Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1891-04-16
LINK BY LINK.
A THRILLING STORY OF THE
fRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR.
CHAPTER XIII.
BY MAURICE LEGRAND.

Most womsn's weak resolves like reeds,
Shake with each breath, and bend with
every sigh;
Mine like on oak whose firm roots deep
Nor breath OF love can shake nor sigh can
bend.
GAY: Dione
SIN days passed. With the sew
- enth her tormentor sought her
again. His long absence had re-
lieved her. She thought he would
neither seek nor modest her more.
Had she known more of life, she
would have known also, that
stronger than the sweetness
and endurance of love returned, is the
pililess pursuit OF a love scorned.
She had besought and prayed her
father to leave this place, but he
sternlv refused. She withheld herself
from his nightly assemblies, and kept
strictly to her own small dreary room,
but she could not escape her foe when
he chose that she should again see
him. 1t was noon when he called,
and her father summoned her to his
presence. Then. ere she could leave
the room, or utter remonstrance, he
locked the door, and she found herself
trapped and shared ere she was aware
of it. Like an enraged lioness she
turned on the man before her.
lis it at your biddidg l am treated
thus?' she asked, in u voice that rang
clear and cold as the blows of steel on
iron.
He smiled--a cruel hooking smile
that dashed her rage to threefold fury.
1T is; you will not hear me by fair
means
''And so you use force-a manly
action! but after the chivalry dis
played in warfare by your country
men, it does not surprise me that you
have none left for women"
''You shall not anger me to-day"
he said cody. 'sBe as scornful as YOU
please. The lions claw is preferable
to the pate de velOvs sometimes ~
'What do you want with me?" she
asked abruptly.
''Much; but would have you listen
to reason in the first place. fear l
offended you on the last occasion we
met. I have come to entreat your
forgiveness.
"You are welcome to entreat it as
long as you please"
Without your granting it?"
s.Yes."
''Iou are very truthful, at all
events he said, biting his lip angrily.
"Ihat may be. l have not been
educated in cities"
''But you must be friends with me, !"
he pleaded. Listen, and you will see
how foolish you are to brave and defy
my power. Do you know I could yield
. your father up to the government of
his own country at any moment, and
give him the fate of deserter and a
traitor? On your head would his blood
be-
ITO do so would be but in keeping
with your conduct and character" she
answered. calmly as eyer, though
every vestige of color fled from her
face at the terrible threat.
And MORE" he said, slowly and
'sternly, with his ruthless eyes taking
in every sign of emotion i'll the young
face before him. II will have your
husband treated like dog, till he
dies dogs death, and with his last
breath curses your name as the giver
Of his fortunes! DO you know what he
believes you to beP"
The gray shadows of desperation
fell over her. changing all her beauty
into the chill, colorless repose of mar.
bic.
"What vileness have you told him?'
she demanded. He laughed aloud.
''Oh, have touched you at last?
Well, he thinks you what have made
yca-the sharer of my wealth-the
mistress of my heart"
A cry of agony thrilled from her
very soul as she heard those horrible
words. "You have told him that,
she walled. "Oh, Heaven! are you 6
man or a fiend?"
Il am what my love for you has
made me-"
She threw herself at his feet in sud
den paroxysm Of weeping that shook
her as a storm-biast shakes sapling
"Oh, for Gods sake have mercy" she
cried. what have done that yOl
should try me thus? But few shor
MINUS eSS ~ l. " 40 u b AeSO AOeIA uCAs AL
nocent girl, and nOw-Oh, nOw-tear
of blood could not wash away tn,
memory OF my sufferings! and with al
am innocent still. have not don.
one wrong or shameful thing! an,
here you have made me in his eyes 8,
vile, SO infamous, that never agar
will his heart hold me ont
tender memory. one gentle thought
You are man-you had mothe
ronce-can her memory not plead 70
me? What use would it be If mad
myself the thing you wish-if for you
-wealth's sake l bartered my own sol
possession? If you bought me as
slave who hates her owner and des
pises her slavery? For l loved once
but ray love is all gone and given 70
-all time, and never through the furth
est stretch of years l live, can I Civ
it again. Oh, let me be, and spar
him Can YOU not sell your pity q