News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1885-10-08

lady, turning pale, " though l am almos
afraid to confess the truth. He is you
| rival"
my rival" echoed the young man
che proposed to you, then?"
Yes. u she replied, with shadder
she asked me to be his wife, and, oh
Heaven! shall never forget the scene
that followed" F"
She covered her face with her han6
and shrank nearer to the side of hel
lover. "When / refused him, 4" she con-
tinued, she did not take it as another
man would have done. He clinched his
teeth and muttered curse that made
! my blood run cold Then he threw him.
self on his knees and covered my hand
with kisses. Think again, hes.said,
ne man has ever loved 5y1a;- J, -
love Won as do. Inc ntlle Soou eHeIe
5 in me, which your love would magnify
and develop, will be transformed to
utter irreclaimable evil When l as
sured him that l did not and could never
love him he arose and looked at me with
gaze that yet remember, and said, in
a slow, icy voice, Love and hate in a
nature like mine are forces as potent and
uncomfortable as tempests. You have
refused the one, beware of the other.
Then he made polite bow and went
away From that day to this he has
never reverted to the subject again"
"Well, " said the young man, laugh
ing, 81 fancy he is not as bad as he
would make himself out to be, though
he does look enough like the devil to be
his Satanic majesty in person"
Don't make jest of it, Rupert, "
replied the young girl, seriously. 81
believe him to be capable of anything.
"Promise me never to trust yourself
alone with him. "
'I don't think he would devour me
outright, but promise all the same. He
is not agreeable company"
Whatever designs Reynaud may have
meditated against the happiness of the
lovers, they were not Immediately appar-
ent, at all events. When he met either
of them his manner was scrupulously
polite and even kind.
To all appearances he had taken q
strong liking for Rupert Fielding.
He cultivated his society after fash
ion that was astonishing in so exclusive
a person, even going out of his way to
do his young friend an occasional ser
vice.
The effect of his amenities was to ban
ish the last traces of distrust from the
young mans mind, though even yet
there were moments when he looked at
his companions dark, smiling face with
a feeting uneasiness which he could
not account for.
Late one afternoon he received hur-
ried note from Reynaud, which ran as
follows:
MY DEAR FELLOW have something i'm
portant TO say to you. Come at once to the
bank, where we shall be alone together and
can converse at our discretion. Do not show
this to anyone, nor mention where you are
going. Make haste. l promise that what l
have to impart will interest you, Yours, &c,
JEROME REYNAUD.
Alone together For an instant his
promise to Augusta returned to his mid
and he was half inclined to fulfil it.
But the message was evidently impor-
tant and, as he did not share Augustus
prejudices, he resolved to go.
ReyHaud himself admitted him into
the building with degree of caution that
impressed him with wonder, and led him
A single gas jet was burning, and by
its glimmer Fielding saw that he was in
the private Office of the firm, into which
the vault chamber "a steel-li lined, air
tight apartment ten feet square-opened
The heavy door, with its complex
locks and combinations stood aiar.
Upon table near at hand was a small
telegraphic instrument similar to that in
Mr.. Ashley's library, which kept up the
slight clicking common to such machines. !
Turning from his survey, he saw that
had locked the only door lead
ing into the room and put the key in his
pocket. He saw, too, that a singular
alteration had taken place in his COM
panion's features.
His face, usually SO pale, had become
almost livid, and his eyes glittered in
the semi-darkness like those of wild |
animal
"You told no one that you were COM
ng here?" were his first words.
No one," was the reply.
And showed no one my note2"
"No. Here it is. "
Reynaud took the paper from the |
7oung mans hand, and, lighting it at
he gas, watched it consume in silence.
"Now, " said he, facing his astonished |
and speaking in low con-
,entrated tone, "answer the question
Inn going to put to you, and beware OF
what you say, for your life depends up
IN your answers. Rupert Fielding, are
7ou afraid to die?'
"To diel" repeated Fielding, with |
growing amazement. "Of course man
Of my age cannot be expected to look
upon death with complacency."
(Which, then would you rather re-
inquish," continued Reynaud in the
same low voice, ''the woman you love or
your life9'
A thrill of swift and terrible revela-
ton darted through the young mans
mind. Now, indeed, he regretted that
he had not kept his promise to Augusta.
II understand you, " he replied, rails
ing his head detiantly; ''and I answer of
the two prefer to lose my life"
Reflect" said the other, sternlv.
ieYou have but two alternatives.
either to leave this place tonight, and
without communicating your destina-
ion to any one, either now or hereafter,
''Whatw
''Die here, and now," was the hollow
response.
''You are mad, ;" exclaimed Fielding,
with a feeling of terror at his heart.
yes" replied the other gloomily,
mad with love and despair. Man! do |
you imagine that | will tamely stand by
md see you possess the woman for whom |
would give not only my own life, but |
ny soul2 l, who have loved her as if
,he were my God; worshipped the ground |
;he blessed with her feet; devoured her
with my eyes; hung on her words as if |
hey were sounds from heaven2 SHALL. |
who would turn every drop of my blood |
INTO living, burning torture for one of |
he smiles she wastes on you-shall | |
yield her to you and drag out the miser-
lble remnant of my days wretch more |
unhappy than the damned2"
"Reynaud, " said Fielding, appealingly,
'be reasonable, have done you no
wrong. She does not love you"
"When you are out of the way she
will forget you, dead or absent. 1t is
he habit of women. Then | will labor,
strive, crawl on my knees to her, adore
ler, until at last she must yield"
Fielding uttered groan
"If / fail in the end continued Rey- !
laud, with contraction of the features |
eff fail, why shall have the gloomy
satisfaction of knowing that no other
las won her."
"You shall not destroy me like dumb
'nimall" cried Fielding, rushing to the
ioor and shaking it. ''Helpl helpp
"Had you twice the voice you could |
lot be heard" said Reynaud, watching
lis futile efforts with mocking smile; |