Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-01-30
"TKE DUCHESS"
CHAPTER XVIII.-CoNTINUEp.

~ warn you" says she, in the Same in.
tense way, speaking almost under her
breath.
~ nd refuse To listen. tell you can
not live this thing ont; I must end II one
way or the other. You know-you must
that If you will say but one word-ono--
Il"
"Are you mad, that you speak 10 me like
this'" exclains she, recoiling from him.
There is horror and condemnation and
something else-in her glance. Is it de-
spairY She leans heavily against the trunk
Of tree, and puts back botl her arms a,
If to hold and cling TO it. Il don't pre-
tend TO misunderstood you she goes on
presently, "but what really fail 20 sec is
why | shouli say that word. Do you
know" with a faint and most unkind
smile. 'Can you tell me;"
"Norah!"
''Nay, hear me. out Now, once for ALL
II seems TO me yen are lahorng under de-
fusion that | would gladly dispel. 1t is
indeed n matter of life and death with me-
tho speaking of this word that yoi,"
with a chilling emphasis, seem 10 think?
Am so mad'y DIES rous T. sea you free trait
I-Chl" breaking Off suddenly, as l. suffo-
eating, and making passionate movement
with her lovely naked arm, as if finging
from her some hateful thing. ut is in
sufferab.e."
Don't so too far" says Denis, in a curl
ously compre sed tone.
81 could not" vohemently. "To say
enough, that is the difficulty. But who
could find words sufficient for such cause.
Has my manner, the manner of which you
50 sadly complain, not taught you that
that
"WhatP catching her wrist.
That i hate and detest yol" cries she,
with n sudden burst Of Indignation, wrench
ing herself free. Her eyes are aiame, her
lips quivering. Never even in her loveliest
moments has she ever looked so beautiful
$50" says he, bitterly. Her beauty is
lost 10 him just then, though in n sense he
sees it, and afterward remembers and re-
calls every charm; but now such wild rage
governs his heart that only tho keen hatrel
that is always so near allied 10 a keen love
surges within his breast.
HAS ii never occurred to YOU ~ says he,
his own eyes flashing, that you might
teach me Ia return that feelingN'
Return il as heartily as you will Tho
more heartily the better shall be pleased"
at has come TO this, then. 1t is to be
open war between us. ~
II don't know about the coming, the
newness of il. | have thought of you for a
long time as think now"
In the old days Of Ballyhinchs'' His
tone has again soitened. There is even
eager appeal now in the eyes he turns on
her. Both the appeal and the altered tonc
only serve to madden her Alas, alas, for
those old dead days
AT Ballyhinch,' says she, growing
| deadly white, lut still regarding him with
an unwavering gaze, you believed | was
| in love WITH you! Is not that soe You
thought" with n little low Iaugh-'that
you were hero, a being from another,
| fashionable world, in tie eyes Of the little,
simple country girl, with whom it pleased
| you 10 while away the tedious hours
| Come" standing ack from him with her
arms TIL clasped behind he and mocsing
smile upon Ter lips that hides from him the
misery OF her confess you did not
know me then-that | was silly country
baby. if you wiil-but that, at oil events, I
was not foolish enough to bow down and
worship you"
Oh, the self contempt that awakes within
her she says this, The burning pain at
her Leart! Had she not bowed down and
worshiped-and gwen, unasked all the
first sweet love Of her life into his keeping
Fer breath is coming quickly through her
red, pc lips,
The insolence, the beauty OF her. rouses
in Delaney an anger uncomfortable, but
with II "a passion more uncomfortable still.
AS she stands thus before him, defiant,
lovely, he makes u sudden step forward and
catt hes her IN his arms. There is Sec
ond's almost deadly pause--heart heating
against hcart-a last touch o. remorse-
and then he kisses her Us he has n yer vet
kissed any woman, as he will never kiss
another.
He loos his arms-.oo late! A sense
OF his own act, a knowledge that he has
sinned beyond redemption 50 overpowers
him that he can find no words in which to
excuse him-e.f. As he stands silent,
stricken with regret, low, sobbing breath
falls upon his ear.
"Oh! that | could kill your exclaims the
Duchess, in "a tone 30 intense as to he almost
inaudib.e.
They are thus tsnding. facing each
other-she trembling, nnerved; he silent,
Reconsideration "a light footstep sounds
upon her right. lnvoluntarily 10th raise
their head and move a little further apart,
a. Miss GAIA ct comes, with Ter usual slow,
undu ating step, from the shadows that lie
thickly On tue eastern wax.