleeting blushes
as rosy as the Alpenglow now tinging her pale cheek. Nadine Johnstone
saw her new-found sister now glowing in a woman's gentle triumph. She
had a secret of her own!

It was Alixe's turn to beg a fond heart's throbbing sympathy when she
whispered, "General Wragge advises and the Viceroy insists that we
leave the island at once. Captain Anstruther must soon report to His
Excellency the Viceroy at Calcutta, for his promotion to a Majority
takes him back to his kinsman's suite. The Earl has been honored with
the control of Her Majesty's Embassy at Paris. And so," the words came
slowly in trembling whispers, "both Anson and Harry have applied for
'special licenses,' and there will be two marriages at Edgemere, instead
of one. Anson gave you to me, through a strange romance, and he demands
to be my loving jailer!

"In three days we can all leave for London. Justine Delande has finished
her solemn duty even