The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1868-12-01
ssMY FORTUNE-77
ICoNCLUSIoN.l |

solved to battle her, if possible. read
a desperate purpose in your eyes as you
went out. / followed 10 save you"
He turned on me in an indignant way.
"Even if l believed this-which 1 do
not-you have no right to interfere. My
life is my own. If | choose to throw it
away like worthless weed, I cam
Your life is not your own said,
firmly sit belongs to God, and to-your
sister"
The name seemed to recall the young
man to something like sanity.
'.Poor Alice" he murmured; 81 have
spoiled her life for her"
Besides" 1 said, 'if you reflect, you
will see that / could have no object in
deceiving you about this siren"
"You might" he said-'you might
love her, and be jealous"
1 laughed a laugh of merry scorn.
Il have some proof" / said, "that my
story is not without foundation. have
the papers Of the time, publishing the
affair, and offering a reward, with full
description of diamond and lady. l
have also some certificates of my respec-
liability, that you cannot doubt, though
you doubt my word"
He seemed embarrassed at this, and
then frankly held out his hand.
II am not myself tonight he said.
''You will pardon me, I'm sure. l see
that you are gentleman, and I'm forced
to believe you, God help me! against my
own heart"
pitied the poor fellow from the bot
tom of my heart.
''Do not give up hope" 1 said ~ may
help You to recover something, if, as l
fear, you have staked and lost all )"
"No, not all; but too much" he NUT
tered. "Poor Alice has something yet
enough to keep her when I'm gone"
"You must live to retrieve it. | said.
"You are young yet; do not throw away
hope and life for q worthless woman"
"But love her." he said; and there
was an infinite tenderness in his voice
that touched me.
A low groan followed these words, ,and
felt poWerless to help or comfort. l
could not reainstate his idol l was glad
to see it topple down from the pedestal
where his mad love. had placed it, even
though his hopes fell with it.
'Promise me one thing" urged gen.
tly. "Do not see her again till have
proved what / said If l prove it, never
see her again"
Raymond hesitated, weakly, FOR one
moment, and then made the promise.
''And you must live till then," said.
He made no promise about that, ard
we walked back almost in silence. When
we parted at the corner, where our paths
separated, found that | was too excited
to sleep. l wandered back to the neigh
borhood of the gambling hell we had so
recently left, and lurked about it for
awhile. hoping to see or hear something
of La belle dame sans merci, and her
keeper.
I did not wait long. There was, 1
suppose, no other pigeon to be plucked
that night, OF, at least, none so well
feathered as Raymond had been. Cecile
swept out with an air of superb weari-
ness, as if
''The languid light of her proud eyes
Was weary of the rolling hours"
A black lace shawl was thrown about
her, and she walked without one glance
at the gentleman who followed.
Monsieur Duclos was not amiable this
evening The scarlet flush on his face
might have been anger, and it might
have been wine; but / fancied it was a
blending Of the two.
"Dia61e" he muttered; twill you
wait ?''
Cecile shrugged her shoulders with
petulant air, and stopped.
"You are forgetting yourself: Cecile,"
he began.
"Monsieur, wish l could-I wish l
could" said the woman, in tragic tone
that was real. ~ might be happy then.
1t is because I remember what / am that
l am miserable
"Peste" said the man in an impatient
way, ''these melodramatic affairs are not
becoming, at least before me. 1t might
be good dodge with some people; save
| it up, Cecile, and use it where it will
tell"
Il wish to be done with you, v she said,
in reckless way. II will not be goad-
ed, tortured, ruled in this way; will be
free. You must let me go. l Iscorn my
self for being your tool so long"
Il can tell YOU, ma BELLE" said Mon
sieur Duclos, coolly, taking out cigar,
and lighting it. "Do you wish to know
why you have been content with what
you call sia,ery3 Because l know few
things that would put you at hard SER
vice for life. Those pretty little hands
would"
"Hush! Don't tempt me, or those
pretty hands will strangle you!'' cried
Cecile, and Isaw them gleam like mar
BILE as she held them out. ''Remember,
have the same power to turn the prison
bolts for you"
"Oh, oW! We are partners, of course
he said, with unutterable sdnUroid. l
know why you are restiye now mignonne
"a passion for the handsome Raymond.
I'm not jealous-indulge your penchant,
my love-turn it to some account
The passion Of the woman seemed to
break all bounds
Gas God is in Heaven!' she cried, "if
1 thought myself as vile reptile as you
are, would rid the earth of such a
wretch this very night"
I had followed them softly in the
shadow all this time, and they now stop
ped at a pleasant house, and went in. /
could not tear myself from the place, but
walked back and forward, noting the va
rious peculiarities of the building-the
steps-the verandah-the thin,white cur
tains, through which a pleasant light
shone out on the street.
AsI looked, the curtain was pushed
aside. and a woman's/ face appeared
Cecile's-angry, defiant, scowling up, as
it were, in the very face of heaven.
The moonlight had paled somewhat,
but still l saw the face clearly, and fan
nipd II road. Thorn sonoa dnsoarqtn ro