River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1888-03-01

[Copyigttsd 1851. Jy g IT, Dillingham; - Al
Rights EsssrEedl
CHAPTER xXI-COSrIxUED.
The despIcable meanness Of his low trick
cry treachery. deceit and villainy appeared
IN 50 violent a contrast with the uObleness,
simplicity and purity Of this guileless
creature that his now thoroughly awakened
sense Of honor positively forbade his taking
advantage Of the opportunity fortune had
flung al his feet.
As 70 Fairfax. so TO Natalie. with the
revelation OF her love. had come an accom-
panying revelatiOn-but of a far-dIferent
character.
When she pushed aside the curtain, she
paused not only because surprised at the
sudden transformation in her friend; but
because his bent head, worried and woefuLy
sad face and his figure, with the hands
Clasped behind the back. reminded her
forcibly Of so-Ie event or person that she
felt convinced had entered into some of her
recent experiences
r She had no time TO remember what or who
it was; fc, her interest and distress as 70
Fairfaxs sorrowful demeanOr drove all
other thoughts from her mind. When, how
ever, he glanced up and that great wave Of
color had crossed his face, the resemblance
again struck her so fOrcibly that she put
her hand 70 her forehead with the words;
' Did dream its Where have seen him
befO.ei Surely, / havc-secn-ah. reIneIn-
Der. now, The old chateau. the MarchiOuess
and the ball that evening.
Like a flash. the scene appeared before
her. with the Clearuess of inspiration. Again
she saw LYDIA NJ the foot Of the staircase,
the Young American standing cejectedly be-
side her. his head bent down, listening to
her conversation again she saw his look Of
=
ne caught sight Of her. as she came slowly
down the steps with the old Marquis.
4 horrible suspicion arose IN her mind.
Could this apparently innocent. nOble-heart-
ed fellow lwh0m. for the first time she now
realized size loved have been playing fast
and loose with here Acting the role Of a
hypoCritc: II could not. must not be true.
Yet, sick az heart, faint under the burden
Of the suspicion. she stepped forward. with
the eagerness of despair that knows the
hour Of doom is at hand, but seeks TO flatter
itself into q belief to the contrary. Clasp
ing her hands and gazing earnestly into his
face, she exclaimed
..NOu are not Mons Fairfax whom ! saw
At the ban that EVENING" Oh, say that you
are not the man who has done thus Tell
me that you are what ! believed you-hon-
OrdbIe. trucr'
Fairfax slowly lifted up his head All Tire
iight was gone out Of his eyes, shame and
selfc0uviction had taken its place Quietly
he replied:
Il can not lie 70 YOU"
She sank back into chair and put her
hands before her face to conceal her tears
and look Of bitter disappointment and re
proach; and with such ineffable sadness
thai Fairfax was completely overwhelmed
with remOrse. She said. between the sObs
Il. -r,. 1-- s..5r. 90 -4r
And / trusted You sou
Suddenly she arose, flung aside her tears
and disappointment and stood erect;
naughty. cold and commanding Any other
but Fairfax would have fin he'd under the
keen. contemptuous gaze.
TINS must ceaseT' and, as she spoke,
the words fell in hard, unnatural metallic
tones
Her cheeks flushed with indignation, her
lip curled in scorn and command, her eyes
CLEANED with fire, and she looked every
inch the child Of q royal race
Fairfax forgot every thing totally, and
glzed in wrapt admiration at this glorious
being
This must ceaseI You stand confessed
that you are the man through whose arts /
am here. 1 command YOU TO release and re-
turn me-
WHAT she continued, as Fairfax stood
silently devouring her as T. were. with his
eyes, You refuse 70 heedl Know you not
that the word OF the Princess RadZiwlll, even
with her peers, Is law; and do you. an iufe-
rior, dare 10 hold her prisOnerl Cor she
said imperiously. her face now pallid with
the strong emotion that rent her. " Go.
Tomorrow You Will provide a way for my
return"
Fairfax. regalning his cOmpOsure. with =
and
IL courtesy. by which even Natalie could not
help being affected, replied in those slow,
calculating. colorless. measured tones that
he could adopt at VIII:
ssThe Princess Natalie forgets that she is
entirely III my control; that she has given
me her written promise even to mediate no
escape. while freedom Is allowed her | do
not deny that abducted YOU; stole you from
your homo; that l impcriled your life, my
life, your happiness. my own happiness and
that u your family that risEed all. threw
every thing into the balance, including my
own moral perceptions IL right and wrong.
my training IS the son 81 Christian gen
tleman. Overborc my conscientious scruples
all TO succeed ia my plans. That love
YOU, you know. But that l have loved YOU
ever since that blessed hour when I first
beheli YOU ~ the Wayside pool IN Brittany,
Won do not know II was ! who found and
returned Your lost knife. l, too. am the
guilty author and executor Of the abduc-
ton. You know how well / have succeeded
Can YOU deny that You feel an interest in
me! WIN You say that lam nothing to yOui
/ have never loved yOu more than I do now
I have never felt your w0rthiness and my
own uuwOrthiness. viliaIuy and hypocrisy
more than I DO u0w-ulv wickeduess IN inn
posing upon the confidence and innocence Of
one 80 far above me in purity aud uoblcness
Of life You know what I am ! make no
excuse. no apology Ny Ofiense i tor gross
even 10 allow of an apology. All / say Is:
j loved you and knew well that no plebeian
could dream uf winning your affections,
much less your hand On the eve of my
departure 70 America. this plan suggested
itself 10 me, hung about ne like q night
mare. until. unable 10 nd myself u 1t,
yielded. with this result"
But" continued he, '-yOu. yourself, must
acknowledge that You have been treated
kindly, that your time has passed pleasant
ly and that You never were happier How
ever. I am no cruel iailer and VIII prove my
love by giving up all my hopes forever
since that Is YOUR wish Tomorrow you
shall 20. You NAV blame me, but never as
severely as 1 snail myself leave you and
shall trouble YOU no more"
50 saving. before she could prevent him,
he quickly took her hand in his and. bending
forward, touched il lightly 70 his lips.
Sight Is il was, the act sent the blood
tiugimg through Natalie's veins. No man
had ever taken. OF ever dared to take,
even that respectful and gallant liberty
with her person
While Fairfax had been talking with her,
his face lost its expression Of shame and.
gradually. assumed a look Of dignity with
which was intermingled that refined. scr
rowful look that had attracted her atten-
ton. when she first saw nina weary, yet
calm resignation 70 fate: sublime endur-
ance. HIS frankness and every thing about
him was. for the nOnce, AZ least ali spon-
taneirv itself. and, therefore doubly effect
i've.
The girl could not but listen and look As
he proceeded. her anger began to grow cool
and her hasty resolves 20 melt she felt
weLing up In her breast, the strong love lar