River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1888-03-08


'sInneliatcly 10 get into this cart. I
have . little business affair 70 settle with
you"
Her voice was commanding. and the
words fel from her lips like clean, crisp,
sharply-clt COINS.
FariIx SAW there was nothing else 10 do
but obey. With eyes fastened upon the
ground, with laggard steps and silent as
the grave, he slowly took his seat by Lydia's
side.
lie knew he was taken wholly At adsad-
vantage. beside hc had by no means recOv-
cred from the shock Of the last scene with
Natalie. lie seemed 10 have lost control
over his wits. 70 BE utterly powcrless TO
cope with even q child, muca less a woman
Of the mental c1liJar OF Lydia, whose feel
ings were stirred 10 the utmost; whose
faculr IS were At their brightest and
kceuest; who also seemed TO have them
under perfect control There was remain
ing 10 him miHd enough to know that
silence was ms strongest hold. until those
scattered senses Of his could be collected.
Il had offered u take the reins as he en-
telcd, feeling ,hat, is a woman, with her
fingers occupied with fancy work. has the
advantage over an awkward youth who
seems unable to dispose # his hands; 50 he.
with the reins, could much better gain his
seif-eontrol. while Lydia would be more apt
TO lose hers
"Iprefer to drive, myself, sir" she re
piled with dignity.
Then the suppressed fires Of her anger
famed forth.
8. Arc YOU a professional brigandi Pos
siblv, this Is tho usual way with American
gentlemen; their method Of protesting de
v0tigu- Clivalry and al that is noble. Are
cOurJshius commonly conducted in this
manner. IN this model RcpubI'' Of yours!'
Fairfax answered nothing.
He was now gaining ground, and she rap
idly losing. II she would only persist in
keeping up this TRADE, ne soon would have
the upper hand.
- III u.y country continued she, in those
icy, cutting tones, ''when d gentleman pro
fssses 10 know nothing about woman and
% CAKE less, we hardly look to see him, a
day or two afterwards, run away with her
in manner betting q barbarian. Alto
gether. sir, yOu have placed yourself in
position exceedingly uuenviablc, and have
lost the confidence Of all respectable per
sons Whom she meant by AL respecta-
bic persons was a tribe uncertain.
'.Now- Sold she. beginning 10 grow irri-
tatcd under FalrlIE ; persistent silence and
her failure % enrage him; snow, sir, have
no tiuc 10 waste with you in this matter;
nor 40 L care 50 TO do with a man Of the
vague ideas Of right and wrong you seem 10
possess" Her voice assumed = regretful
tone. tiuecd with u sh-de Of tenderness as
she proceeded. There was a time when
matters appeared differently" her she
turned AMI rave Fairfax q sidelong gi5nce
that presented q curious compound Of shy
ness, srlEuful defiance, yet curiosity.
FAIRFAX. TO. at this singular remark,
rlise.l his eyes IN an upward inGuiring look.
Wha- clglI sic meant
RaauuIug her chilling hauteur, she went
on.
Il shall not ask. nor do care to know
your motives. or your course in this out
~ EeUus affair. this was deliberate false
hood. She was burning with desire to learn
IL ALL want 60 tell you that Natalie must
tie Immediately released and, what is more,
sent safely back 10 you mean 10 say,
yvratrhed fool, that you for moment sup
posed YOU could win her love in this way
Even the most obtuse villain could not fail
% seq such thing were impossible And
I'm surprised that man Of the cunning
which this performance Of yours shows you
20 possess, should fail TO perceive it
She continued Tor some time in this Bit
ter. biting manner.
Meanwhile Fairfax was fast regaining
his 0lJ-tIuc c1Enp0sure-
There was something about this strange
man That was irresistible. Even his silence
was often more effective than the words
Of others. Lydia became conscious OF this
powerful influence Of his over her.
Il was che OLD story Of the subtle strength
Of Will which silently forces one person TO
recognize another as his superior.
she tries u lash up her anger. but only
IL
more and more
Then sine began 10 reflect. and, in an act
i've contest, reflection generally loses the
day. What was this she was doingl Here,
in q strange country, with a man she had
seen but once before, and on an erraHd
that f'w women would have dared, and
most women 5ecu ashamed 20 undertake.
Sue stole another glance az her compan-
ion. and now began 70 notice that firm,
hard nol,h, those tightIy-conpressed lips
and the stern, daring Look about the face.