San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-11-25

back"
"You feel that you will not be happy
again unless do so, Ismay?"
"Neverl' she replied.
'"Then listen to me. The hour of my
vengeance has come at last. What suf-
fered when you left me, only Heaven
knows The agony of death cannot equal
the agony of outraged love and despair. ]
will not tell you of all my pain lest you
should pity me, and will have none of
your pity; but in my anguish swore that
/ would take vengeance. Now the time
has come when / can keep my vow-when
can send you from my feet-when / can
refuse your prayer, and tell you that
never, never more shall you be wife of
miner
She bowed her head with deep, bitter
sob, and then she raised her arms and tried
to clasp them round his neck. But he
drew back and caught her hands in his; he
would take no caress from her. He held
her hands so tightly that he left great red
marks upon them.
"Woman-weak, vain, light of purpose,
light of love-what do you know of the
depths of mans heart? What do you
know of the force of his passion, the
strength of his love? Weak, frail, easily
led, ready to sell your dearest and best to
the first bidder, you think you can play
with a mans heart as children play with
ball! You think that you may lay
mans life in ruin-blight it, drive him
mad with despair-and then win him back
with smile and caressp'
She raised her beautiful white face to
his; her quivering lips could hardly utter
sound
81 own that l am guilty; make no ex-
cuse. pray you pardon me. You loved
me so dearly once, Paul; for that loves
sake forgive me now"
He raised his hand with warning ges-
ture.
"Do not raise an evil spirit within me-"
he cried; "do not, if you are wise, remind
me of that love!"
His voice was harsh, his manner stern.
"You are so changedr' she sobbed: "you
are so altered"
"Who has changed me? Who turned
my bright, strong glad young life into
living death? Who changed love into
hate? Whose fault is it that for long years
| have been ready to curse my fate and
die?"
81 will try to make amends" she plead
ed ooh, Paul, forgive me! l will be so
humble, so good. am not the same-my
soul is awake care no more for anything
on earth but you"
ut is too late" he returned. years
ago, no wifely love, no pity pleaded for
me; no voice in your heart asked mercy
for the man you were booming to living
death. And my only fault was loving
your
Love me again" she said-'try me
again. If could die to undo my fault, l
would"
Listen to me. If by my refusal broke
your heart and mine, would still refuse.
You yielded to vanity,I yield to pride. l
will not take back to my heart and my
home the woman who deserted me because
could not minister to her vanity. You
left me because was poor, l am rich now.
and / refuse to take you back"
She shrunk shuddering, as though he
had struck her a sudden blow.
you refuse?" she repeated.
eyes, absolutely. l never wish to see
your false face or listen to your false voice
again"
The beautiful face dropped until it was
hidden from his eyes. He rose from his
chair, every limb trembling: he could not
have borne the sight of it another moment.
You have sought this interview" he
said, trying to speak calmly; 'let it end.
Do not say l have hard heart-you broke
my heart years ago. bid you farewell"
He heard her cry to heaven to have mer-
cy on her-he saw her fall with her face to
the ground. He stood for moment hah
hesitating.
''If speak to her again-if touch her
i am lost" he said, and then he left the
room and summoned his housekeeper.
There is lady in the library; she is
ill.," he said. "Be very kind to her. When
she is better send for cab; she will want
to go home"
And he himself left the house lest any
cry of hers should reach him and he should
go back to her.
Il have had my revenge" he said to
himself; but never yet did vengeance cost
so dear.
CHAPTER XVIII
Lord Carlswood looked up in dismay.
He had been dining out, and Mrs Wal
drOn had given orders that she was not at
home to anyone. He was pleased to find
her alone; the dinner had fatigued him,
and he was glad of the prospect of quiet
evening. He had drawn his chair to the
window, making some careless remark to
her about the warmth and beauty of the
night. There was no reply, and the old
lord thought she had not heard him. AT
ter time he spoke to her again, and again
there came no reply. She was standing
by the open window, her face hidden from
hin,