The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-09-17

men. q ii't,7 .'si' - FSsSe' 70 ~
"They will not dare to touch me-
answered Diana, bitterly:
Z shall do it myself, then," ex-
claimed Jean, exasperatsd -bey yond
bounds; and spripging towards
Diana, he seized her by the arm,
and was about to thrust her from
the saloon, but she, clasping his
hand in both hers, pressed it with o
convuislve passion, clung to it, and
rubbed 1T between hers. Jean, never
theless, had nearly reached the door
with the struggling half-wild creature,
who seemed to be seeking the con-
tact with him which was produced
by her resistance to his efforts, her
frantic inexplicable movements sud
denly ceased.
81 am satisfied" she said, with o.
long gasping sigh. "I will go, will
go. Grant me one favor. Let me
look once more on your brides fair
face. You have ruined my life,
blasted my hopes, lost me my love.
For alll the evil you have wrought
me we shall quit, if you grant me
this last favor. Ohl you can hold my
hand, if you fear for her. I swear by
my soul that 1 will not touch her.
L only wish to look on her face once
more"
Rosselinde had taken refuge in the
arms of the Lille-J Jourdain, and Jean,
actuated by vague repentance,
although holding Diana's hand firmly
in his, allowed her to draw him to-
wards his terrified love. All were
silent. Diana stood looking at Rosse-
linde, and then, throwing back her
veil, and pushing Jean towards the
young girl, cried, with harsh laugh:
"Rosseline de Ia Baume, here is your
lover, to be your husband tomorrow
Jean de Lille-Jourdain, whom
Diana Marrechi, presents to you'll"
AT these words, at the sight of that
dreadful face, the fantastic fear which
had possessed the hearts of the
three people, so happy but little
while before, took q substantial and
horrible shape. Jean tried to rid
himself of the hand witch held him;
Rosselinde fell on her knees with
clasped hands, imploring Heavens
mercy; and the lady of Lille-J our
dain, her eyes wide and her cheek
white with terror, remained as mo-
tlonless as though turned to stone.
Diana laughed again.
"Well, Sire de Lille-J ourdain, +"
cried she, "of what avail are thy
ramparts and thy sword against the
revenge of one weak woman? Yes,
wretch, stare at me with stupid,
frightened eyes. Yes, it is true, I
nm plague-stricken; and with the
death-pang on me, 1 have crawled
here to do my will. I have poisoned
you; you have in your body the
germs of death. Lovely Rosselinde.
see how beautiful your brave lover
is. No, by my faith! not even my
JoeZ was so handsome"
Rosselinde, half distracted, was
about to throw herself into jean s
arms, but avoiding her with horror,
he cried: $50! go! don OF touch me-
L am no longer thine lover. It is all
over. Do not como near me!'
''He is my lover, now-my own!"
cried Diana. "See, Rosselinde, how
I love him."
And then, fastening herself on
him, winding her 1.-the figure round
him as if she were serpent, she
clasped him in her arms, covered his
forehead, cheeks and lips with loath-
some kisses, and growing like a
hy;ena tearing her prey; and all this
while, Rosselinde and the agonized
mother could only look on with
anguish and tears, seeing their
beloved one growing weaker and
weaker in the h rrible struggle.
At the noise the valcts came
running to the door, but the
sight OF Diana seemed to paralyze
them, and they dared not approach
their miserable master. At last,
Jean ended the hideous contest by o
blow of his poignard, which went
straight into Diana's heart.
During the struggle, the lady of
Lille-J Jourdain had vowed an offering
of q splendid silver lamp to the
church of st. Just, if her sons life
should be spared. She also gave six
fruitful vineyards to the canons of
the church towards the maintenance
of the lamp; and such was the effect
produced on the saint by her piety
and devotion, and SO earnest were
his intercessions, that Jean recovered,
after long and dangerous illness;
but his left hand, which Diana had