The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1883-01-27
THIBODAUX LA, SATURDAY, JANUARY 2? 1888.

risl; Of NY reputation, because lie ana death
are ii tie eirana."
Life and death!'
'.Yes Clarence, nyolife or my deatl..
cane to demand Of YOU sacrifice"
~ sacrifice" repeated the artist, tre.nbl-
ing.
~ sacrifice. Clarence" said Maud O.ing-
ton-.'vou must Tolease Eie iroG. the VOWS
which bind u.s."
"Eelease ycu, Nand? Neverr'
'.You rust, l tell you. Clarence" she
said, Lsr .aroe eyes d;lat;ng with q glare Of
feyerisil brightness. Il tol,' You but t mo-
,neHt ago tina: came upon All erraud Of lie
and death: spoke the trll.h wien said SO.
l c;:r never be yonr wife"
AS Maud Cvington uttered these words
singular change came over the face OF the
artist. Until that moment, his gaze had
been fixed, Wit. earnest alteration, upon the
countenance of the woman be loved, but as
these words were spoken his brow con-
irGcte'l, tie light III his eyes slowly faded,
and the lines about his mouth assumed the
rigidity of iron.
1t was as if in that one moment his feel
ings toward Maud OvinSton lad been trans
formed from love to hate.
Il understand YOU, Miss Cvington," he
said. 1T is an Old story. The artist who
painted your portrait and who fell wildly in
love with the original, was, no doubt, anus
iag-tor a time. But, ridiculous as the
mans foliy has been, you lave at last grown
weary of it and come to-day to tell him so.
'Ciarence. you are mocking meF'
s'Not so; it is you who have Knocked me;
it is you who have sported with the heart of
the struggling artist; it is You who have led
him on with dreams of elysium. and who
now casts him back upon the realities OF
hell. Do not fear me, Maud Ovincton; 7
release YOU from the VOWS which you
.,reathed few brief months ago. Tho wo-
man l loved was all truth and constancy,
but discover to-day that she was but
creature of the artists fancy-she was never
Maud Ovington. / have read of your in
tended marriage in the Herald, madam. I
know all"
"But you do not know the motives for
that marriage, Clarence"
II do not seek to know them"
s.You do not know that my father is q
ruined man; that this marriage alone can
save me from abject poverty-the most alb
ject, the most terrible poverty-the po'erty
of the great, who dare not confess that they
are POOR"
II would have worked for you, Maud"
said the artist, reproachfully.
'.Yes, and at best your work would vc
given me-brea " answered Miss Ovingt II,
with bitter laugh ut was bright
dream, Clarence; do not be angry with ME,
if l am the first to awaken from that dream.
You could never have given me wealth and
splendor, and those are as necessary to 10
as the air breathe The General can gi.e
me these, and he can save my father trop4
h,v fhoro apcontaH bI.st
$50 be it, madam. And you have come
to bid me farewell. I 40 not complain.
Shall conduct you to your carrast?"
..Not yet, Clarence; have favor to ask
of you"
"a favor?"
eyes In the old, happy time, while oc,
brief dream Of love lasted. wrote you sew.
eral letters letters in which l poured out
nv soul to the man loved. You have then
stills"
81 have them still. Ay, Maud Ovingtor,
have kept them as a n.;ser would keep til:
rarest Jewels from q nionarchs crown
There are thirteen OF those dear letters
thirteen letters 4iiigt. with VOWS Of love AK
.onstaney. which /, Ioor fool, beEeved!'
..Iou must return Ene those letters, Clar
ence," said Maud Ovington.
'.Return them! Why, madan2
"Because General Dumont is prous
man. When he. made me the offer OF r.
| hand, lie extorted IRON me al oath that l
had never loved before"
''And you took that false oath, Maud
| Ovington ~
II did, Clarence; was mad perhaps, but
7 took the oath. Now, listen to me.
Slould those letters ever, by any chance,
| fail iuto the hands Of the General, all VIII
be. discovered, and he Will fling me fror,
him with scorn ard loathing. You must
give me those letters, Clarence, that may
burn them with my own hands"
81 comprehend, Miss Ovington. You
wish General Dulnont 10 remain under the
de!usion that he is the FIRST love Of your
virgin heart2"
Il Go, Clarence."
81 refuse YOU" said TIE artist, With calm
determination.
''You refuse9"
become the dupe OF heartless woman.
You thought to make me victim, Miss
Oyirgton, but you have raised demon in
the breast of the man you have deceived,
nnd instead Of victim you shall find an
avenSer. General Dumont shall not so
blindfold to the altar. Before midday to-
morrow those thirteen letters shall be III his
hands,"
There was . pausc-a pause Of terrible
silence.
The interview had not taken place without
q listener. The pale face and black eyes OF
Clarice Suydam appeared between the folds
OF the curtains.
''Merciful Heavenw exclaimed Maud
Ovington after that on,inous pause, ''yor
cannot mean This. Clarence-you cannot
mean to be so cruel?'
"As there is light in the sky, will dt
what have said" he answered, with icJ
coldness.
'.Ard you will have 10 mercy?"
s'None! You have been ne,ciless tc me