The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1889-09-06
XX.z---NEW SERIES.

From bantering his manner changed tc
eager, savage earnest.
"Grace Garland," he said, "you are
In my power; body and soul you are
mine! Do you agree to that.
IL agree to nothing" was the half
audible response, until know what
you mean to do"
II mean to have you 60 away with
me-"
"When?"
Tonight"
"Whcre?"
"To such place as see fit to carry
you"
II refuse to so with your
"You refusew.
Eyes, refuse. You are free to do
your worstp
Eye to eye, tho unequal combatants
were measuring their strength.
"My>worst is to tell tho man you love,
'no m'a3 ~Frauon sv,Ukt, uuJ Ine snatt
struck home. For moment she
wavcrcd, but in the next she mastered
herself sufficiently to retort:
"Tell him what You please. 1 had
rather be despiscd even by him than by
myself"
"You defy mo thcn?'
"If my wish TO preserve my self
respect is defiance, defy you"
Maddened, yet fascinated, by her self
command, Boydcn cried:
"Is IL to bc war between us? Have
n care how you answer moi"
"Jt must DC war;" Oracle said steaui-
ly, Since there can bc no peace"
He took step nearer her rs
breathcd:
What if were t. tell you that I
loved yuu?"
"I should not believe yon."
"Iiut if promised you marriagc?"
"Thc very Thought is.un insult!"
Hc drew back, white with rage.
$50 bc it." hc Missed; II give you
twenty -four hours to reconsider what
you have said. II ut the expiration of
that time you d" not nGr"" &; a., Terms,
l shall lodge you in the Tombs for the
murder of Orrin CliIliurd!"
1lc went tn the door. and laid his
land upon the knob
Bear in mind" he said. that if you
attempt to escape, You will all the
sooner fall into my hands!'
And with these words IA, lett the
loom and the hous'.
While this scene between venture and
dare was in progress, Mrs Arnim had
returned unexpectedly, and had let her
self into the house with II latch -kcv,
without attracting the attention nf the
pair in the studio
Hearing their voices, al,n fauciei
that Rupert must have returned during
her absence. SO she went to the kitchen
to attend to certain matters before re.
tiring. The sharp closing of the street
door soon caught her listening car, and
upon going g-ia+,,- -the-imtf- tn Nscertntn
the cause, what was her surprise to find
the passage deserted, which was at
once manifest 10y means Of brightly
burning gas.
With some curiosity she threw open
the door of tho studio and looked in.
Tho lamp shed it's soft radiance every
where. Gra"ic's work lay on the chair
whcrcShc hll lcftit, but the room, like
the hall, was tcnant!css.
"Strunso," murmured the good
woman, pauslng upon the threshold.
at is rather late for them to go to
walk"
Scarcely were the w"rI$ of her lips
when key grated in the latch, the
door swung open. and her son stood
before her He did not greet her us
was his wont, but came in, closed the
door and double locked it.. So quick
were his movements that she failed to
note how blanchcd WAS his face, how
dilatCd were his eyes.
Rupert" she exclaimed in surprise,
what have you done with Grace"
Nothing, mother" came the low re-
sponsc.
did she not go ont with your"
"No."
"Why, where is The child?"
He was hanging up his coat and hat,
and SO managed to keep his face
avcrted.
She is probably in her roon,," he
sud, presently; "will you bc good
enough to step up and see, and if she
is there ask her to come down To- me- for
II moment before she rctircs.'
He passed on into the studio. and
Mrs Amim dutifully mounted tho
stairs and raped ut Gracie's door.
"Gracic, are you there2" called tho
good woman.
"Ycs, Mrs. Arnim," came the low.
sweet voice.
"IIave you retircd?"
"Not yet"
"Arc You still drcsscd?"
Eyes"
"Will you come down to tho studio ?
Rupert wants to see you"
For answer, the door opened, and
Oracle came forth upon the landing.
There was no light mp there on the
second floor, or Mrs. Arnim would
have been terrified at the change that
had taken place in the girl, for, rs she
slowly descended the stairs, laying fast
hold of the rail, and met the radiance
of the gas in the lower hall, she showed
n face so wan, so hagGard and pctrifcd
with suffering. us to DC scarcely recog-
nizable.
Upon reaching the foot OF the stairs,
she crossed the hall and entered the
studio, pausing just within the open
door, in the attitude of criminal
awaiting sentence.
Rupert Arnim stood before the fire.
place with his arms tightly folded upon
his breast. He was rs pallid as she
and his eyes looked dark and fathom