The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1869-01-07
NNESOTA, THURSDAY, JANUARY 1859:


ring which thrilled the sensitive nerve
Of the dilitanti libertine until ever,
fiber of his body vlbrated Ikea tele
graphic wire, acted upon by = heav!
battery. >:.t--- ri!
He had not contemplated resistance
unto blood, and would avoid anything
which might bring exposure as he
would the certainty Of pcrditiou. Hi
plans were disarranged BY her uuex
pectcd strength, and the pain Of the
blow bad betrayed him into forgetting
his part in the little comedy he had sc
carefully arranged. The heroine had
spoiled the scene he had lost his cue
and saw her now through the veil d
mist and stars conjrrcd up by that blow
He felt as the mimic Richard must
have done when tho elder Booth fan.
cied himself the veritable Richard, and
began at once to cntreat, waving hel
back and saying: l."
II intend nothing unbecoming a
gentle"
"Open the door, dogp she inter.
rupted. .: :.
"Oh, Of course, would not detain ,
lady aga" -. ::,:
"The doc" {" and she made an imperi'
GUS gesture with the hand that held the
hatchet. -
He glided backward to the dooIrf
taking the key from his pocket. aud
unlocking it, stood with his hand on
the knob and the catch drawn back
then bewing said: =
"You sec, Miss Merlyn. I would mol
detain a lady against her will, but t beg
you will permit me to explain. You
are unlady like-coarsc-you-" /.
''Stand asidew ,~-- ..s
Pressing his handkerchief to hi,
lips, and bowling with q melo-dramati,
air, he moved step aside, leaving the
door slightly ajar, and saying:: :, =,
"Strike! but hear me. You mus
feel that in this affair 1 have acted in
a manner becoming a gentleman. 70,
gave me reason to suppose you under
stood me, but I yield my. advantage
| She stood hesitating. The old battl,
Of civilization and barbarism was rasin.
in her soul. The former sought t,
take her from the room. The latter t,
strike down the craven wretch, to kill
to trample, to dismember him, and bio
out all trace of his humanity. Civil
zation conquered, and she moved to tb'
door as be stood protesting the harm
lessness Of his intentions. This wa
terrible to endure-to be assaulted
thus, as slight mistake-but sh,
would 60. As she reached the door
he realized the modification Of his de
feat, and feeling his DANCE passed, b,
bissed out
"Perhaps you think you will get m,
to marry you, by your tragic airs; bu
I never gave you any reason to suppos,
I should: am not done with you. yet
and it shall be known that you hav'
been locked up with me in my room.'
Civilization fed before the tremen
dous reinforcement which this speecf
brought to tho barbaric powers. Th,
struggle was over. The deadly purpos'
Of vengeance shone in triumph from
her eyes. She made step toward him
exclaiming:
"For this you die p
He caught up chair and interposet
it between them, SO as to keep hor a
the farthest possible distance, saying
"For Gods sake, Miss Merly yn, b
calm! You are insane. Be calm,
beg Of you be composed. I vii
make the most ample apologies:
will-do-do-be calm !" 49,.
"Down on your knees, dog!" was he
answer, as she followed him steadil,
while he moved from side to side hold
ing out the chair. "Down on you
knees" she repeated. "Ask God
mercy. You shaH have none Of me-
|. He plead and retreated, and she fol
lowed closely, with that terrible, deadl,
purpose cleaning IN her eyes, ringin!
like pibroch in her voice, and string
ing every nerve to the steadiness of /
settled calm. He thought Of dropping
the chair, springing upon Ler au'
wrenching the weapon from her grasp
but felt the risk too great, shivering 3.
he was and still partially blinded
Even in his mental terror, he felt a,
almost equal terror of exposure. 4 IF If !:
struggle which might call in the police
go his prudence called up al possibl
aid from his politcness and persuasion
His p's did double duty, but she wa
blind, deaf tocverything but the sight Q
the mass to which she must reduce thai
loathed and cringipg carcass, and, tn,
inner whisper that he must have th,
benefit of prayer for mercy. Il,
must pray before she sent the shudder
ing soul to its account. She could wal
for this, could execute her purpose leis
urely, aud when he actually droppe,
upon his knees, saying:
"see, Miss Merlyn, kneeling I be,
your pardon, beg you to be calm, to re-