Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1876-02-03

spare his elo9uence, no matter how reluctan
the ears on which it fell. "It burns with th
ardor of the tropical sun, resistless and un
quenchable. Beautiful Esther, you will no
spurn a love like this-you will"
"Base creature!" burst from Esthers lips
ere he could finish the sentence; and as sh
stood with dilating eyes, heaving breast, AM
crimsoned cheeks before him, she seemed t.
rise and tower above him in her righteou
wrath, 80 that even he, for an instant, quaie'
beneath her glance. "How dare you pollut
my ears with words such as these-dastard a
you are, to offer me such an insult! You sa,
I am in your power-you deceive yourself
do not fear you. You will find that cal
protect myself, helpless though you judge m
to be-"
"Why this fury ?" coolly asked the Span
lard, recovering from his momentary embar
rassment at the sudddenness of her outbreak
I make you an offer which, to say the least
would not be regarded by most ladies as 9th
erwise than complimentary to their charms
Blame me not, if yours have proved too pow
erful for me to withstand!
"You we'll know" said Esther, "that in any
case, under any circumstances, your propose
would be hateful to me; but to it to mi
noD, shows blackness of heart which die
not even impute to you."
"Even to me! By the saints, Sehora, yor
latter me. But let me defend myself Ar'
you not, virtually, in the position Of widow ?
II may be widow, in truth-God knows,
she replied; but, widow or single woman,
would put my hand in the fire sooner thar
bestow it upon you. And if my husband ii
still living, as you assert him to be, then I re
peat that your offer to me is an insult which
can never be forgiven"
"Sehora, you have doubtless been brought
up in stricter school than I. Your code o.
morals is too rigid for me to sympathize witt
or understand. I conceive that being aban
doned by your husband, and having proof o.
his in6delity to you, you are as fully released
from your marriage bond as though death had
severed the tie. Nay, the release is even more
complete, for surely you cannot continue te
cherish one spark of regard for one who ha'
treated you so basely."
"Do not utter my husbands name" she We
bemently rejoined. "You are> unworthy te
take it upon your lips. Pretended friend thai
you were, you entrapped him into an expedi
ton which, in some way, has cost him his life
treacherously and wilfully, I believe before
Heaven and now malign his fair fame tc
a;s-to me, his wife 1 always warned him
against you. From the first, mistrusted
your professions of regard, and my heart fore
told, only too truly, that they would result in
sorrow and disaster to US both."
"Hejudged me more charitably," said Alas
auez, his white teeth cleaning for q moment
between his parted lips. "Sehora, what can
1 say to alter your most erroneous impression
of my motives, my whole conduct? Can nc
word of mine convince you ofyour injusticeT 2
"No, none! My convictions are too firmly
rooted in my mind to be shaken by any word
of yours. Were you to labor for lifetime
to alter them, all your efforts would be vain
"Then, indeed, am deeply unfortunate
But listen to me yet moment" he continued
with sudden change of manner, his brow
darkening and his eyes flashing as he spoke
"This trifing of mine has lasted already long
or than meant it should. Imust convince
you now that am in earnest! Sehora Ray
mond, know that have resolved to win you
for nv own, and that this resolve is as unsha
keable as yonder mountain peaks which tower
against the sky. Do you mark my words
am resolued-I have sworn to carry my
point! My wooing would have been ofa more
forcible sort, had it not been that l truly love
you. Yes, in spite of your dsdain, I will ad
NIT that you have awakened love in my
breast more ardent than I before deemed my
self capable of feeling. Resist me no more
or beware the consequences! You know me
not-you understand not the strength of will
which permits me never to fail in what l un
dertake, be the enterprise seemingly ever &c
difficult. Again I repeat it-you shall be
mine, and that at no distant day. Under
stand you now, the sort of man with whom
you have to deal?"
leave me" said Esther, struggling to con
ceal the deadly terror that seized her as sht
listened to his vehemently-uttered address
and indeed, as he stood glaring upon her, biz
gigantic form rearing itself in ssalstrength
and his swarthy face wearing an expression
of sinister and cruel determination, he was ar
object calculated to inspire any gentle ano
feminine breast with fear. She felt, however
that in opposing nature like his, her safety
lay rather in maintaining a courageous aspect
than in yielding openly to her terror, or hu
initiating herself by abject and useless ap
peals to his forbearance. Generosity he had
none, and therefore, it would be waste o.
time to try and awaken it. Endeavoring
therefore, to speak with composure, though
trembling so that she could scarcely stand
she continued,
"You have said all you desired to say, and
you have heard my answer, which you bae
best receive as unalterable, for my resolve ii
as fixed as yours Leave me now, therefore
and disturb me no more. Neither your per
suasions nor your threats will have any effec
in making me yield to your wishes"
"Say you so?" muttered Alasquez dercely
"Well, we shall see! I leave you now, as yol
bid me; but only to return to prove to 20.
that Pedro Alasquez never fails in fulfilling