The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1880-04-10
GLOW dare the low, depraved libcrtine and
gambler aspire TO my haud?"


man whom have chosen for your future
husband are highly unbecoming if not to
him, to myself. l expect him every mo-
ment, so you may as well prepare TO receive
him calmly, and not show such evident and
unmistakable signs Of i'll temper"
81 will show you no ill-temper you call
my just Indignation, but proper spirit. l
have submitted too long to your sway but
now you have to learn that the daughter of
Count Albert yon Carmiola possesses some
of his spirit"
Lodoiska had scarcely done speaking when
servant announced the Count Won Kard.
ozag, and in moment he was ushered in.
The aunt rose to receive him, giving him q
warm welcome but Lodoska, raising her
head, bowed with chilling hauteur, and re-
sumed her work. With quick, admon-
ishing glance at her niece, the enraged aunt
placed chair for the count near her own
and equally that of Lodoiska. The Count
accepted the seat and thus addressed the
girl before him:
"Countess Lodoiska, your aunt, the ami
able Countess Anna, an ornament to her
sex, gives me to understand that you are
ready and happy to see me to-day"
GAS ready and as happy now as ever"
was the ungracious reply, delivered in a
freezing tone and manner.
"Ah % calculated the count, struck
by the air of the girl. "You are sarcastic.
How is this Your aunt led me to believe
that you looked with favorable eyes on my
suit-nay, that was all positively settled, !"
and the count rose in great rage.
"You are right-she does, she does" said
the falthless woman, rising in her turn and
laying her hand on the counts arm. "Do
not mind what she says, for the dear girl is
in one of her odd fits, when she speaks
without thinking"
"Your pardon, aunt, and yours too count,
if I contradict the statement just made, said
Lodoislla. at isnot mere whim that induces
me to treat you as haye done. My aunt
made you rash promises, which she cannot
fulfill"
GLOW is that minx? Remember am
your lawful guardian"
"TLat know to my sorrow; but, thank
Heaven, can guard my own happiness,
and in order to do so, Il respectfully, decid-
edly, refuse to consent the Count Won Kardo-
zag's suit"
death and fends" exclaimed the count
springing towards the young girl as if he
meant to seize her. "Dare you say thatto my
face, Countess Lodoska?"
GAY, and do not let me forget by your ac-
tions the fact that l strive to shut my eye:
upon, that | am dealing with one who can
lay no claim to the title OF gentleman"
Anna Won Carmiola did what the couut
could scarcely refrain from doing-she seizoC
the young girl rudely by the erm.
"Retract, Lodoiska, your unlady-like in
/ shifting words, and receive the count as youl
future husband"
Quickly removing her aupts hand from
her arm, Lodoiska, drawing her tall form
proudly up, spoke coldly and deliberately
and as she did SO the count acknowledged
to himself her beauty and felt more deter
mined than ever to make her his own.
"Aunt my answer is interchangeable.
refuse to have anything to say to the coun
Won Kardozag, whom | neither like no
even respect, and consider that he does m
an incalculabe injury by proflering such
suit, when his base, unworthy character i
so well known. have nothing further I
say, save that you, Count Won KardGzag, ar
at liberty, nay, are requested to retire, an
if that request is not complied with on til
instant, shall summon servant. No, t
spare you that alternative, l retire myse
with the admontion that If ever you see
, to enter this house again, on any preteS
} whatever, you will be turned from tn
door"
Ard with the step Of an empress the Just
ly incensed girl walked from the apartmer
, leaving the plotters standing looking {
,a'h other IN speechless rage.
A few minutes they stood thus, then seal
ing themselves they talked long and carr
estly in whispers. The conference ende,
the Countess Anna, hastily attirng hersel
ordered her carriage and accompanied by th
, count, set of on some mission.
Lodoiska sat in her room, vainly strivin
to quell the angry and fearful thoughts thi
passed through her mind. She knew CouI
Armand as a bold, bad man, and her auI
for vain, scheeming womanj and now th'
she was alone she felt that the affair wa
not so easily ended, and trembled with tn
thoughts of the misery her sconful, bitt,
r words would probably occasion. Full we
she felt that she had made an enemy of tn
count; and with beating heart LodoisB
I resigned herself to wait for the end, whlc
was sooner in arriving than she had thougl
for.
Three hours after the scene just relate
z the Countess Anna, with an exultant smi
on her face, entered the room where, sa
and apprehensive, Lodoiska sat- vainly el
deavoring to fix her attention on a book b.
! fore her.
"Now rebellous girl, we shall see WI
shall triumph"
The Countess Anna held a paper befo
p the eyes of the poor girl. The seal caugl
{ her eye, and her voice trembling in spite
herself she asked
"What have you there, aunt2"
! "Oh, nothing much" she replied CON
e a command signed aud sealed by Arehdul
. John, compelling you to receive Count A
! MAJ Won Kardozag as your future husban
Your answer now, proud girl ?"
. 81 must obey" said Lodoiska.
She arose and left the room, to fling he
elf in an agony OF tears upon her bed. B
o she was not a weak girl to sit and we,
r. when anything was to be done, springil
IS up, she bathed her face in cold water al
removed all traces OF emotion, then Dire.
ing herself in robes of elegant mournil
% she lett the room. At the door Of her aun
u room she paused rresolutely-then open
d, IL