Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1893-08-17


things are hushed up. II she laid that
dainty little weapon against her tenn.
pie It would soon be over-sol
man sprang out from the trees,
right in front of her, and caught her
upllfted hand with wrench that made
her shudder aud cry out. He put his
other hand over her mouth and stifled
the cry.
Be SILENT" he said, in a hoarse, shak-
ing voice; do you want all the world
TO Know Of your madness?''
Madness!-to die when life is worth,
less! Let me go! ] will kill myself!
That pistol is mine!''
He drew the trigger and fired in the
air. holding the girl so close to him
with his left arm that she could not
struggle. She knew this face with it's
blue eyes. She cried out sharply:
It is you who killed me!-why did
you look at me and reproach me?''
My poor child!' the man said in an
infinite pity, and she broke into hyster-
Zeal sobs
Why do you save me? Ny life is
my own. have lost everything. I
will die-I must!''
Hush! What have you lostP''
She started back and looked up at him
with her wild, dark eyes.
! Yesterday was rich,'' she gasped,
! 'to-day l have nothing; staked the
last had-you saw it. What is left to
me save death?"
! Good God! child, why do you tear
! my heart with such words! Death! be-
cause you are penniless! could laugh
if it.were not so pitiable! Who taught
| you that wretched code, that miserable
coWardice? You shall not go out of
my sight till you swear to hold your
| life as sacred
Il can't ive-I can't! Oh! don't you
understands
He loosened her from his clasp and
flung himself at her feet. locking her
hands in his.
II do understand" he said, ''but I
will come between you and dishonor.
Make your life mine, and all mine shall
be yours. All! stay he sprang to his
feet at her startled cry; ''don't fear
me; listen to me-
"You insult me; because you save
my wretched life, does that give you
this rights" she demanded, passion
ately.
s'Claudine, listen; you shall not leave
me So Hour after hour have watched
you-longed to tear you from that
| sordid life-I loved you
Loved me-a gambler! would be
suicide! A man who talks of love to
ma 0n1v rnoopc ono thine -
"Yes-one thing. l swear by that
Heaven above us!''
Clear, unfathomable, very emblem
of purity, that sky stretched over them;
as clear were those eyes to which the
unhappy girl turned her own in an ut
ter bewilderment. He drew her softly
within his arms, and she suffered it
this stranger, whose name even she
did not know.
'Your life is mine," he said-and she
trembled, and when he put his hand on
the beautiful head and drew it to his
breast she made no resistance.
"All have loved died. she whis-
pered. 81 have no friends-nothing to
live for.''
sFor me, my darling.''
She drew herself from him abruptly.
II will give you that promise you
asked for" she said. ''Come and see
me tomorrow
He took her home without another
word. He heard her story when he saw
her the next day-a motherless, neglect
ed childhood, and father who trans
mitted to her his ruling vice. 1t was in
her blood. But she could not daunt the
chiyalrous lover, who stirred all her
dormant soul and wore her out with his
persistent devotion. She had scorned