Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1895-02-07
II.-Continued.

! cab, and q few moments later drew up
In front of a brilliantly lighted house on
Madison avenue, in front of which q hun.
dred vehicles were standing. l Joined the
stream Of guests entering the mansion.
and finally managed to pay my rcspects
to the daughter of the host, Margaret Du-
rand. She looked unusually beautiful
that night. Her red lips, her clean-cut
features and her raven black hair formed
a picture which almost awakened. in me
the old affection.
MAY I have a moment with you later?"
| asked, as | passed along with the
throng.
aIf you won't talk nonsense you may"
she answered, showing a set of exquisite
teeth.
An hour later l was seated in front of
her in a retired corner.
Illus Mr.. Rodney Gomez" I asked.
Il really don't know" she answered in
differently, and looking me full in the
face.
Hell have to turn on the current to it's
highest limit to win this GIRL" l said to
myself rs l gazed into her honest eyes.
Good evening, Miss Durand," said a
deep voice behind me. and turning l saw
Marcus Rodney, He looked remarkably
well in a dress suit. His figure seemed to
have lost its ungainliness and his strong
face looked almost ornamental in a draw
ing room.
Miss Durand arose and held out her
hand. He took it calmly and l gave him
my seat and moved away.
For the first time in such a gathering I
found myself i'll Mt ease. Old friends
spoke to me and / answered as though l
had never known them. My thoughts
were with Margaret Durand and Rodney.
Hla he brought his apparatus with him?
Would he use it? Would she succumb be-
f1re the power of his unfair devices?
Such questions as these worried me for
q long time. Finally / returned to the lit
tie room in which I had left my friend and
his beloved. Margaret had disappeared,
but Rodney was still there. Never have I
seen such a look in a mans face as his
countenance ut that moment held. His
checks were pale, and beneath his staring
eyes we're deep tints of black. His white
lips looked dry and feverish and he stared
into vacancy like q man bereft Of reason.
| managed to get him out of the house
without attracting attention and we
walked many blocks in silence. He
leaned upon my arm as though he had
wholly lost his strength, and l in pity
supported him. At length he whispered:
Thank heaven. I didn't turn on the
current! I'm a man yet"
You proposed to her, them"
Eyes, / asked her to be my wife. She
refused. She said she did not care for
me. What could ! do? l had it in my
power to make her worship me, and I re-
strained myself. Oh, my friend! never
was a man 80 tempted. Her lips are so
red! Her eyes are SO bright! Her hair is
80 black! Her current must be one of
tremendous force. And, look you, I have
never even discovered which way it flows.
AL / know is that she does not like me by
nature. I cannot, nc, l cannot take a
mean. a scientific advantage of her. Good
God! / wish / were dead"
With these rather trite words he seemed
to recover his energy, for he broke from
my grasp and rushed away in the dark
ness.
CHAPTER III.
Two nights later l was sitting in a box
at the theater with Margaret Durand.
The house was crowded, and the play, a
famous American comedy, kept the audi
ence in u tumult of laughter and applause.
But my vis-a-yis seemed out of spirits.
She watched the play listlessly, and
seemed more inclined to carry on a whis-
pered conversation with me han to follow
the intrieacies of a most amusing piece.
Toward the end of the third act I saw
her start and turn red as she caught sight
of a tall, imposing figure standing ear
the main entrance. / followed her gaze
and recognized Rodney, .'grand, gloomy,
and peculiar as usual.
"A great man, Rodney" 1 whispered.
She looked at me coldly and said:
"Yesy
eyes. A man Of considerable force.
Everybody admires him."
Not everybody" she returned quickly.
Your statement is too sweeping"
"But is he not extremely popular? He
is called the success Of the season."
II grant you that" Then in a lower
tone: Everybody seems to like him. I
wonder why l don'ty'
"A case of currents" 1 had it on my
lips to say, but suppressed the words in
time.
Perhaps" / suggested, you find him
too earnest"
Much so. / wish he would not stand
there. He has seen us and l can't bear
his gaze" She drew her chair back out
Of range of Rodney's view.
Here was a mystery. Evidently the
man had a peculiar effect upon her. She
felt SO strong a repugnance for him that
she had given expression to it with more
~frankness than good taste.
AS we left the thcater our little party
passed Rodney, who was standing in the
lobby. Miss Durand bowed coldly to him
and he returned her salutation in almost
an ominous way. / did not like the ex-
preston on his face. He had glanced at
me with an angry CLEAN in his haggard
eyes, and l knew he envied ME my pres
ent position. We returned to the Du-
ral.ls for supper, and Margaret gradually
grew more cheerful. Once in awhile,
however, a cloud would pass over her
beautiful face. and I felt intuitively that
she was thinking of Rodney. AS the par
~ broke up she took me aside and said:
'sNin you do me a great favory"
Willingly. There is nothing I would
not do for you."
You once asked me to marry you. /
amt you to renew that Offer"
was astonished, and for q moment
lost control of my nerves. My body trem-
bled and / was obliged to seat myself on
4 sofa. The proposition was 80 unex-
pected, 80 unusual, that / felt a surprise
which made me speechless. Margaret
seated herself beside me, and pale and
r Il Mod E . ---Z. nv