The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1862-03-11

honor Of my husband"
"Victorele, listen to me-" exclaimed
her companion in tone of earnestness 4:
" | loved you when you was little child
in Italy. followed you to America,
and the love of my boyhood grew in
strength and compass. / asked you to
share my future, yet you turned away
with disgust painted on your brow. You
scorned the affection OF one Of your own
countrymen, and became the wife of Paul
Chester, an American statesman. l have
blded my time, but now | swear to you
that my hour of revenge has come. You
shall either leave your husband and fly
with me, or to-night l will push you out
of time into eternity.''
Victorelle Chester's lips grew white as
marble. and stepping back she lifted the
covering from her babe.
" Look at her-my Maude, my beau
tiful darling All, you cannot be in
earnest-you do not mean that you will
by one cruel blow make her life mother
less and desolate"
F." | am not jesting with you" replied
the stern man. elf you refuse to 90
with me, death shall be your fate. The
word OF Gustave st. John is pledged ,and
1t shall not be broken
Nictorelle lifted the fair haired babe
from its couch, and extended il towards
her prosecutor. appeaingly:
" Gustave," she said, speaking IN her
own beautiful lang uage LET me call
you once more by that name, as in the
days when we were playmates beneath
the bright warm skies of our own Italy.
Perhaps memory of that happy child
hood may soften your heart, coming up
TO you through the weary years that have
followed. Not for my husband or my
self, hut for my child, l pray you to re-
lent See how sweetly she smiles on
you, even in her sleep Spare to her
the mother who idolizes her, and | will
teach her to pray for you every day of
hel life"
Gustayc St. John set his teeth firmly
together, and spoke in low, hurried
tone !: =" ! see in your child only the
picture of your husband for him | have
neither pity or mercy, and my decision
is final
The italian blood leaped to Victorelle' 5
face IN fierce torrent. Il plead no
more" said she, in clear firm voice.
=" L come of the proud race who never
bend to mortal power, But with all my
feeble strength, | will defend myself and
child"
He had advanced towards her while
she was speaking, and now, as she de J
posted her child in the crib, seized both
her hands in his own. In vain she strug
gled to free them. 1t was but the work
Of moment to bind them securely with a
stout cord, and then, fastening bandage
across her eyes. and another over her
mouth, he raised her slight form in his
powerful arms, and walked from the cot
tage. Down the path towards the sea.
he hurried, and when he reached the
roaring surf lie unmoored frail boat
and placed her at the helm.
4 cannot kill you with my own hands,
Victorelle," said the man, removing the
covering from her mouth but. help
less and blinded, | send you adrift on
the sea TO meet your death. Do YOU re-
lent ?"
She shook her head. q am power
less now, Gustave St John, but as heav-
en- is my witness, | shall one day be ter
ribly avenged. said the daunlless VIC
Tim
The cloud on his brow darkened, and
he pushed the boat from the shore. The
waves carried il beyond his reach in.
stantly. and then, when too late, the bet
ter impulses of his nature triumphed.
" Come back, Victorelle Oh my
God !" he cried in agony. but in vain.
And with the echo of shrek lingering
in his ears, Gustaye ST. John fled back to
the cottage. That night blue. eyed
babe was left on the door stone Of a
wealthy merchant in neighboring town,
and accompanying ii was the request
that she might be called Maude. And
from that day no one saw Gustave ST.
John in the vicinity Of Paul Chester )
cottage.
For two years had Victorele been the
wife of Paul Chester, who was a wealthy
statesman. aud noble souled man. To
crafty her intense passion for solitude
and the sea, in autumn he had purchas
ed the cottage on the beach, and when il
was fitted up with elegant furniture. had