White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1859-08-04
after a few moments of silence.

after few moments of silence.
"Why, from the deductions Of my owl
reason. Of course l shall not allow hin
to be with you any more, and it is no
probable that there will be an Academia
meeting. since your sphere Of life will b
totally different"
"Not allOsc him, sir ?" iterated Adele
while slight flush suffused her face.
"Of course not. fair girl"
"You speak as one"
"Who has authority" interrupted tht
Jesuit. with strange smile. "For so il
is. And now 1 will tell you what yor
have long desired to know-why YOU
have been brought here, and why l have
troubled myself so much to get you into
my power. 1 suppose you would like tc
hear it."
YES" family articulated Adele.
Then listen. When 1 promised your
mother to protect you, she also made me
a promise, and that was that you should
be mine-that you should be to me q
companion and helpmate. Ihave never
given up this pledge, nor have 1 relin,
quiShed the hopes which l founded upon
it."
II do not understand" said the maid.
en-, in hesitating whisper.
"Do not? Why, it is very plain. ]
simply mean that l would make you my
wife. Can anything be palmer than
that 90
Adele st. Aulnay started half up from
her chair, and then sank back again. Her
face, which was before pale, had now
changed to an ashy hue, and her hands
were clasped convulsively upon her bo-
som.
"You understand me now, do you not?''
the Jesuit asked, with peculiar sparkle
of the eye.
"Oh. God no /! she gasped. Il do
not understand"
81 said you were to become my wife. -
"Oh, no! no! You do not mean that!
you do not mean that %
"But 1 do, most lovely maiden. do
mean that you are to be my own wife; and
l trust that now you can understand me. ="
"But you cannot marry" cried Adele.
"And why not, pray >"
"You are a priest-a monk"
"No, no, pretty one." returned the
Jesuit, with a malignant smile. 81 am
no such thing. Because it has suited me
to sometimes wear near the dress Of friar,
that does not make me the thing l repre-
sent. No, no. am under no VOW OF
celibacy. l am but a civil officer of the
Pope Of Rome. and a member of the So
ciety of Jesuits-a mere layman. Now,
rest easy on that score, for your marriage
shall be as honorable as you can wish"
"But cannot-ohl will not be your
wife. l know You will have mercy, and
that"
"Stop, stop. Adele St. Aulnay." And
as the jesuit thus spoke, he arose from
his chair, and stood in front of the trem-
bling girl. His hands were laid together
most emphatically, and the compression
of the lips and the sparkle of the eyes,
showed that in his soul he had determin-
ed upon the course he would pursue. 81
know the nature of your SEX" he contin-
ued, speaking very slowly, and with fear
full distinctiVeness, "and l know the sub
stance of all you would say to me. but l
wish not to hear it. Now, listen to what
l say, for be assured / mean it: 1 have,
ever since You were placed in my hands,
which was nineteen years ago, when you
were only few months old, looked upon
you or thought of you, as my wife. 1t
has been the only real event of the future
upon which my life-plans have hung de-
terminately. Now, the time has come
when my plans are to be met and con-
You are now in my power
YOU are mine in every sense of the word
and on the whole face Of the earth there
rests not a power or right that can take
YOU from me. You-dre-to-6e-my-
wifs! All heaven, and earth, and hell,
combined, cannot annul the contract, or
turn me from my purpose. Now, lady,
YOU are saved all further questions and
pleadings. / hope you understand J"
Adele did understand. The terrible
meaning was not dark to her now. She
eazed a moment into the face of the Jes-
nit fiend, and then she sank back upon
the chair, and reason had left her. The
blow had fallen upon heart already shat
tered, and it struck her down beneath its
weight. The Jesuit gazed upon her as
she thus sank back, but in q moment
more, he started forward and seized her
by the arm, or she would have fallen to
the floor. As soon as he could place her
where she would not fall, he went and
called old Maude. The woman came,
and in her hand she bore letter. Nal
Crida took it, and the wax bore the seal
Of Catherine de Medicis.