Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-08-04

"Has Mr.. Rodney conner" asked.
II really don't know" she answered indiffer-
emily and looking me full IN the face.
"He'll have to turn on the current to its high
gazed into her honest eyes
''Good evening, Miss Durand," said deep
voice behind me; and turning. saw Marcus
suit. His figure seemed to have lost its un-
gainliness, and his strong face looked almost
ornamental in drawing room.
Miss Duraud arose and held out her hand.
He took it calmly, and gave him my seat and
moved away.
For the frst time in such a gathering, 1
found myself ill at ease. Old friends spoke to
me- and answered as though I had never
known them. NV thoughts were with Marga-
ret Durand and Rodney. Had he brought his
apparatus with him? Would he use it? Would
she succumb before the power of his unfair
device?
Such questions as these worried me for a
long time: Finally ! returned to the little
room in which had left my friend and his
beloved. Margaret had disappeared, but Rod
ney was still there. Never have seen such a
look a mans face as his countenance at
that moment held. His cheeks were pale, and
beneath his staring eyes were deep tints of
black. His white lips looked dry and feverish,
and he stared into vacancy like man bereft OF
reason,
managed to get him out of the house with
out attracting attention, and we walked many
blocks in silence. He leaned upon my arm as
though he had wholly lost his strength, and 1
in pity supported him. At length he ~his-
pered:
Thank Heaven, 1 didn't turn on the current!
I'm man yet"
Yes. l asked her to be my wife. She re-
fused. She said she did not care for me. What
could do? had it in my power to make her
worship me, and l restrained myself. o, my
friend, never was a man so tempted. Her lips
are SO red! Her eyes are so bright Her hair
is so black! Her current must be one of tre-
%sndGSs force hicS A1G look EoS o haze
is that she does not like me by nature. can
not no. cannot take a mean-a scientific
advantage of her. Good God, 1 wish 1 were
deadr' -
With these rather trite words he seemed to
recover his energy, for he broke from my
grasp and rushed away in the darkness.
CHAPTER III.
Two nights later was sitting in a box at the
theater with Margaret Durand. The house
was crowded, and the play, famous American
comedy. kept the audience in a tumult of
laughter and applause. But my vis-a-vis
seemed out of spirits. She watched the play
listlessly and seemed more inclined to carry
on a whispered conversation with me than to
follow the intricacies of a most amusing piece.
Toward the end of the third act saw her
start and turn red, as she caught sight of tall,
imposing figure standing near the main en-.
trance. i followed her gaze and recognized
Rodney, "grand, gloomy and peculiar as
usual
IA great man, Rodney" L whispered.
She looked at ME coldly and said:
"Yes?"
yes. A man of wonderful force. Every
"Not everybody" she returned quickly.
"Y our statement is too sweeping"
But is he not extremely popularf He is
II grant you that" Then in a lower tone
Everybody seems to like him. wonder why
don't"
"a case of currents" had it on my lips to
say. but suppressed the words in time.
Perhaps" suggested, 'you find him too
earnest"
He has seen us, and can't bear his gaze" She
drew her chair back out of range of Rodney's
view.
Here was a mystery. Evidently the man had
a peculiar effect upon her. She felt so strong
a repugnance for him that she had given ex-
preston to it with more frankness than good
taste.
As we left the theater our little party passed
Rodney, who was standing IN the lobby. Miss
Durand bowed coldly to him. and he returned
her salutatiUn in almost an omlnous way. 1
did not like the expression on his face. he
had glanced at me with an angry CLEAN in his
haggard eyes, and knew he envied me my
present position. We returned to the Durands
to supper, and Margaret gradually grew more
would pass over her beautiful face. and felt
intuitively that she was thinking of Rodney.
AS the party broke up, she took me aside and
said:
"Will you do me great favor?"
"Willingly. There is nothing would not do
for ~ You" Ou ono. asked me- to marry Won wan,
1 was astonished, and for a moment lost con-
troll of my nerves. My body trembled, and
was obliged to seat myself on a sofa. The
that felt a surprise which made me speech
less. Margaret seated herself beside me, and
pale and motionless, awaited my answer. We
were alone for the moment, and turning I
MY darling you have made me the happiest
man in the world. Kiss me. Tell me you love
me. You love me?"
'I don't know" she answered, disengaging
herself from my embrace 81 like you better
than other men, and l want to be engaged to
you, am tired of having men detest pro-
pose to me-"
was not thoroughly pleased with this inter-
probation of her feelings. but there was no
time to say more, as the guests had gathered in
the hall and were making their adieux.
Come to me in the morning." whispered
Margaret, and promised her that would.
Goodnight, my fance. "were her last words,
and stepped forth into the darkness a be-
wildereG but happy man. / wandered about
the streets for two hours in a curious state of
mind. When Margaret Durand had refused
me had been desperate for a time, but per-
haps because my current is SO adaptable"
had fully recovered, and had allowed our in
tercourse to rest on the basis of friendship,
Now l was obliged to fall in love with her
again. 1t was not very difficult task, but
regretted tnat did not have that control of
my own electric fiow that Marcus Rodney pos
sessed.
The light of approaching day had begun to
glimmer in the East when L threw myself upon
my bed, worn out with the struggle of conflict
ing emotions. / was up again at IL and hur-
rIed to jewelers. The handsomest engage
ment ring the store held was soon mine, and l
drove at once to Madison avenue. Margaret
received me with a silent pressure of the hand.
She looked pale and her eyes were heavy for
lack of sleep. She smiled sadly, almost list
lessly, as placed the ring upon her finger and
kissed her lips, less red than usual to seal our
betrothal.
II am afraid" she faltered. "that you will
think have been unwomanly."
Don't say that, Margaret. You do yourself
a wrong. A slave who has received his free
dom would be ungenerous to harbor unkind
you have promised to be my wife. That one
reflection is all that my mind has room for
now"
She smiled compassionately.
Il want you to do something for me to-day"
she said.
"WillingIy-later on" 1 placed my arm
around her waist and felt no inclination to
move was delighted to observe that the re.
in a most satisfactory manner.
"Yes-later on" she murmured. II want you
to see Marcus Rodney and tell him that you
and are engaged. Will your
1 was surprised at the request and rather
dreaded the task she had set me-,
Must tell him to-day?' asked feebly
''Please do. l want him to know at once
am afraid of him. hate HIM. But
he is a peculiar man. He Is one of those OBJ
stinate creatures who never know when they
are beaten. He would not permit the woman
he loved to become a sister to him."
started as though my current, which was