North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1863-06-24
Sel&tt Storp.
BY ELIZA s. PRATT.

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uttered these words, drew his hat over his
eyes, and, with flushing brow and burning
cheek, rushed from the apartment. But his
foot was yet upon the threshold and his
hand upon the door lock, when low, scarce
ly heard voice fell upon his ear, yet so deep
and passionate, that he stopped as if SPELL
bound to the place.
"Stay. Eugene, there is yet one condition
on which my hand is yours; one which
have not, and burst not name to you yet
perhaps you can bear it now )" and the blue
eyes Of the young girl were raised to his
with an expression not easy to define, com
bining, as it did, both subtlety and frank
ness, passion and perhaps indifference.
The youth re-clo>ed the door, and drew
near the beautiful speaker-beautiful she
was, if almost perfect features and a fault
less form combined, can constitute beauty
and listened with parted lips, and dilating
eyes, as she went on.
You do not know, perhaps, what it is to
feel as do, thirst for PowER-a desire
combined with the very essence Of your be-
ing and growing up from day to-day, till it
has become mighty and unconqu.rable pas
sion, a terrible THIRST. to which everything
els is as nothing you do not know, per-
haps, what it is to look upon your fellow
men-those who now in their might look
down upon you-and to feel that you must
and will have dominion over them, to know
that the day shall come, in which those who
now tower above you, shall cringe and fawn
at your feet-fawn for the very favors that
now they DARE deny you you do not
know this perhaps" (and the color sank
gradually from the cheek Of the girl, leaving
it of an ashv paeness as she went on, but
| I have known it, and felt it from my earli-
est childhood. Ever since I have known
what it was to think or feel, have thirsted
for dominion over others, and have felt that
the time would come knew not when or
| how, that this pa ssion of my life would find
its reality. These hopes grew to palpabllity;
and now ask, must this passion have so
nurtured from nv infancy, be crushed forev-
| er ?"
The youth recolled from her touch, as ir
the impulse of the moment she approached
| him, and laid her slender finger upon his arm
and mis- eyes, for perhaps he first time il
| + is life, dropped beneath the almost burning
gaze of her whom he had so loved while .
| light shiver crept over his frame as he re.
Piled
Go on do not as yet perfectly com
prehend you"
No! you cannot but know you not
ttat woman seldom arrives at this power
unless through another ?"
"Ha he exclaimed, drawing pace back
wards, and shading his brow with his hand
She whom you marry then, must posses,
this power-this talisman of nights it
50 2"
"You have rightly divined-he mu st have
it, in some way or other or he can never full
ly possess my beart2'
"And you have recalled me, Margaret, tc
tell me this, to put new unconquerable
barrier between us. Why did you not suf
fer me to leave the house and you forever
without this new burden upon my heart p
"I recalled you, Eugene, to give you HOPE
the only hope could give you---and tt
show you the way to the realization of all
your dreams. Get possession of this tails
man-be above others, and am yours, heart
| o,l ~ onA ha oaocaI
ing. she threw herself into fateuit, and
calmly watched the effect of this dangerous
revelation.
There was long pause, in which a strange
variety of emotions were futterDg in the
breast of Eugene Reyburn. If ever man
loved, purely and deeply, he had loved the
girl before him but until row he had moi
penetrated her real character, nor would he
have believed that an exterior SO gentle
could conceal poison of so deep nature
But the charm had not been broken, nor les
sened perhaps though it was changed il
character-though he saw something t.
dread. he still worshfpped.
"This power is rarely given to men," sai'
he at length, slowly raising his eyes, with
deep sigh" the mighty of the earth are bu
few and far between. Genius may claim do
mlnions, land talent and learning, honor; but
Margaret, have neither of these, you wei
know, and may never hope for them either
Why tantalize me thus 2"
Il would not tantalize you, Eugene, bu
I would give you hope. Is there then n
talsman to which men bow, even mghtie
than genius %
"Gold !" excla lined he, in deep, passion
ate tone. "Gold %
For an instant Eugene held bis breath, an
the very blood seemed curdled about hi
heart, but the next he drew his cloak aroun
him and rushed from the house.
II.i'-' - - -. 49,; > 4" . y