The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1892-09-07

breaking in upon me. 81 do not pity
you, but loathe and despise you"
"You have no right to despise me-"
he said. II have not injured you and
all have proposed was for your
good. have offered to make you my
wife and surround you with love and
riches. Is that injurious?"
"You forget, or else you think me
fool. You have wife already"
81 know that, but will free myself
from her. 1t is not.a 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"
3 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-
bing you of your character would give
you my name and with it such char
acter as no one dare assail."
"You have said enough" Iexclaimed,
land will hear no more"
"Then you refuse my offer?" he ques-
toned, his tone and manner changing
radically.
81 do"
"Tren look here. II you will not let
me make you happy, will go to the
other extreme and make your life as
black as hell itself. will hound your
footsteps and oharass 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 I will show you none. can hate
as we'll as love-"
"For shame," I cried. "You cannot
be so heartless as that"
81 cannot9". he queried "Why can't
~"
at is brutal"
81 know it; and l am brute when
am aroused. am desperate, and will
90 to any lengths. You will not yield
to me when 1 offer you all have. You
will not listen to love and persuasion.
You spurn me with hate and loathing.
And now I will declare war. l 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 will show you how cruel can be.
I have sworn to have you, and II fair
promises and gentle speeches would not
avail me will adopt force"
man." / cried, "can you be 80 In
human rs TO make war on q helpless
grip"
"Can ~" he repeated. "Aye, l can.
Have l not moved Miss Perkins and
Mrs. Bond to act and speak as they
have? Did not instigate their SLAM
derous speeches and insinuations In
order to place you in more helpless
situation, and consequently more Sc
curely in my power2 Aye, girl, you
little know TO what lengths and depths
Twill go TO carry my ends. will move
the earth and hell to make you mine.r
''Inhuman wretch" cried.
"Yes, am inhuman," he replied, Sin
all my relations to you except my love.
That Is human, and IL is the only thing
human in my nature. II you want TO
know my humanity, and avoid my In
humanity, give me your hand and nc
cept my love. You cannot hold ont
against me in war so unequal. and II
Is folly for you TO attempt 1t. Accept
my offer and at once put an end TO your
trials and sufferings. Act sensibly,
Agnes, and become lady" .......t
''Mr. Bernard" answered, lyon
have persecuted me enough, and Twill
not hear more. Either leave the room
or let me pass" ..H
''Then you are still obdurate?"
~ 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 waste, but ! tell you now, you
will never succeed in robbing me of |
my character"
perhaps you do not think me capa-
bic Of carrying out my threats?"
AYE, know you nre. You are capa-
bic OF anything mean and unmnnly. |
You have taken the vilest advantage Of
my friendless condition, and stopped to
things no man with n single gentleman
ly impulse would dare to consider for a
moment. Yes, think you capable OF
warning on q helpless, friendlcss, home
less girl"
He started from the room, but on the
threshold turned TO say:
81 will sec 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 II all well and calmly |
and tomorrow give me your answer.
Good night"
CHAPTER XZ1n