The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-01-23
THE CAPTURE.

ing tho agony of my uncle. He had
brought me up and had been the kind
est of guardians. He had banished me
from his presence. He had commanded
that L should not be admitted to the
chateau. He had done all this without
motive, without ony offense on my part,
but simply because lie had disinherited
me for herl
Her? l see her moving about i'll the
dying mans room, a few steps from me.
Ihele she relSns as sovereign. She de-
votes herself to the patient. She obeys
each request of the doctor, who, with
her, watches by my uncles bedside.
watch her every movement, and wild
hatred. mixed with agony and humilia-
ton, burns in my veins.
On my return from Germany found
her living at my uncle's, and he said to
me:
''She is my old friend Senarts daugh-
ter. He died ruincd-roor old fellow! I
hope that you will not object to my Civ
ing her IL small dowry. You will still be
millionaire.'
She was very beautiful, but proud and
naughty. She received me coldlv and
i'll very ungracious manner, but in
spite of that | fell promptly in love with
her. Her step made me trcmble, and her
fine profile charmed me. AT the end of
month would have given heaven and
earth for her love. dared to tell her so
to ask her TO marry me-but she re-
fused me without hesitation.
Never" she declared positively.
An that ''never! IT broke nv heart
but answered her calmly:
"You might have told meso more gen
tly."
at would have been less efficacious."
she returned calmly. And admired the
barbaric frankness of her answer, like
the sentimental fool that l was.
Today l know what the girl with the
dark eyes was hiding! / now under.
stand her silence, her cold reception,
her insulting rejection. 1t was because
she was sure of her position Already
she knew that she should rob mo of nv
fortune. And to think that during the
past two days l have not told her how |
despse her! To think that was salts
fled to avoid her, not to talk to her!
How she must laugh at my folly!
AS this thought enters my mind am
about to enter the room. But the words
of the doctor still sound in my ears:
do You wish to kill the patient? It
can be done i'll a minute. y sudden
emotion, Il surprise, and he goes"
Thus even nature is in favor of the
spoiler! Again l look at her. She is
leaning over the bed with the expression
of Il madonnal
Suddenly the old man moves and
moans like little child. My heart is
filled with pity for him. Then he calls
Laurel
The doctor moves quickly. hear a
confused whispering, then a cry:
II am suffocating! Ah-I"-
A dead silence-then Il rafting in the
throat-and again silence.
Then the doctor leans over the bed,
listens, and finally says in low voice:
He is dead"
Laure hides her face in her hands.
approach. l would like to accuse her,
but puerile sense of respect keeps me
silent, and it is she who speaks first. 81
would like to say something to YOU"
Her eyes are filled with tears, but her
voice is resolute. 1t seems as if She were
defying me.
However, l consent and lead her into
the next room. There we remain look
ing at each other for q minute without
speaking. 1t is she who continues:
You will excuse me for not having
sent for you sooner, but your uncle re-
fused absolutely to see you, and consid-
ering his condition had only to obey.
That was at least the opinion of the doc
for RaliaUa ma T nm o0r,,,
II should think sop exclaim. with an
insulting laugh.
She looked me full in the face, her
eyes flashed, and she stopped crying.
"You will regret that laugh" she said
haughtily. cit is cowardly. Your duty
as gentleman is first to listen to me-"
l was struck with her attitude, al
though believed it to be only another
form of duplicity, and replied gravely:
"Be it so. l will listen to YOU"
She continued then vehemently.
81 know that you believe that l infiu-
enced your uncle. know that you be-
heve me responsible for his change of
mind toward you and guilty of having
captured his estate. l know that you
believe me avaricious, liar, plotter.
However. am none of these things"
"Ah! then you are not his heiress?" |
asked, with bitter irony.
Yes! | am his heiress! But 1 did
nothing that the most scrupulous deli
cacy could object to! often begged
your uncle to send for you, and 1 only
ceased when the doctor assured me that
my constant demands worried the pa
tent. Your uncle was my benefactor.
he saved me from misery, and l could
not do nything which would prove mo