The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1851-09-06

Do you indeed Z"
"Aye, do your worst. Monster Of
vice-villain as you are, we may vel
escape you"
My 2" said Colleti, " my worst
young man. you can have no notion in
your puny mind | could destroy you,
Markham, and this female here, who
will in time be brought to love me as
easily-aye, as easily as l could save
you alp
"This must be some hideous Dream y
cried Emma, "there can be no human
heart so devoid of common humanity"
at may be a Dream" said Colleti,
s only think of awaking in my arms.o
81 can bear this insolence no longer,n
said George.
As he spoke, he rose and dealt Colleti
such blow in the face that his guant
frame swerved under it, and he nearly
lost his balance Then for an instant a
storm of passion seemed to be kindling
in his eye; but that again dissipated
although blood was upon his face and
a large confused wound betokened the
force of the blow, he laughed, actually
laughed, and rising from chair into
which he had staggered under the in-
f1uence of the sudden attack upon him,
he rang the bell as calmly as if nothing
had happened.
The summons was answered in mo-
tuent by Mary, who from the quickness
of her entrance, could not have been far
from the key-hole of the room door.
Colleti took letter from his pocket
and handed it to the girl
Mary" he said "stand in the hall,
and when yonr master comes in do you
give him this letter, and beg him to read
it at once.n .-...- .....s
" Certainly, sir" replied the girl, and
Immediately left the room.
At that moment Mr.. Markham's well
known knock sounded on the street
door. an@
"There is yet time,n said Colleti,
+" say you will love me-"
He darted towards Emma and seized
her arm.
"No, no." she cried death is pre-
ferable."
Another moment, and all is lostw
Let all be lost, thenw
Colleti through his clenched teeth
uttered a bitter-an appalling curse,
and walked to the window.
George stood motionless with his
hands clasped in mute despair He
cnnld moi niove-he could not speak
he could not even tnlnK. II seemed TO
him as if the world was coming that
to an end Again Mr. Mark
hams knock sounded on the street door,
and it would seem as if Mary suspected
she would be called back, but such was
not the case. Colleti never looked
from the window at the second knock.
and Emma and George kept profound
silence. They heard the door opened
they could almost hear the beating
of each others hearts. Suddenly there
was a rushing sound of footsteps
George instinctively flew to Emma's
side. She threw her arms about him,
and with piercing shrek tainted on
his breast.
"The time has passed." exclaimed
Colleti.
George heard him not. His eyes
were riveted on the door. and his whole
attention was absorbed in expectation
of the immediate appearance of Mr.
Markham. Still he came not. Nay,
if it were he, he had evidently rushed
past the door to the upper part of the
house
A look of surprise even began to
creep over the countenance Of Colleti,
when again the hurried step was heard
descending the flight of steps leading
10 the rooms above, and the next mo-
ment the room door was dashed open,
and Mr. Markham appeared, pale,
ghastly, and dreadfully excited, with
he open letter in one hand and brace
If pistols in the other, which he had
been 10 his bedroom to procure.
Villain! ~ cried Markham, fixing
lis flashing eyes upon George; ''villain
-false-hearted wretch! have nour-
shed serpent in my bosom, and it has
'tung me n
Mr.. Markham" said George, !" am
here. Take my life. if it so please you. /
You cannot reproach me more than |
10 myself. Say TO me what you please,
Ind then kill me-"
No w shrieked Markham, "I will |
lot die on the scaffold for wretch like
'ou. Mr.. Colleti, you are here wit
less. Here are pistols; take your
,hoice, yon black-hearted villain! One
u both Of rs shall perish here, in this
oom.n
"You are certainly a very injured |
nan. my dear Markham remarked
1olleti. @
aTake your weapon, sir. Quick
Iuickm screamed Markham, thrusting
he pistols close to George, who took
me Of them with the distracted air of
man in dream. "
Mr.. Markham turned and retreated
everal steps; then, facing George, who
eld the pistol listlessly in his hand, he
ried- @ i#
Fire! FIRE! revenge!n
A deafening report followed, and
vhen the smoke cleared away, George
rant was still standing ike one in a
rance, and Mr.. Markham was lying
n the floor with a ghastly wound in
fA n. 4