Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1897-10-21

you, Fora! You have awakened In my
| heart a pure affection and q pr0founu
esteem that no woman has yet Decn
able to call forth. And, quadroon rs
you are-for you are much too light 10
be a ynulatto. as was Sc tdown in he
bill of sale-I will make YOU my VIE
tomorrow. 1t Is true that he laws OF
this state would not recognize such Il
MAJ ,iage, but we can cross into a state
where they do. And, of course, VIII
emancipate. o at once. Come, my
dear Fora. what do you say to THAR
Sir" replied Astrea. unc~onsciousiy
lowering hef dagger. Il thank you fof
your preference. and for what, 70 you,
ut least, must your very generous
offer. And l hope that your PROBES.
slons of repentance are sincere, ana
that your reformation may be COM
plete. But with that l can have MOTH
ing to- do, as you must be aware
that / cannot accept your proposal.
the elevation l offer yOu-that a free
woman and a wife, injured Rum
ford, I'm seemingly sorrowful surprise,
! as he drew a little nearer TO her IN
his walk.
"Ah, sir, why should l reiterate a
statement that you refuse TO credit!
welded wife,
This is ost stranger" said Rum
fcrd. in apparent perplexity, rs he
the room. "YOur adherence TO this
story is most wonderful. That, n
the perfect consistency of your state
shakes my faith in the tale told me
by Merrick. and almost tempts me
to believe your W account or your
self to be the true one"
And as he finished these words, he
drew nearer than ever TO Astrea.
"Oh. sir. believe it: believe it: or
rather test its truth in the way that
friends, Mr.. Rumford!" implored
guard.
Il will DO so, Fora, or rather Mrs.
Grevilfe. as | shall henceforth call
YOU. and cause you to be respected
until the arrival of your friends. 1
will do so Tomorrow said Rumford,
standing beside her.
And now, sir, since you acknowl-
edge my rank and position, may L
request you to withdraw from my
room! And OH! take with you most
sincere and earnest thanks, and the
assurance that my friends will richly
repay you for all losses that you haye
suffered on my account said Astrea,
earnestly.
Certainly, Mrs. Greville." said Rum
ford. And in an instant he had thrown
his arms around her, pinioned her
arms in his embrace and wrested the
dagger frof her hand.
Having done this. he retreated to the
wall, leaned against it, and laughed
aloud!
'Ha. ha, ha, no, no, no. hO!" he
shouted, leaning back and pointing his
finger 6erisively at Astrea. Your very
humble servant, Mrs. Fulke Greville!
How are your health and spirits at
this moment, madam? How is the gal
liant colonel. your husband? Ha, ha,
ha! Ho, no, no! OH l was impressed
with your words, was L? Oh. l offered
You II arriage, did /? And. ah | was
going to write to your friends and re-
store YOU TO your rank, was L? Ha,
ha, Ia! Ho, 10, hol Oh! Fora! what
n gull you were to think that | should
be outwitted or defied by a ,hild like
you! What do you think of your pros
poets now? Do you know what they
areg I'll tell you what mine are-to
pass the remainder of the night In this
room. in spite of all cart hand heaven
and to take a kiss to begin with, my
dear! That will be all the more piqu-
ant, snatched like a brand from the
burning of your wrathw he said, as he
advanced toward his intended victim.
But n marvellous change had passed
owe Astrea! Her form seemed to di-
late, expand and rise. until she stood,
a majestic presence in the room: her
head was thrown back. her eyes were
starting. her arm was elevated on high
with n gesture of supreme authority.
An awful glory lighted up her face! In
her terrible beauty, she seemed n Cas-
sandra about to prophecy. a Python
ess ent to utter the oracles of a god,
or an Angel of Wrath pronouncing the
doom of a world!
Pause" she commanded. as Rum
ford advanced toward her.
And, as If compelled by some all-po-
tent spell. the planter paused.
You have profaned the sactity of a
maiden brides bed chamber. You
have used ~treachery and force to dis
arm her of the only means she pos
sessed of defending her purity. You
think you have her at your mercy! You
mistake! l have you at mine
nat VOICE. mat voice. eXclalmeu
the planter. in horror.
you have been tried. judged. con
demned. And now, in the name Of all
outraged womanhood-I command you
-die!,'
Affected by some fearful agitation,
the planter stood and trembled.
.In the name Of all pure spirits that
watch over chaste women-I command
~you-die."
In the name of the awful Judge Of
quick and dead, whose laws you have
defilcd, whose name you have bias
phemed-I command you-DIE.'
And the planter reeled and fell ut the
feet of the virgin bride.
rurrrn xxv