The Republican., 1891-11-06

your hospitality" remarked Sallie, as
she gracefully began the brewing of the
tea. Il haven't the material nor the
ingenuity. There is not so much as an
assassin on the premises, not to speak of
magic mirrors and oriental enchanters.
and beautiful specters. By the way, that
was a wonderfully clever trick. How
WAS it done?"
"You must ask Garcia" replied the
count, quietly, as one who had made up
his mind to endure up to a certain point,
AID then no more.
do you think Garcia would tell me
any secret of yours? said Sallie. She
gave the question a flavor of arch sur
prise that sent the count on a swift jour
1 ney of expectation. After all, why had.
! Garcia left him? IIe began tosarmisesa
possible reason, but he said only, "Ihave
always found him useful man. OF
course | know he has his weaknesses"
Yes; 50 have we ALL" she replied
Even the Count de LiSle has weakness
es. And yet, it seems to me. were | in
your place [ would have none. No man
ever had agreatcr opportunity than you.
If you stood for yourself alone, what
could you not do? No one could attack
you. You could buy friends, police.
iuries, judges and legislatures You
could make laws and elect rulers. You
could yourself be the real ruler of this
country and hold the balance Of power
in the world. With genius and purpose
and such wealth as yours all that would
not he impossible. But, Them you must
make sacrifices. You must be solitary.
If you give your confidence to friend
or your heart to Il woman you are vul-
nerable and can be oVerthroWn. When
first learned who and what you were |
feared you. Here is Il man, | said to
myself, who, from having rope around
his neck, has risen to power incalcu-
liable The world has done its worst to
him: he will have his revenge upon the
world. The iron has entered into his
soul, and now his soul will be like iron.
He must be obeyed, for he can enforce
obedience. But when heard" contin-
ned Sallie, suddenly changing from this
serious vein to a light and bantering
tone, that the Count de Lisle was in
love and about to be married | did not
fear him SO much. To have attempted
TO overthrow you by questioning the
means that had obtained you your wealth
would have been desperate enterprise.
Even robbers and murderers, if they be
strong and resolute enough, need fear
nothing. But to have given your heart
to girl-that was another matter! You
could be reached through her."
And you? Are you impregnable?'
asked he.
"Only in so far that if I saw my way
to accomplish what 1 supremely desire l
would let nothing deter me. | was an
innocent little girl once, but evaR then |
had strong desires, and without any op-
portunity to carry them out. l made
some serious mistakes, and suffered from
them, but l had had my way, and L
found that most failures in this world
are due to not having been INSCRIPTIONS
enough. 1t needs courage to begin, but
when you discover what it is to be with
out scruples you wonder why anybody
great Shareholders OF the human race.
But was going to say that | should be
willing to put in your hands any evi-
dence against myself that you might re-
quire for my destruction rather than
forego the purpose have in view"
"What is your purpose?'
"The poets say that love is lord of all,
you know. | have had my doubts of
that, and l want you to settle them.
You think you love Olympia Raven.
How much would you be willing to sac
rifice to save her life?"
"That is hypothetical question. I
could answer it only after l was made
certain that her life was in danger"
"Whether she lives or dies depends
upon the result of this interview. She
is in my power-as the people in melo-
drama say. What becomes of her de-
pends on my will"
The count, who had been sitting with
his elbows on his knees and his eyes low
cred, looked up, and his glance and Sal
lies met. What she saw in his mind
sent quick flush to her face. For mo-
ment she held her breath. No soldier in
battle was ever nearer death than Sallie
then. But she had q resolute heart, and
when she drew her breath again it was
with n smile.
"Do you always carry q revolver" she
said. 1--WE are alone in the house, ex-
cept my maid. 1 could have protected
myself, but I am sufficiently protected
by circumstances. 1t has been arranged
that if anything happens to me Olympia
will not long survive me-"
"Have we not had enough of this?"
asked he. "Do you really expect me to
accept your statements as facts"
81 might leave you to suffer the conse-
quence of not accepting them. But
wish to spare you the pain of uncertainty
if | can. Let me see. What can l do?
Would you like to see something of hers?
Did you not give her an engagement
ring? And did she not wear it on the
evening when you last saw herr"
He shrugged his shoulders. 81 have
given her many things-no doubt a ring,
among others. She might have lost it,
and it might have been picked up; L
can't say"
cat anyrate, will restore it to you,'
said Sallie. "It is not mine, and since
she no longer wears it you should have