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

over the old fellow. Ana so the rool
took her position so to heart that she
pinned away and died. That was not
my fault, you know"
Not your fault, oh, miserable and
blinded man! I tell you, that when
YOU shall meet that poor, lost girl ut
the dread judgment seat of your Of
Tended Maker, YOU will find that the
sins yoll have compelled her to COM
NIT will be lifted from her soul and
thrown upon yours, and weigh 1t down
to eternal perdition! And. now I warn
you, old man. Slave as you believe
me to be, do not fear you! can
neither be persuaded, tempted, nor
compelled to dlshonor as Lulu was!
Believe me. no woman, pure In thought,
wrcd and deed, ever can. hold my
fate and your sin in the hollow of my
hand! I know and feel 1t with deep
conviction. Therefore-and this Is why
called you hack-do not dare to pass
the threshold my room tonight! Slave
as you think me, my chamber is my
sanctuary, and shall be held most sa-
cred from the intrusion Of any man,
even of my sO-called master! There
fore, Mr.. Rumford, If you even dare
make the attempt to enter my chamber
this night, or any night, it will be ut
your utmost peril! You are warned"
"Whe-ew" said the planter, pursuing
up his lips, "what splendid actress
you would have made! But I like you
all the better for it, Fora! like you all
the better for it, my girl! And I'm
blamed, If you We're white, if 1
wouldn't marry you tomorrow! But,
as it is, it is no go, you know. AS to
defying me to come into your room,
like that, tool That is piquant! That
is sauce to the goose! shall come all
the surer for that defiance, my girl!
Do you think am afraid of your little
claws and teeth, you pretty little kit
ten? No; l. have served through the
Mexican war, and faced a charge of
bayonets; and do you think a woman's
nails or tongue, either, can turn me
back? Besides, my dear, you will
preach from very different text
month hence" And so saying. Rum
ford unlocked the door, lighted his
pipe. and strolled out upon the lawn.
He had scarcely gone out of sight
when the door of a closet beside the
chimney opened, and Venus appeared,
with a scared visage.
why, Venus! is that you?" ex-
claimed Astrea, in astonishment.
Eyes, honey, what's lef' of me by de
smotheration! De Lor'! dere amt
single breaf Of air in dat dere cup
board when de door am shutv' replied
the woman, gasping. -
"But-how came you in that closet?"
''Debii, s'pose, honey! Muffin tall
but de debil. Fact is, was in de
room a-dustin' of de furniture while
ole marse was eAtin his breakfas', an
so l heerd him order you to come in
here an talk wild him when breakfas'
was over: an so de debil temp me to
slip in dis yere closet an listen, an
see as dere was fair play! an Lor'
knows was punish enough for it, too!
1t was hot as an oven, ali not breaf
OF fresh air. an if l had staid dere one
minute longer, 1 done died with suf-
feration! Twas de debil. chile! nuf-
fin but de debilv'
'No, indeed, Venus! I do not think
it was the devil. but rather some good
angel that inspired you to go into that
closet and watch to see that there was
fair play. as you call it. hope you
heard and saw everything that passed
heard and saw everything that
passed"
"Ebery single ting, honey! deed dt:e
Iw
81 am glad you did! 1 am glad to
know that 1 was not now, and never
have been, alone in closed room with
that desperate man! But you said that
you hid yourself in there to see. that
there was fair play. And 1 believe
that you were inspired to become my
witness. And, tell me, Venus, if there
had not been fair play, what do you
think you should have done to help
me"'
Hi. chile! how know what de deb
il might O. tempted Of me- to do? Take
up &c poker an knock ole marse down
for dead, maybe, an den get myself
hungged up by de neck for it! Some
fin like dat, honey, knows, cause you
see de debil was busy wild mel!
CTo be Continued.)