Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1899-07-06

} FrozeD Heart,
"a A THRILLING LOVE STORY.
~ BY FRANCES WARNER WALKER.
BY FRANCES WARNER WALKER.

I wrought the deadlier ruin of her soul.
He was the first TO speak.
Il caIae to offer my condolences" he
said, but the scene before me is so
brilliant. shall l change them into my
congratulations"
The old, sneering tone struck on her
nerves like ice.
Leave met" she answered, and out
stretched one hand toward the door,
across whose threshold he had not yet
passed.
Leave you,' he echoed, with his
calmness all unmoved. "Ah, no. ma
belief You and | have an account TO
settle; and besides, whose right is
greater here Than mine? Who, in fur
nishing you with all this splendor," his
glance sweeping the long vista Of the
rooms, "has assumed my place? Had
the prince already arrogated the right
on which this mornings ceremony was
TO have set the seal? An unfortunate
interruption, that, was ii not? i could
hardly hope for so warm u welcome as
you otherwise might have accorded
me-"
The infection OF his words was a
grosser insult than their purport; his
assumed levity more terrifying than
fiercest anger; his smile, which seemed
on his face such mockery, more terri
BILE than any frown.
Yet Florence's glance fell not from
him; only her heel crushed into the
fragments OF glass on which it rested.
and beneath it. cut and marred beyond
recognition, was the white cross with
the broken lily at its base.
She thought that, In all probability,
the man had come to murder her. She
knew that the gold by which he had
bribed her servants TO admit him,
would deafen them to any appeal that
she might make; yet, naughty and de-
faint, she gave no outward sign OF
fear.
Suddenly. with a spring like a pam
Their, he drew near her; his hands
grasped the lovely baroness of her
white arms; his face, terrible. menac-
Ing. hideous, was close to hers.
''They asked me to give you to the
law" he said. IL spared you for this".'
Then, dragging her with a force b
could not resist, he stopped before one
of the great mirrors which fully re-
fiected both.
Look at yourself and mer7 he said.
'yvoman. fiendl This mornings work
paid not even the interest on the debt
/ owe 10 you.'
For the first time she spoke.
"You think SO. Louis Gefvasey' she
said. you think the bullets impress
has left you Il debt greater than mine?
What is its outward impress to the in
ner ruin YOU have wrought? Hideous
as is your face, SO hideous have you
made my heart-a heart which once
I.ll en.afn,. hna.tfxr than that ron
made your boast. You murdered my
soul. my faith. my love. | loved you
loved you MS now l hate you. l meant
to kin YOU. / think: but | was mad
| with grief and pain, and knew not
what | did. Is ii life for beauty you
would claim? II so, be quick. My life
is not of such worth that / should
plead It's ransom.
A great deal of admiration stole In
his eyes. The low. musical voice held
not a tremor. not an eyelash %quivered;
and yet he held her in his power, as
the yulture the bird.
Once her heart had been to him n
transparent page. He had but need To
look to read. She had been a very
a very child. knowing no will save his.
But this superb. defiant woman had
risen from the ashes sof the fire in
which he had cruciied her childhood.
AMI she held for him a fascination the
child might never have possessed-a
fascination which made his hate dead
Ter. his vengeance mere implacable.
Nor he Kissed. 1T is life for life,
an eye for an eye. and n tooth for n
tooth. Why should not the old law
hold good here? Beauty for beauty! l,
too. would have YOU live-to know
I what il is to shrink from the sunlight
aud glory In the darkness. TO shun
crowds and have solitude ~unbearnbie,
( TO realize a blessing converted into a
deadly curse. From such n fate, Flor
| ence yane. who shall save your
"no your worst she answered him.
and bravely stood awaiting whatsoev-
er fare. through him. should deal TO
her.
With n low curse. he threw her from
him with such force that she staggered
a few steps. and caught the arm of 4
chair for support.
Woman, devil" be sneered. Had
ven been like this . year ago.. l should
not have been wearied. nor been tempt
ell from you. But listen, Tonight l
spare you. only that | may make ven
geance more complete. 1 give You mer-
cy. only that one day l may hear you
plead for it TO deny your prayer. |
leave YOU your beauty. only that Ii
may prove your curse, But remember.
as the shadow follows the sunlight. SO
| follow on: as the bloodhound Is
swift upon the track Of It's prey. so am
| swift or yours; rs the snake glides
unseen among the heritage toward its
victim. so vet shall YOU feel my sting.
You canno escape ner elude me. When
the cup of happiness is at your lips.
then will l dash IL down. When your
sky is the brightest. then will | forge
the thunderbolt. When you say at last
l have escaped him. then will the
thread part that holds above your head
the sword of Damocles. My pursuit
win know no WEAKNESS: my hand no
mercy. The curse wherewith you have
cursed me shall yet recoil upon your-
self. Au revo'r. Florence yane, until
we meet again.
Again she was alone: hut, for the
first tune. n. deadly. terrible fear had
stolen into her heart, and almost stilled