Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1894-02-08
THE CAPTURE.

Il
me. She said, "Your uncle is dyingr'
went down stairs and again found
myself before the half open door, where
for the past two days had been watch
ing the 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 he had disinherited
me for her!
Her? / see her moving about in the
dying mans room, few steps from me.
There she reigns as a sovereign. She de-
votes herself to the patient. She obeys
each request Of the doctor, who. with
her, watches by my uncle's 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:
s'She is my old friend Senart's daugh-
ter. He died ruined-poor old fellowi /
hope that you will not object to my Civ
ing her a small dowry. You will still be
a millionairer'
She was very beautiful, but proud and
naughty. She received me coldly and
in very ungracious manner, but in
spite of that 1 fell promptly in love with
her. Her step made me tremble, and her
fine profile charmed me- At the end of
a month would have given heaven and
earth for her love. dared to tell herso
to ask her to marry me-but she re-
fused me without hesitation.
''Neverv she declared positively.
An, that ''neverw 1t broke my heart,
but answered her calmly:
"You might have told meso more gen.
t1y."
"It would have been less efficacious, /"
she returned calmly. And admired the
barbaric frankness of her answer, like
the sentimental fool that l was.
Today know what the girl with the
dark eyes was hidingl l 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 me of my
fortune. And to think that during the
past two days have not told her how
despise herl To think that / was salts
fed to avoid her, not to talk to her!
How she must laugh at my follyl
AS this thought enters my mind I am
about to enter the room. But the words
of the doctor still sound in my ears:
"Do you wish to kill the patient? 1t
can be done in minute. A sudden
emotion, surprise, and he goesl''
Thus even nature is in favor of the
spoileri Again l look at her. She is
leaning over the bed with the expression
of madonnal
Suddenly the old man moves and
means like little child. My heart is
filled with pity for him. Then he calls.
"Laurer
The doctor moves quickly. hear a
confused whispering, then cry:
81 am suffocating Ah-I"-
A dead silence-then rattling in the
CnrOaU-anQ again Sll0nce.
Then the doctor leans over the bed,
listens, and finally says in a low voice:
HE is dead"
Laure hides her face in her hands.
approach. ! 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 filed with tears, but her
voice is resolute. 1t seems as if she were
defying me.
However, consent and lead her into
the next room. There we remain look
ing at each other for a 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 l had only to obey.
That was at least the opinion of the doc
tor. Believe me, am sorry"
II should think sor' 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. at is cowardly. Your duty
as gentleman is first to listen to me-"
was struck with her attitude, al
though / believed it to be only another
form of duplicity, and replied gravely:
"Be it so. will listen to you"
She continued then vehemently.
Il know that you believe that infu-
enced your uncle. know that you be-
lieve me responsible for his change Of
mind toward you and guilty Of having
captured his estate. know that you
believe me avaricious, a liar, plotter!
However, am none Of these things"
"Ahl then you are not his heiress?"
asked, with bitter irony.
"Yesl I am his heiress! But I did
nothing that the most scrupulous deli
cacy could object tol I often begged
your uncle to send for you, and only.
ceased when the doctor assured me that
my constant demands worried the pa
tient. Your uncle was my benefactor.
He saved me from misery, and could
not do anything which would prove me
ungrateful. When he was attacked with
the strange whim of preferring me to
you, was obliged to submit. As he W.
then too i'll to be opposed"-
s'But you inherit the estate" repeat
ed, with the same melancholy irony.
81 inherit it-well?"
She gazed fixedly at me.
''If you were in my place. what would
you thinkr' exclaimed.
"Just what you will think" and she
drew small packet from her pocket
and handed it to me, saying, Forgive
the old man and destroy this proof Of his
de1irium."
was too much astonished to speak.
My hands trembled. Confusedly l real
lied how wrong I had been in blaming
her.
what do you meanr finally stam-
mered-
'sThat is the will. / give it to you, and
you remain the heir Of your unhappy
uncle
/ was SO overcome by her answer
that l was obliged to lean against the
wall for support-so ashamed that
could not look her in the face-he
whom had SO basely accused.