The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1891-11-13

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JULlAH HAWTH0RNE'
COPYRIGHT BY AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION, 1891
Ulympla as the pledge of their betrotnal.
Such another ring did not exist in the
world. He knew that Olympia would
never willingly let it leave her finger.
The proof that the worst was true was
complete. He slipped the ring on his
own finger, and said, "Well?"
"Well, then, return to my question"
said Sallie, leaning back and stirring her
tea, What would you be willing to
sacrifice toa4zse ;IGe lifrgs & ~ s-s-s--s-ss--
81 see no reason why I should discuss
the question with you, said the count.
Il prefer to deal with those who have
the immediate charge of her. under
stand your plot, and that | am to blame
for the success Of ii. | allowed Garcia
toobtain hypnotic control over her. You
won the poor creature toyOur service, by
means it is easy TO "ur)nise. and pre-
vailed upon him to use his power to draw
/ her into your hands. But Garcia, hav-
ing received from you the price-the IA
Vor-prOmised him for his act, is now in
condition to bring forth fruits of re-
pentance. | shall find means to induce
him to give me the information that l
require. As for you, you have already
supplied all the information l care to
trouble you for"
These words were slowly and deliber-
ately spoken, while his eyes were steadi-
" fixed upon her face. He was taking a
final chance, with such inperturbability
as he could command. And, indeed,
since it was true, as Sallie had herself
said, that 10 human being can be quite
sure Of another, it WAS possible that
Garcia, who had already betrayed the
count, might now betray Sallie-assum-
ing that the count was right in his guess
as to Garcia's part in the affair.
But Sallie, if she felt uneasiness,
showed none. She clapped her hands to-
gether once more and the maid reap
pcared.
''Step over to the corner" said her
mistress, ''and tell Mr.. Garcia l want
him
The maid went out, and moment
after the count heard the street door
close.
81 am sensitive on some points, Sallie
observed, land you hurt my feelings.
am building no house of cards, Count de
Lisle; am perfectly in earnest, and am
not so childish as to attempt to fight you
with shadows-as you fought Inc? As to
your insinuation about my purchase of
your friend, l will not deny it; you shall
judge foryourself 1t is your doubt of
my intelligence that gals me-not, of
course, the other INSULT
The count made no reply" The point
had been passed with him where words
that were not also acts seemed worth
uttering. He continued to gaze with a
certain gloomy curiosity at Sallie. In
heart more savage and cruel than wild
beast, in morality Il Faustina-and all
this incarnated in gentle, low voiced,
patrician hammered beauty.
Sirens in Tophet must be like her;
and that she was a woman was almost
enough to damn the whole sex. She
was not restless under his gaze; she in
vited him to take some tea, and on his
maintaining his silence she poured out
anothsy cup for herself, favored it.,
tasted it, altered it, and finally, when it
suited her, drank it, just as the door
opened to admit Garcia.
"You know the Count de Lisle, Gar
cia," said Sallie in her musical tones.
''He wishes You to tell him where Olym-
pia Raven is, so that he may go and res
cue her. You know the reward he offers
ten million dollars, is it not? On the
other hand, tell him that unless he
agrees to certain very unreasonable con-
f ditions of mine l will have the girl killed.
The count has been kind to you. You
know best whether or not l have been
kind. Have you the heart to let that
poor innocent girl perish, when by word
you can save her, ruin me, and do your
self the highest service? Tell the count
plainly and relieve his suspense"
Garcia turned to the count and gave
him dark, Indifferent look, as if there
were in him no instinct of human broth
erhood.
"You had better do as she wishes" he
said in cold tone. "She has the power
to do what she threatens, and she will
carry it out if you defy her"
"Do you know where Olympia Raven
isT' said the count.
Eyes; l charmed her there. You can
never find her. Attempt no such folly.
Comply at once or it will be too late.
She cannot survive indefinitely in her
present state"
"What do you mean by that!" said the
count, with a note of horror in his voice.
"She has been in the trance from the
| first" replied Garcia. 'She is of deli
cate organization, ard she is sinking
every hour"
"You see, my dear count, said Sallie
with a soft laugh, chow injudicious you
were to distrust me. If You had met me
frankly and cordially all might have
been settled by this time. Of course you
know that Garcia alone can awaken
Olympia from her trance, and that he
has only to refrain from awakening her
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