Mexico weekly ledger., 1889-08-15

1Copyrighked 1857, by G, ". Dillingham; - All
Rights Reser5ed.l
ICHAPTER XyL.-CoNTINUEp.
The despicable ann of his low trick
cry, treachery, deceit and villainy appeared
In so violent a contrast with the nobleness,
simplicity and purity of his guileless
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
ssYsiation Of her love, had come an accom-
panying revelation-but Of a far-diferent
character.
When she pushed aside he curtain, she
paused, not only because surprised at tho
sudden transformation in her friend; but
because his bent head, worried and woefully
Isad face n his figure, with the hands
clasped behind the back, reminded her
fprcibly Of some event or person that she
1T convinced had entered into some of her
Recent experiences.
She had no time to remember what or who
10 was; for her interest and distress as to
Tasrfax'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:
add I dream it, Where nave I seen him
,1efore1 Surely, I have-seen-ah, Iremem-
iber, nowI The old chateau, the Marchioness
I1nd the ball that evening"
Like q fash, the scene appeared before
they, with the clearness of inspiration. Again
she saw Lydia at the foot Of the staircase,
1.-The young American standing dejectedly be-
Es1de her, his head bent down, listening to
her conversation; again she saw his look Of
Esurprise and flush Of embarrassment, when
Ehs caught sight Of her, as she came slowly
down the steps with the old Marquis.
! A horrible suspicion arose in her mind.
Gould this apparently innocent, noble-hesrt-
ed fellow twhom, for the first time, b now
realized she loyed) have been playing fast
and loose with herl Acting the role Of q
hypocritea It could not, nsxst not be true.
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 flatter
itself into O belief to the contrary. Clasp
ing her hands and gazing earnestly into his
face, she exclaimed:
"You are not Mons. Fairfax whom I saw
at tho ball hat EVENING" OH say that you
are not the man who has done this. Tell
ME that you are what I believed you-hon-
orable, trueI"
Fairfax slowly lifted up his head. All the
Light was gone out Of his eyes; shame and
selfconviction had taken its place. Quietly
b ereplied:
II 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 stile:
"An6 / trusted you sol"
Suddenly she arose, flung aside her tears
aud disappointment and stood erect;
naughty, cold and commanding. Any other
but Fairfax would have finched under the
keen, centemptuous gaze.
tVThis must ceasei' and, as she spoke,
tho 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.
Fcirfax forgot every thing totally, and
gased in wrapt admiration at this glorious
being.
ssThis must cease! You stand confessed
that you are the man through whose arts
en- here. command you to release and re-
turn me-"
J "Whati' she continued, as Fairfax stood
silently ~devouring her as it were, with his
eyes, ''you refuse to heedt Know you not
that the word Of the Princess Radziwill, sven
with her peers, is law; and do you, an nfe
rior, dare to hold her prisonera Col" she
said, im~periously, her face now pallid with
the strong emotion that rent her. "Gol
Tomorrow you will provide o way for my
return"
Fairfax, regaining his composure, with Q
c~oolness, Representatives, and gentleman
~ courtesy, by which even Natalie could not
help being affected, replied in those slow,
calculating, colorless, measured tones tina,
no could adopt at will:
1.-THE Princess Natalie forgets that she is
entirely in my control; that she has given
me her written promise even to mediate nc
escape, while freedom is allowed her. I dc
not deny that I 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 a Christian gen.
ttieman, overbore my conscientious scruples
t-an to succeed in my plans. That I love
lyon, you know. But that I AVE loved you
over since that blessed hou when I frs,
fbeheld you at the wayside pool In Brittany,
you do not know. It was l who found and
returned your lost knife. /, too, am the
guilty author and executor of the abduc.
ton. You know how well I nave succeeded
Can you deny hat you feel an interest in
incl VIII you say that lam nothing to youl
] q never loved you more than / do now
I have never felt your ~worthiness and my
own unworthiness, viilaiuy and hypocrisy
more than / do now-my wickedness in i'm
posing upon the confidence and innocence o.
ono so far above me in purity and nobleness
OF life. You know what I am. Imake nc
excuse, no apology. My oiense is too gross
even to allow Of an apology. All I say is
loved you and Knew well that no plebeiar
could dream of winning You affections
much less, your hand. On the eve Of my
dcpartu TO America, this plan suggested
ftset TO me, hung about me like a night
mare, until, unable to rid myself Of Il, ]
yielaeSsrG!s this result"
~dBut,n continued he, ''you, yourself, mus
acknowledge that you nave been treated
Eadiy; that your time has passed pleasant
II and that YOU never were happier. How
ever, I am no cruel jailer and viii prove my
loye by giving up all my hopes forever
since that Is your wish. Tomorrow you
shall 90. You may blame me, but never %
severely as I Shall myself. I1eaye you and
shah trouble you no more"
So saying, before she could prevent him
be quickly took her hand in his and, bending
forward, touched 1t lightly 10 his lips.
Slight as u was, the act sent the blood
tthgfirg through Natalie's veins. No mar
lhAd ever taken, CT v dared to take
-an that ~ocro~ffuf and 0a1Iauf 1nhar&x