The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1890-08-29

the overwhelming force of his un
reasoning passion. He had drawn her
up from her chair and was holding her
close TO him, closer and closer as he
poured forth his words like a resist.
less torrent of fire. She was quite pas.
sive 10 his hands, white and cold .,
stone, and all her life seemed 70 be
concentrated in those burning eyes,
which seemed TO draw the words from
him with the intensity of their devour.
ing light. Still holding her in that
mad, agonized clutch he went OIL in q
low, hoarse whisper
"Mildred stood in your place, my
love, my love. gave my soul for
you. Your place is empty"
Then with an awful cry-a cry in
which triumph, hatred I'd revenge
were strangely blended-the woman
tore herself away ON his despairing
hands.
cat last she cried, and her deep
voice rang through the big room. "Oh,
God! at lastl at lastl"
He fell back step, and for an in.
slant they faced each other in silence;
then she went on still in that wonder
full, ringing voice, while her whole
figure seemed to dilate with the force
of her terrible triumph.
81 have waited for this moment
waited and watched until | thought it
was never to come. / have tried
everything. l have watched and
" )rked, aud at last-at last have it.
Murder, murderl l have known this
all the time. Did you think-were
you fool enough to think that |, who
knew her and loved her so, oh God,
who loved her so, could ever believe
my darling capable of such a crime?
That she, my little glrl, my little Mil
lie, should ever take her own sweet iu.
nocent life' Fool, fool, l knew my dar-
ling"
The man before her had turned an
awful ashen gray, and he stood there,
the frenzy dead within him, self-con-
vlcted, utterly defenseless.
Suicide, they said," she went on,
''as you knew they must say 'suicidel'
You did not count on the friend that
loved herl knew knew it was a
murder and from the FIRST l haye GUS
pected you. l stood your friend
your friend-wher all other friends
who could believe that she had done
that thing would have turned Their
backs on the man they believed
had driven her to it. l stood your
friend and kept yoi here. l kept you
here for this. Then you began, you
villain, TO make love to me and l was
sure. / led you on, yes, you are right
l led you on-for this. l vowed that
sooner or later you should tell me all,
and l have borne your presence, I have
borne your touoh-your kisses-for
this, Calton Leigh! For this!"
She stopped. Her oice had swell
ed and grown deeper with every pas
sionate word she uttered, and as she
finished with kind of fierce triumph.
ant cry, it seemed to ring again with
such an intensity of hate and ven
geance, as would surely, if such 70. ce
could kill, have laid her object dead at
her feet Then she began again, and
her voice this time was low and terri
BILE with determination.
"Now listen,' she said. II have not
done with you yet. A life for q life
Cation Leigh. Your worthless life for
my darling's! will prove your guilt
to all the world, l swear ii! Listen!
My darling shall not lie forever with
that cruel shame upon her innocent
head. For her sake l have brought
you to this; for her l will hunt you down,
someday. Till then live if
you can. Now-go!" She lifted her
hand as she spoke, and stood there
pointing to the door, superb in her pas
sion and hate.
The wretched man never moved,
only his face was horribly drawn, his
lips were ashen, and he swayed slight
ly to and fro as he stood staring
straight before him with awful sight
less eyes. As she ceased to speak he
turned his eyes slowly until they rest.
ed on her face, beautiful now in its in.
describable passion. Then he turned
away, heavily and uncertainty, as it to
go towards the door. But before he
had taken three steps he stopped ab-
ruptly with dreadful low laugh, and
with sudden quick gesture he
lifted his hand sharply. The next mo-
ment there was sharp report and he
was lying at her feet, in a stiffness
which no passion, no love, longing or
remorse would ever break again.
Vengeance is mine. will repay