Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1885-08-28

not and could never love him he arose
and looked at me with q gaZ, that |
vet remember, and said, in a slow,
icy voice: Love and hate in a nature
like mine arc forces as potent and un>
comfortable as tempests. You have
refused the one, beware of the other.
Then he made me polite bow and
went away. From that day TO this
he has never reverted 10 the subject
again"
"Well," said the young man, laugh
ing, II fancy he is not so bad as he
would make himself out to be, though
he does look enough like the devil
to be his Satanic majesty ia person"
Don't make jest of it, Rupert,
replied the young girl, seriously. L
believe him to be capable of anything.
Premise ne never to trust yourself
alone with him."
81 don't think he would devour nae
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 immedl-
ately apparent, at all events. When
he met either of them his manner
was scrupulously polite and even
kind.
To all appearances, he had taken
strong liking to Rupert Fielding.
He cultivated his society after a
fashion that was astonishing in so ex-
elusive a person, even going out Of
his way to do his young friend an &C.
casional service.
The effect of mis- amenities wss to
Danish the last traces of dlstrust from
the young mans mind, though even
yet there were moments when he
looked at his companions dark, smil-
ing face with fleeing uneasiness
which he could not account for.
Late one afternoon he received a
hurried note from Reynaud, which
ran as follows:
MY DEAR FELLOW: l have some
thing important 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
any one, nor mention where you are
going. Ipromise that what have to
impart will interest you. Yosrs, &c,
JEROME REYNAUD
Alone togetheri For an instaht
his promise to Augusta returned TO
his mind and he was half inclined to
fulfil it.
But the message was important and
as he did not share Augustus preju>
dices, he resolved to GO.
Reynaud himself admitted him in
to the building with degree of eau
ton that impressed him with wonder
and led him into an inner room in
silence.
A single gas jet was burning, and
by it's glimmer Fielding saw that he
was in the private office of the firm,
into which the vault chamber steel
liaed, air tight apartment ten feet
square-opened.
The heavy door, with its complex
locks and combinations, stood ajar.
Upon a table near at hand was
small telegraphic instrument similar
to that in Mr.. Ashley's library, which
kept up the slight clicking common
to SUCH machines.
Turning frem his survey, he saw
that Reynaud had locked t.e only
door leading into the room and put
the key in his pocket. He saw too,
that singular alteration had taken
place in his companions features.
His face, usually so pale, had be-
come almost livid, and MS eyes gilt
tered in the semi-darkness like those
of wild animal.
"You told no one that you were
coming here2' were his first words
mo one" was the reply.
"And showed no one my note2"
mo. Here it is"
Reynaud took the paper from the
young mans hand, and, ligted 1t at
the gas, watched il consume in silence
Now" said he, facing his astonish
ed companion and speaking in low,
concentrated tone, "answer the ques
ton am going to put to you, and be
ware what you say, for your life de-
ponds upon your answer. Rupert
Fielding, are you afraid 70 die9"
''To di2r' repeated Fielding, with
amazeraent. "Of course man of my
age cannot be expected to look upon
death with complacency."
Which, then, would you rather
relinquish," continued Reynaud, in
the same low voice, ''the woman you
love or your life2'
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 Au-
gusta.
81 understand you," he replied,
raising his head detiantly; land an
swer, of the two l prefer to lose my
life"
Reflect" said the other, sternly.
you have but two alternatives
either to leave this place tonight.
and without communicating your
destination to any one, either now or
hereafter. Or"
WHAT
ode here, and now" was the hol-
low response.
you are mad, ;" exclaimed Fielding,
with feeling of terror at his heart.
Yes" replied the other gloomily,
mad with love and despair. Man!
do you imagine that l will tamely
stand by and see you possess the wom-
an for whom l would give not only
my own life, but my soul2 |, who
have loved her as if she were my
God; worshipped the ground she bless
es with her feet; devoured her with
my eyes; hung on her words as if
they were sounds from Heaven9 Shall
l, who would turn every drop of my
blood into living, burning torture for
one of the smiles she wastes on you
shall yield her to you and drag out
the miserable remnant of my days a
wretch more unhappy than the
damned2'
"Reynaud," said Fielding, appeal
iugly, "be reasonable, l have done
you NO wrong. She does not love
you"
wv hen you are out of The way she
will forget you, dead or absent. 1t is
the habit of women. Then | will la
Dor, strive, crawl on my knees to her,
adore her, anti at last she must
yield
Fielding uttered groan.
IF l fail in the end" continued
with a contraction of the
featsres-'if l fail, why l shall have
the gloomy satisfaction of knowing
that no other has won her."
You shall not destroy me like
= ~