Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1891-07-05

"You mustn't expect from me any at
tempt to return you an equlvaIent lor
your hospitality" remarked Sallie, as
she gracefully began the brewing
of the tea. 81 haven't the ma
terIaI nor the ingenuity. There is not
so much as an assassin on the premises,
not to speak Of magic mirrors and ORR
entail enchanters, and beautiful specters.
By the way, that was wonderfully
clever trick. How was it doneP"
"You must ask Garcia" replied the
count, quietly, as one who had made up
his mind to endure up to certain point,
and then no more.
"Do you think Garcia" would tell me
any secret Of yours?" said Sallie. She
gave the question flavor OF arch sur
prise that sent the count on swift jour
ney of expectation. After all, why had
Garcia left him? He began to surmise
possible reason, but he said only, Il
have always found him a useful man.
OF course know he has his weakness
es."
eyes; so have we ALL" she replied.
even the Count de Lisle has weakness
es. And yet, it seems to me, were in
your place I would have none. No man
ever had greater opportunity than
you. II you stood for yourself alone,
what could you not do? No one could
attack you. You could buy friends, po-
lice, juries, 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 be impossible. But,
then, you must make sacrifices. You
must be solitary. II you give your con-
fdence to friend or your hear. to
woman you are vulnerable and can be
overthrown. When first learned who
and what you were feared you. Here
is a man, said to myself, who, from
having a rope around his neck, has
risen TO power incalculable. 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 l heard" continued Sallle,
suddenly changing from this serious vein
to light and banterlng tone, "that the
Count de Lisle was In love and about to
be married did not fear so much. To
have attempted to overthrow you by
questioning the means that had OBJ
tanned you your wealth would have
been a desperate enterprise. Even
robbers and murderers, II they be
strong and resolute enough, need fear
nothing. But to have given your heart
to q girl-that was another matterl
You could be reached through her."
''And you? Are you impregnable?"
asked he.
"Only in so far that II saw my way
to accomplish what supremely desire
would leu nothing deter me. / was an
innocent little girl once, but even then /
had strong desires, and without any op-
portunity to carry them out. made
some serious mistakes, and suffered from
them, but / had had my way, and I
found that most failures In this world
are due to not having been INSCRIPTIONS
enough. 1t needs courage to begin, but
when you discover whatit is to be with
out scruples you wonder why anybody
Is controlled by them. They are the
great shareholders of the human race.
But was going to say that should be
willing TO put in your hands any evil
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 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.
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-
Ponds on my Will"
The count, who had been sitting with
his elbows on his knees and his eyes
lowered. looked up, and his glance and
Sallie's met. What she saw 10 his mind
senti quick flush to her face. For = mo.
ment lhe held her breath. No soldier q
battle ~ eyor nearer doath (ken 6a)li(
q I. II