People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1892-11-25

breaking in upon me. 81 do not pity
you, but loathe and despise you"
"You have no right to despise me,
he said. 81 have not injured you and
all | have proposed was for your
good. | have offered to make you nv
wife and surround you with love and
riches. Is that injurious?"
you forget, or else you think me a
fool. You have a wife already"
81 know that, but will free myself
from her lis not difficult matter to
secure separation"
He was cool and calculating now.
"Mr Bernard" replied, do not in
suit me further. You have injured me
deeply already, and for PHYS sake spare
me any more persecution. You have
lost my good name in this town, and
taken from me all the little happiness |
possessed. Do not try to rob me Of my
character"
Girl" he cried, won't you under
stand me? would not take thing
from you, but on the contrary l would
give you everything Instead of rob-
bling you of your character would give
you my name and with it such a char
acter as no one dare assail."
"You have said enough" Exclaimed,
land | will hear no more"
Then you refuse my offer?" he gues-
toned, his tone and manner changing
radically.
81 do"
Then look here. If you will not let
me make you happy, viii go to the
other extreme and make your life as
black as hell itself. will hound your
footsteps and charass you until your
existence will be such burden to you
as to be insupportable. The ISLANDERS
that asSail you now shall follow you
even to the ends of the earth, and they
shall be made to grow until you shall
find yourself Stunned by decent people
everywhere. You show me no pity
and will show you none. / can hate
as well as love"
For shame" cried. "You cannot
be so heartless as that"
81 cannot" he queried. why can't
70"
1T is brutal"
II know it; and am brute when
IN aroused. am desperate, and will
20 to any lengths. You will not yield
to me when l offer you all have. You
will not listen to low and persuasion.
You spurn me with aate and loathing.
And now will declare war. will
pursue you so relentlessly that you will
be glad TO surrender and beg for terms.
Remember your weakness, your friend
lessness and your poverty. Remember
that everything is in my favor, and that
the contest will be very unequal one.
shall show no mercy or compassion,
but viii show you how cruel can be.
| have sworn to have you, and if fair
promises and gentle speeches would not
avail me will adopt force"
Man." l cried, "can you be SO in
human as TO make war on helpless
girl?"
"Can l?' he repeated. "Aye, can.
Have | not moved Miss Perkins and
Mrs. Bond to act and speak as they
have? Did | not instigate their Sian.
derous speeches and insinuations in
order to place you in more helpless
situation, and consequently more Sc
curely in my power? Aye. girl, you
little know to what lengths and depths
| will go to carry my ends. will move
the earth and hell to make you mine"
"lnhuman wretch" cried.
Eyes, | am inhuman, he replied, in
all my relations to you except my love.
That is human, and it is the only thing
human in my nature. If you want to
know my humanity, and avoid my in
humanity, give me your hand and ac-
cept my love. You cannot hold out
against me in war so unequal, and it
is folly for you to attempt it. Accept
my offer and at once put an end to your
trials and sufferings. Act sensibly,
Agnes, and become lady"
"Mr. Bernard" | answered, 'you
have prosecuted me enough, and / will
not hear more. Either leave the room
or let me pass"
Then you are still obdurate?"
81 am. No persuasion or threats will
serve to move me from what know to
be right. know | am weak and help
less, but put my trust in God and bid
you do your worst. You may succeed
in bounding my steps and making my
life a waste, but l tell you now, you
will never succeed in robbing me of
my character"
Perhaps you do not think me capa-
BILE OF carrying out my threats?"
Aye. | know You are. You are capa-
BILE OF anything mean and unmanly.
You have taken the vilest advantage of
my friendless condition, and stopped to
things no man with a single gentleman
" impulse would dare to consider for
moment. Yes, think you capable Of
warning on helpless, friendless, home
less girl"
He started from the room, but on the
threshold turned to say:
II will see you again tomorrow. In
the meantime consider what have
said. Contrast what ! have offered YOU
with what your life must be if you re-
fuse me. Weigh it all we'll and calmly
and tomorrow give me your answer.
Good night"
CHAPTER XIII
FIND A NEW RESTING PLACE