Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1899-07-06


brilliant. shall l change them into my
congratulations"
The old. sneering tone struck on her
nerves like ice.
Leave mel" she answered, and out
stretched one hand toward the door,
across whose threshold he had not vet
passed.
Leave YOU" he echoed, with his
belle! You and l have an account to
settle; and besides, whose right is
greater here than mine? Who. in fur
n.shing 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 it not? l could
hardly hope for so warm welcome as
You otherwise might have accorded
nie.'
The infection Of his words was u
Srt SSer insult than their purport; his
assumed levity more terrifying than
tierceSt anger: his smile. which seemed
on his face such mocllery. more terri
bic than any frown.
Yet Florence's glance fell not from
him; only her heel crushed into the
fragments Of glass OH which it rested.
and beneath it. cut and married beyond
recognition. was the white cross with
the broken lily at it's base.
She thought that. in all proba bility,
the man had come to murder her. She
knew that the gold by which he had
brihed 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 spring like pan
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. 81 spared you for this!'
Then dragging her with force she
could not resist. he stopped before one
of the great mirrors which fully re-
hCcted both
Look at yourself and me- he said.
"Woman! tiend! This mornings work
paid rot even the interest on the debt
owe to you.''
For tie first time she spoke.
You think so. Louis Gervase: 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 hcart-a heart which once
held greater beauty than that you
made your boast. You murdered my
soul. my faith. my love. | loved YOU
loved you as now l hate you. | meant
to kill you. l think; but | was mad
with grief and pain, and knew not
what l did. Is it life for beauty you
would claim? If so. be quick! My life
is not of such worth that | should
plead its ransom.
A great deal of admiration stole in
his eyes. The low. musical voice held
not tremor. not an eyelash quivered:
and vet he held her in his power, as
the vulture the bird.
Once her heart had been to him a
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 of the fire in
which he had crucitied her childhood
and she held for him fascination the
child might never have possesSed-a
fascination which made his hate dead
Ter, his vengeance more implacablc.
"No!" he Missed. 1T is life for life,
an eye for an eye, and Il tooth for
tooth. Why should not the old law
hold good hereo Beauty for beauty! L,
too. would have you live-to know
what it is to shrink from the sunlight
and glory in the darkness. to shun>
crowds and have solitude unbearable.
TO realize blessing converted into a
deadly curse. From such a fate, Flor
ence Vane, who shall save your
do your worst" she answered him.
and bravely stood awaiting whatsocv-
or fate, through him, should deal to
her.
With low curse. he threw her from
him with such force that she staggered
a few steps. and caught the arm of a
chair for support.
woman! devilr' he sneered. "Had
you been like this year ago. l should
not have been Wearied, nor been tempt
ed from you. But listen! Tonight l
spare you, only that l may make ven
geance more complete. give you mer
cy. only that one day 1 may hear you
plead for it to deny your prayer. l
leave you your beauty, only that it
may prove your curse! But remember.
as the shadow follows the sunlight. so
l follow you; as the bloodhound is
swift upon the track of its prey. so am
| swift on yours: as the snake glides
unseen among the heritage toward it's
victim. so yet shall you feel my sting.
You cannot escape nor elude me. When
the cup of happiness is at your lips.
then will I dash it down. When your
sky is the brightest. then will forge
the thunderbolt. When you say AT last
/ have escaped him. then will the
thread part that holds above your head
the sword of Damocles. My pursuit
will know no weariness: my hand no
mercy. The curse wherewith you have
cursed me shall yet recoil upon your
self. Au revoir. Florence Vane, until
we meet again.
Again she was alone; but, for the
first time deadly. terrible fear had
stolen into her heart and almost stilled
forever it's frozen beat.
CHAPTER XIV
"a lady is waiting to see you, sir, IN
the inner Office"