Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1898-06-09

meals in this room, after me. Sit
down. now. and breakfast, and when
you have finished. come to me in the
adjoining parlor. We must arrive at a
mutual understanding. and shall take
care this time, that you do not elude
the interview"
And so saying. Rumford passed into
the front parlor. stretching the COM
municating door wide open so that he
could keep Astrea in sight.
Astrea made no reply to his speech
which seemed. indeed. to require none.
She sat down ut the table and slowly
drank a cup Of chocolate.
RumfOrd. in the meantime. walked
up and down the floor of the parlor and
watched.
Astrea did not linger at the table
with the view of deferring the inter-
view. That which She deemed to be
inevitable she resolved to meet fear
lessly. trusting still in heaven. She
soon, therefore, arose and passed into
! the parlOr, saying, as she stood before
the planter:
MIR. Rumford am here"
'',rhat is we'll. Fora" he replied. And
he walked back into the dining room,
rang the bell, unlocked the door. and
said to old Cybele, who answered the
summons:
Remove the service"
| Cyhele looked doubtful about obey
ing. until she had glanced at the table.
and seen. by the second-used cup and
saucer, that Astrea had also break
tasted. Then, with a grunt, she set
about clearing the table.
Rumford returned to the front par
lor. closed the door communicating
| with the dining room and locked it.
Then tried the door leading into the
passage and found it fast.
Astrea watched his proceedings, and
saw that she was close prisoner: but
she felt the little poinard in her bosom.
and smiled to know that she was safe.
Rumford threw himself upon the
sofa, and signed to Astrea to seat her.
self beside him.
But Astrea drew herself up with dig
nifty, and took no further notice of the
Invitation.
"Sit down! sit down here on the sofa
by me. Fora: for we are quite alone,
and l wish to have some good under
standing with you! Come! why don't
you move? Sit down! sit down. said
Rumford. impatiently patting the end
| of the sofa upon which he invited her
to seat herself.
"a slave does not sit in the presence
of her MASTER said Astrea, With a
fine irony.
But when her master permits" said
Rumford.
Her position is till to humble to
embolden her to avail herself of such
liberty replied Astrea with a curling
lip and flashing eye, that neutralized
the humility of her words.
Blame it, then! if her master COM
mands. cried Rumford. half-laughing,
half-provoked at what seemed to him
very amusing resistance on the part of
a girl entirely in his power; eff her
master commands. how then, Zora?'
1.-THE servant. having no other op-
ton, would obey. suppose" answered
Astrea, deliberately taking up one of
the light straw chairs, carrying it to
the extremity of the room farthest
from Rumford, and seating herself in
it.
"Blast it! not there! here, here, on
the sofa beside me, where l can talk
to you at ease. / have much to say to
you, my girl. which it bahooves you to
hear" said Rumford. again impatient
Astrea to sit.
81 have excellent ears, sir, and can
hear quite well at this-respectful-
distance"
"Bosh! come here, here! say here!
l command your cried the planter,
impatiently repeating his gesture.
Il will not, sir,' firmly replied AS.
trea.
Not" exclaimed the planter. in a
state of mind blending surprise, dis
pleasure and mirth. Did you say
.Not?"
Il will not, SIR" repeated Astrea,
emphatically.
by the demon, but that is good! I
like that! But I see how it is! This
girl has been we'll educated and
brought up, and is vastly superior to
Der class: she has never had a lover,
and, consequently. in her maiden
pride, she would be wooed before she
is won. And, deuce take me, if I
don't like her the better for it. I am
sick OF your tOO-willing ones, however
tempting in other respects:
Tor the fruit that will fall without
shaking
Indeed is too mellow for me-
SO, this proud maiden beauty, slave
as she is, will be wooed before she is
won. Yes: and she is worth wooine
ard worth winning. too. And should
rot wonder the least in the world if
she insisted on being married as well
as courted! But of course, she can't
come that game over mel"
These thoughts passed rapidly
through the mind of Rumford, as be
sat, contemplating with admiration the
stately and beautiful form of Astrea
; as she sat like princess in her dis
tant chair.
At last he spoke up:
''Zora, nonsense, about this relation
of master and slave. 1t is true. l pur
chased you, and paid good, roun(
sum. too; as now, that l know YOU
worth. l will pay ten times as much tt
possess you. But, child, did not bu.
a delicate and beautiful creature lik.
you TO make a servant of you, an,
n ore than l would buy costly er
mine robe to make door-mat. No
, my dear. l liked your looks from thu