The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1873-01-23

' "Do not fear me-" said the voice that
had sounded in her ears just before she
became insensible II would not harm
you, ma belle, I adore you !" and he
tried to withdraw the hands that cover
ed her eyes.
'-' "Montter'! I hate you-:do not ap-
proach me---away!''
"Gently I tell you I love you--
love you passionately--but remember,
you are IN my power do not provoke
me, tor l am not patient. And what
does not yield, I break."
Her utter, utter helplessness came
across her stronger than any other
feeling, and she wept aloud, in passion
ate despair.
"Let me go, for Heavens sake for
mercy's sake let me go! What can you
gain by keep'ng mo here Only re-
lease me, and L swear to make you rich |
for life."
~ may not be SO poor as seem it
Is for your own sake choose to keep
you: Look here this is not a begpar's
possession
He took from some secret receptacle,
and held before her, ring, which,
even in that dim place, cleaned and
flashed like mirror in the SUD.
She understood her position DOW,
though not how it came about. CASTOR
where was he Lost to her for ever,
wherever he might be. One thing be-
fore al others presented itself to her );
she uust regain possession Of the ring,
must free herself from the hated thralI
Of this wretch,s afectiou-anythins-
anything en- earth was better than
shat.
She knew the only course to be
adopted vas dissimuIation; and, though
her soul reopiled from the attempt, she
must feiga disposition to be won over
70 listen to his detested advances.
She weuld not irritate him, she
would gain time, and trust to fud an
opportunity to attain her object. And
thus temporising and watching, the
day, whose wan light she was only dim.
ly conscious Of for few hours, passed
away, and again night came.
All that time she had, broken in
body and spirit, passed erouched on the
wrstched mattrass. Her gaoler had Of.
fersd her food, but she bad shrunk
from it with loatbing and though she
felt not the elightest disposition to eat,
still the want Of susteBance, ana the
suderings, mental aod physical, of her
sitastton, had worn her down to a de-
gree Of painful prostration. Far OH in
the night she sunk into troubled
| doze. A slight stir in the room awoke
her; but she affected still to sleep, and
/ with half.open eyes watched with cat
like vigilance.
She saw her captor moving quietly
about, but rather as if in consideration
tor her slumber than as though fearing
detection. What had he to fear from
her? She saw him, after casting
glance towards where she lay, and lis
tening to her respiration, take from the
place where he kept it the fated ring.
He hesitated for moment, as if doubt
full where to deposis it, then, with
significant upward toss Of the head,
that said as plain as toss could say,
"Wbile l have her safe, there IS no
danger for it," he placed it in a little
closet in the wall, and taking his hat,
left the room, locking the door after
him.
| With every nerve on the stretch, the
marquise listened tor some minutes !;
then, reassured by the sileace, she
sprung with noiseless rapidity from the
pallet, and in a moment was at the cup.
board door she tried it, it yielded to
her hand almost without an effort
Again she listened, but the rapid beat.
| ing of her heart was the only sound th It
came to her ears. Within the closet
| was little box; this she took down
| aud opened and there, eocircled in its
own light, lay the jewelled serpent,
ooilsd at tho bottom, and glariug up
| ward at her with its malignant emer-
ald.:eyes. She clutched it; the first
step was gained; the next she was
sparedzthe necessity Of deciding on, by
the sudden opening OF tho door, with
An oath. No love now marked the ex-
preston Of the hated rutfian faoe, as he
rushed upon her. shrieking, she
orouohed, still grasping the ring.
"Give it up, or I crush you!"'
"Never p
One blow Of the clenched fist on her
temple, and she fell, white and nerve
less, at his feet, while tho ring drop
ped from her limp hand. The robber
took it up in an instant his aspect un.
derwent change he gazed upon the
PROSTATE form with despairing horror ;
he seized her in his arms, carried her
to. the light, bent ever her with passion.
ats exclSmations of tenderness and self.
repttaeh. She did not shrink from
him now-:she did not turn her tace
from his...she' lay unresisting in his
arms-dssssd..
\ Among other things that Wells &
FargoS firm IS not responsible for as
r. -