Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1899-06-29
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Froze3 Heart,
BY FRANCES WARNER WALKER.
CHAPTER Extraordinarily
A THRILLING LOVE STORY.


Moreover. she shuddnred at thought
of entering the bondage OF the passion
he termed love. Vet today she felt
that only thus might she gain the end
she coveted. But to-day it was doubly.
trebly btteT-for to-day she had
learned that Il mans voice might yet
sway and a mans touch thrill her.
But he had left her forever. and she
had let him go.
IL am not too late:" she sighed.
''Too late madame? For wlat:"
"To prevent this tight-this duel.
Brilliant swordS,Lan as you are. some
accident might have diSarmed YOU.
You might have been the victim.'
''You feared for my life. ma chere:
Since your fear lent it such value. do
you not know that it would possess Il
magic charm for it's safety But You
do not know my skill. Spare me an
hour and will return to tell you that
this Striplings insolencc is forever 81
fenced. and. in trophy. show You the
tip Of the sword which will bear the
stain Of his hearts blood"
She shuddered and recoled.
mo. prince-no.' she murmured.
sYou must neither risk your own life,
nor take anothers. All this is Il mis-
take. Listen, and YOU shall hear it
ALL
And hastily she repeated to him the
story to which .Arkwright had already
listened.
Perhaps" she added. Il wished to
know if you would resent my favor to
another-perhaps l wished to test the
profession You had made: but. indeed.
l dreamed not such results might fol-
low. 1t is true that gave the boy the
rose But do not let his life pay the
price. You will spare him because l
ask it:'
Low sunk the swcetly- modulatcd
words: but the prince frownetl as he
listened.
''ls his life so dear to you that YOU
thus plead:' he asked.
"No.' she answered. But not for
me must the stain of blood rest on
your soul. Your courage. prince. is
known throughout Europe. You can
refuse to fight. and no man will qurs-
ton why. Listen. If l promise new
er to see him ag;,in-if | swear never
to let him know that through my inter-
cession this duel was averte;l-if pay
the price of his life by my hearts
boundless gratitude. will you refuse
my prayer"
She casped her hands in cntreary as
She spoke, and the lovely face was up
turned to his own: hut hard as hers
had been when Beatrice made her
prayer. so was his hard now.
"1ou talk like a child. ma belle. This
insolent STRIPPING insulted me last night
he tossed in my face the Wine LETT i'll
his glass. and as the red wine was
1n1 IN f., 1,,,. ll,,l.
only. the former was precOuS-the lat
ter valueless.'
ooh. spare him." she cried. eff not
for his sake. if not for your sake then
Tor mine. that all my life l may not
bear the burden of his sin! Wha1soev-
er price you claim for mercy. that pric.
will pay
A sudden CLEAN shot across the dark
cold face. Full we'll she knew what
she had held forth to him: full we'll she
knew the deadly temptation which lay
IN her words. but. giving him no time
to speak, she Went on:
This boy must not die she said.
Sand to fight with you means death.
Spare him, and name your guerdon-
slay him, and by the heavens which
hear my VOW. will shut myself within
a converts walls, and there seek to eX-
plate the vanity Of which his young
life paid the Forfeit
''And my g,ler,ion:" he whispered.
while the hot blood scethed through
his veins at the thought of his coming
triumph.
What shall it beg" she replied. and
her eyes languid glance uplifted itself
to his.
"That within the week you become
my wife,
"Within the week?" she repeated.
And so might a condemned criminal
have spoken the date appointed for his
execution.
Gwen So" she whispered at shall
be as you say"
He stopped then and. for the first
time, pressed his lips to hers. She
shuGdered. as under the intliction Of
degrade ton unspeakable and bright.
crimson blush lent her new beauty;
but he saw only its added brilliancy,
and dreamed not of its cause.
''Adieu, ma belle" he whispered. as
he handed her back into the carriage
1adieu, until Tomorrow
ooh. God"' she moaned. as she
leaned heavily back, ''that ere to-mor-
row / might die"
Had the prince forgotten his prom
ise? Was royal word SO lightly brok
en-? Not an hour had elapsed since he
had pledged it, when. with all the pre-
liminaries ended. all the formalities
complied with, III a quiet spot beyond
the city limits. in the dark shade of Il
friendly wood. Carl bancroft met him
face 10 face.
The young lieutenant was white. az
though ai' 'EoGd had left his body: but
his eyes were d:;rlD.lcSs ard his mouth
proud and firm. The thin lips Of the
prince We're CURED in IL cruel sheer.
Each held in his right hand an I'M
sheathed sword. The sun had gone to
his kingly rest; the moon refused to
look up on the slaughter; the dull gray
of the coming darkness Swallowed the
silent group. Then a white handker-
chief futtered in the air; the signal
had been given; the sharp clash Of
steel broke the stiffness.
A minute only it lasted: then the
younger man stood desenceless. His
sword. by marvellous skill. had been
wrepched from his grasp. He was at
the mercy OF his enemy.