Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1888-01-14
RETRIBUTION.
BY THE DUCHESS
tCsnfiRued.l

time she manages 10 meet his gaze. II,
indeed, her fate 10 to marry this man,
and go with him wheresoever he goes,
then IL will DO only kind Of fortune 70
drive them into the country, far from this
great London, where one meets every
one. and where those known to her In hei
present life might sometimes (cruel
thoughO be seen by her.
"wcllr" shc says.
''It will take mo out Of the country.
The fact is," continues he, rushing at the
rest of his communication, ~ have been
offered post ot-of trust that will take
me TO America"
"iou so there in search Of this man
who has stolen the sapphires'" says she,
quickly. "You arc hunting him down.
|. Is this your post Of trusti Arc you ia
| dctcctivc.'
Something like q vague smile fits
across his face m he notices how she
slrinks from him.
"Not exactly" Ills tone Is full Of mys-
terry. s'lf detectives nrc nbhorrcnt 70
you, DO happy in the thought that have
fact, detest them quite a. much as you
do. No; am going there In advance OF
the detectives, rs I hope. You'll be
ready 70 come with me!"
''Is Il 70 be soon!'
"It may sound soon TO you. perhaps In
about month from to-day" Il In now
growing toward the end Of July. "But
may have to start earlier than that. You
will be ready"
lie is very pale a. he presses the ques-
tion. II she rcfuses-if she even bar
gains for more time, Il will cause confus-
Ion. But she does not refuse. A pro-
found sigh escapes her, but she says:
ayes, shall be ready" In voice SUBJ
dued but void OF trembling. II she Ii to
marry him, and thus TO resign all good
the world can give her, II will make lit
tie difference whether she lives with him
here or in that far country he has
named; then sudden thought occur
ring, she looks ut him eagerly: my
mother" she says.
"Will Of course accompany u.s."
"Will your stay there be long'"
~ hardly knOw-fOr some years GER
tainly; after that 1: Is undecided"
Everything Is undecided that lies In
the years beyond" she sighs again.
"You are going abroad tomorrow, you
say,"
Eyes, for a week or two-pcrhaps
three. But I shall be back In time for
our wedding"
lie attempts TO speak lightly, bnt the
sad look on the girls face checks him.
lie Is. however, too clatcd by the victory
already achieved to know any fear for
the future. No doubt she Is pining at the
Thought Of leaving her home, but once
married Ia him, the power and persist
ence of his love will conquer all regrets.
So he thinks; 80 he vainly believes.
"Don't look 50 grieved, my darling"
he whispers fondly, pressing her
hand between both his own. "Think
Of the long and happy future that
lies before you, with me forever
as your slave. The time will come,
Nadine, when you will not regard any
ties but the one that binds me 20 you.
Ties Of home and kindred will be ~
naught beside Il. Though now, perhaps,
you give me your heart unwillingiy,
then you will love even as you are be-
loved. Oh, that that glad hour were
blended with this"' lie presses his lips
ccstatically TO the hand he still holds.
His whole face grows bright with the
affection that glows within him. Then
one word that he has used returns to him
with unpleasant force. "Unwilling,"
he goes on musinely, frowning slightly.
"Ycs, you are unwilling 70 give me your
heart"
"Ah, nor says she gently, and with
troubled air Of uncertainty; ~ am not
unwilling. You mistake me. would,
with all my soul, that could love you as
you desire, and perhaps, indeed, in
time she hesitates, as though lost
In n labyrinth Of painful thought. "No.
am not unwilling" she repeats again,
feeling how good q thing IL would be for
her could she indeed obliterate from her
mind all the too dear past and give her
self entirely 10 this man. "You speak A.
though am obstinately Withholding
something-as 10 yoa believed you were
robbing me Of the heart on which you
set such store. But It is not So What
ever else you may have stolen, IL was not
my love. You cannot steal that; but
some day, perhaps, shall give Il To you"
Preoccupied as she IL with sad and
hurtful memory, she Is reused 10 present
life by the curious glance and start that
follows on her speech. Both are subdued
as suddenly as they came, and Annerley
once more regards her with only the ar
dent look Of affection that before was his;
but Nadine cannot forget that they were
there. Has he heard Of Mr.. Duran Has
Madness acquaintance with him come TO
his ears' Does he suspect Duran Of
being the thief who has stolen from him
his loves hearti She feels little cold
and sick with anxiety as she waits for
his next words. They reassurc her.
"You give me fresh lifc," he says.
''Sone day, indeed, the love crave shall
lie mine. And now." glancing at his
watch, ~ fear our last moment has come.
Now must bid you farewell, until the
happy time that will see mo home with
you, with our near marriage only u few
hours distant. Good-by, my darling, my
best beiovedr'
Not living soul Is In sight. Folding
her closely In his arms, he holds her iO
him as though he could never again
mfIcr her To 20. She feels the reality.
the wild carnestness Of his love at this
instant as she never before realized IL.
Softcned, subdued by Il, she gently re-
turns his embrace. aud then stands back
firm him.
"You will think of mckinley. low
| ipgly," brenthes he with passionate en-
trc.;y. Sweetheart! IL you could only
know low hard IL Is 10 part from you for
even these few days. Nadine. have pity on
mc, ,nnd try Ia love me In my absence. They
say absence makes the heart grow fon.
der;' prove the saying true. Alasl how
fatally honeGt your sweet eyes can be.
There Is nothing IN them for mc--noth.
ing but pity! Well, even that Is better
than few other things could name
/ II Is mt least akin tO love. But have you
no sorrow In that we must part Are
you cold alwaysi Suppose we should
never meet again after this h0ur-neyer
Ia all our years on earthi would not this
move your Why, no! You look bcwil-
deresl, but not sal. IL Is the last mo-
mentl cannot sec you again tonight
--bccausc-bccause Of Never mind
that GOod-by. my pretty girlr'
Once again he folds her In his arms.
Once again hc passionately presses his
lips 10 hers.
lie releases her.
"This fear of mine Is folly" he whis-
pers heavily. "It Is hut for a week or
two. We shall meet again, 10 know no
other parting-save deathr'
lie guides her quickly on her back .y,l
way 10 where again the gates loom large