The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1851-08-30

women" said Colleti; "your secret,
serious one as it is, is safe with me-o'a
conditions ~
Lost-lost! am lostw murmured
Emma. ..z........ -......z.
"By no means" said Colleti, bring
ing his hideous face close to hers, "you
are saved instead of lost-saved on con-
ditionS En t @
"Conditionsm m gasped Emma.
eyes, can you not guess W
"Guess! IL will consent TO Danish
him forever. | have done so. | will
lead life of tears and bitter repent
ance. will pray for pardon"
z; Phol phoP,zoFied Colleti, " no such
thing. Leave prayers to the saints and
tears to children; never shed one in
my life. As for banishing your lover,
that's all very well. All ask of you
is to replace him with richer, more
powerful, and quite as devoted one."
Emma gazed at him as if scarcely
understanding the import of his words,
and emboldened by her silence, he con-
tinued-
"All you have to do, my charming
Emma. in order to insure yourself the
twin blessings of concealment and love,
is to transfer to me the delicious kisses
that you yesterday so freely gave to
another.n
Monsterw
GAS you please" said Colleti. "Just
cast your snowy arms around my neck,
and press those dear, pouting lips to
mine, while you breathe in my ear the
fervent words, 'Colleti, | love you.'"
Emma sprung to her feet, and with
more force than it would be supposed
she was capable of possessing, pushed
him from her, crying
"Wretch! thou hated and abhorred
wretch! dishonor, death-all were pre-
feraLle TO thee. Proclaim my crime,
crush me beneath the weight of my
deep sin-tell my husband that ! am
perjured wife-tell all the world-kill
me; anything else but thy base pol
luting touchp'
Coileti's face became of livid purple
with suppressed rage, as he said
"The passion is well acted. Now for
the kissesm
sHark We, SIR" cried Emma, "you
think that | have no escape from the
coil that is around me- have though.
| can fly for refuge TO death, leaving
the task of retribution to him before
whom your coward nature would shrink
with terror1
aCowardm howled Colleti.
Eyes, cowardn' cried Emma; il
there be on Gods earth one coward
more contemplate and base than an
other. Ills he who, having the power to
blast the virtue of a woman, comes to
make conditions for his silence. Coward
base cowardn' .zzs-ae
Now, then, hear me-" said Colleti.
"If by tomorrow / find you in no more
complying mood, Mr.. Markham shall
know all; and when you are turned,
guilty wretch, from your home, yon
will perhaps be glad to take refuge IN
the arms of him you now treat with SO
much scornr'
':Never-neverm gasped Emma; ;"I
can still die"
No." sneered Colleti, "women are
hard TO kill You will not die. | will
leave you now. Think on my words
reflect on my power. Your husband
and your lover are both in my hands
you may destroy or save them. | know
ALL" e7
Colleti departed, leaving Emma
prey to every agonizing feeling that
can rend the human heart.
The morrow came, and Emma saw
the bright sunlight with a shuddering
horror. Again and again she asked
herself the fearful questions
"What horrors may occur before yon
sun again sinks in the west2 Shall |
see it rise tomorrow, or is this day to- be
my last p
Mr.. Markham saw with deep anxiety,
which he did not attempt to conceal,
the deep depression under which Emma
was laboring. He endeavored by every
possible kindness and attention to rem
der her more cheerful; and to such
mind as Emma's, what agony it was to
receive from him she had SO much IN
jared such affection and solicitude.--
But one idea possessed her mind, and
that was, that George would act upon
her letter and fly forever from England,
and then she would seek oblivion IN
death from the memory of the past.
With a calm and awful resolution she
arranged all this in her mind, and
although her face was gastly pale, and
there was look upon her countenance
of unutterable woe, she did not betray
by even stray word the deep anguish
Of her soul.
In vain Mr.. Markham earnestly en-
treated her to allow him to send for a
physician. She replied to all his solicit
tations in the negative. s 4
[" No. shall be better" she would
say. q Do not heed my looks they are
faiIacious-I am not ill.n 3
e q MY dear.n said Mr.. Markham, al
am afraid you do not see enough cheer
full company. When ] am away all the
day upon business, you are too much
alone. | am very glad we shall have
some visitors again today
q Visitors to-day % exclaimed Emma.
Yes, CoIleti has quite invited him.
self and you know could not very well
say, You shall not come so | pressed