The Fort Worth gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-189?, 1891-04-23

aud say again, 1 love you, and you may
| spurn me-man, god, Wanderer, devil
| whatever you are-beloved always. Tread
| upon me, trample on me, crush me-you
| cannot save yourself, YOU cannot kill my
| loye!'
| She had tried to take his hand and he had
| withdrawn his; she had fallen upon her
| knees as he had tried to free himself-had
| fallen almost to her length upon the marble
| floor, clinging 10 his very feet, so that he
| could make no step without doing her some
| hurt He looked down, amazed and silent,
| and as he looked she cast one glance up
| ward to his stern face, the bright tears
streaming like falling gems from her unlike
eyes, her face pale and quivering, her rich
| hair all lOOSeued and falling about her.
And then neither body, nor heart, nor
| soul could bear the enormous strain that
was laid upon them. a low cry broke from
her lips, stormy sob, another and another,
like quick short waves breaking over the
bar when the tide Is low and the wind is
| rising suddenly.
The Wandcrer was in sore straits, for the
minutes were passing quickly, and he re
membered the last look on kafka's face,
and how he mad left the Moravian standing
before the weapons on the wall. And moth
ing had been done vet, not so much rs an
order given not to admit him if he came to
the house. At any moment he might be
upon them. And the storm showed no
signs of being spent. Her wild, con-
vulsive sobbing WIS painful TO hear. II he
tried to move. she dragged herself frantic
ally at his feet so that he feared lest he
should tread upon her hands. He pitied
her now, most truly, though he guessed
rightly that to show his pity would be hut
to add fuel to the blazing flame.
Then, IL the interval Of second, as she
drew breath to weep afresh, he fancied that
he heard sounds below as of the great door
being opened and closed again. With
quick, strong movement, STOPPING low he
put his arms about her and raised her from
the floor. Atshis touch her sebbing ceased
for a moment Us though she had wanted
only that TO soothe her. In spite OF him, she
let her head rest upon his shoulder, letting
him still feel that if he did not support her
weight with his arm she would fall again.
In the midst OF the most passionate and
real outbGrSt of GeSpalring love there was
no artifce which she would not use TO be
nearer to him, to extort even the semblance
of d caresS.
u heard some one come in below, " he
said, hurriedly. 1T must be he. Decide
quickly what to do. Either stay or fy-you
have not ten seconds for your choice
She turned her imploring eyes to his.
Let me stay here and end it all
THAT you shall not.' he exclaimed, drag
cling her towards the end of the hall, oppo-
sitSto the usual entrance, and where he
knew there must be door behind the
screen of plants. His hold frightened upon
her yielding waist Her head fell back and
her full lips parted in an ecstacy of delight
as she felt herself hurried along in his
arms, scarcely touching the floor withher
feet
'Ah-now-now! Let it come now." she
sighed.
1T must be now-or never" he said
almost roughly. IF you will leave this
house with Inc row, very well. But leave
this room you shall. If am to meet that
man and stop him, l will meet him alone"
Leave you alone? All. no-nOt that
They had reached the exit now. At the
same instant they had both heard someone
enter at the other end and rapid footsteps
on the marble pavement.
(Which is it to be!'' asked the Wanderer,
pale and calm. He had pushed her through
before him and seemed ready to go back
alone.
With violent strength she drew him to
her, closed the door and slipped the strong
steel bolt across below the lock. There
was q dim light in the passage
Together, them she said. 81 shall at
least be with you-a little longer
rs there another way out of the house2"
asked the Wanderer anXiously.
''More than one Come with me-
AS they disappeared in the corridor, they
heard behind them the noise of the door
lock as some one tried TO force it open. Then
heavy sound as though mans shoulder