Iron County register., 1888-01-12

creature that his now thoroughly awakened
sense of honor positively forbade his taking
advantage of the opportunity fortune had
flung at his feet.
As to Fairfax, so to Natalie. with the
revelation of her love. had come an accom-
panying revelation-but of a far different
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 woeflIIy
sad face and his figure, with the hands
clasped behind the back, reminded her
forcibly of some event or person that she
felt convinced had entered into some of her
recent experiences.
She had no time to remember what or who
it was; for her interest and distress as to
Fairfax's 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 to her forehead with the words:
"Did dream iti Where have seen him
beforea Surely, have-seen-ah,I remem-
Der, nowl The old chateau, the Marchioness
and the ball that evening"
Like flash, the scene appeared before
her, with the clearness of inspiration. Again
she saw Lydia at the foot of the staircase,
the young American standing dejectedly be-
side her, his head bent down, listening to
her conversation; again she saw his look OF
surprise and flush of embarrassment, when
he caught sight of her, as she came slowly
down the steps with the old Marquis.
A horrible suspicion arose in her mind
Could this apparently innocent, noble-heart-
ed fellow (whom, for the first time, she now
realized she loved) have been playing fast
and loose with hers Acting the role of a
hVn0pritaZ IF pOT1d ha
Yet, sick at 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 fiatter
itself into belief to the contrary. Clasp
ing her hands and gazing earnestly into his
face, she exclaimed:
'sYou are not Mons. Fairfax whom saw
at the ball that evenings Obi say that you
are not the man who has done this. Tell
me that you are what believed you-hon-
orable, truer'
Fairfax slowly lifted up his head. All the
light was gone out of his eyes; shame and
self-conviction had taken its place. Quietly
he replied:
81 can not lie to you.''
She sank back into a 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
that Fairfax was completely overwhelmed
with remorse. She said, between the sobs
that she bravely tried to stifle:
'And trusted you soI'
Suddenly she arose, flung aside her tears
and disappointment and stood erect;
naughty, cold and commanding. Any other
but Fairfax would have flinched under the
keen, contemptuous gaze.
''This must ceaser' 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 a royal race.
Fairfax forgot every thing totally, and
gazed in wrapt admiration at this glorious
being.
This must cease! You stand confessed
that you are the man through whose arts ]
am here. 1 command you to release and re-
turn me-"
'sWhatr' she continued, as Fairfax stood
silently devouring her as it We're, with his
eyes, ''you refuse to heedi Know you not
that the word of the Princess Radziwill, even
with her peers, is law; and do you, an infe
rior, dare to hold her prisoner. COP she
said, imperiously, her face now pallid with
the strong emotion that rent her. "Gol
Tomorrow you will provide way for my
return"
Fairfax, regaining his composure, with
coolness, dispassionateness and gentleman
ly courtesy, by which even Natalie could not
help being affected, replied in those slow,
calculating, colorless, measured tones that
he could adopt at will:
''The Princess Natalie forgets that she is
entirely in 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 home; that / imperiled your life, my
life, your happiness, my own happiness and
that of your family; that risked all; threw
every thing into the balance, including my
own moral perceptions of right and wrong,
my training as the son of Christian gen.
tleman, overbore my conscientious scruples
all to succeed in my plans. That love
you, you know. But that have loved you
ever since that blessed hour when l first
beheld you at the wayside pool in Brittany,
you do not know. 1t was who found and
returned your lost knife. i, 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
mel Will you say that lam nothing to youa
have never loved you more than l do now.
have never felt your worthiness and my
own unworthiness, villainy and hypocrisy
more than do now-my wickedness in i'm
one so far above me in purity and nobleness
of life You know what 1 am. 1 make no
excuse, no apology. My offense is too gross
even to allow of an apology. All say is:
loved you and knew well that no plebeian
could dream of winning your affections;
much less, your hand. On the eve of my
departure to America, this plan suggested
itself to me. hung about me like night
mare, until. unable to rid myself OF Ii,
yielded, with this result"
; ssBut," 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. am no cruel iailer and will prove my
love by giving up all my hopes forever
since that is your wish. Tomorrow you
shall go. You may blame me, but never as
severely as shall myself. leave You and
shall trouble you no more"
So saving, before she could prevent him,
he quickly took her hand in his and, bending
forward, touched it lightly 70 his lips.
Slight as it was, the act sent the blood
tingling through Natale's veins. No man
had ever taken, or 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 look of dignity with
which was intermingled that refined. sor-
rowful look that had attracted her atten-
tion, when she first saw him-a weary, yet
calm resignation to fate; sublime endur-
auce. His frankness and every thing about
him was, for the nonce, at least, all spon-
taneity itself, and, therefore doubly effect
i've