Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1900-08-15


furious. A poor painter to think of as
piring to the hand of his daugh er, Then
it became known that he had promised
her in marriage to the son of a wealthy
and titled friend in England.
Laura had heard the talk concerning
such a MATCH but had laughed at it.
Not until she knew what love was did
she think Of horror Of her fathers wish.
Now, the tyrant III Lester Stanton be-
came unsheathed. He did not hesitate.
In one week from the time when he first
knew that his daughter loved me, this
young Englshman was sent for, and
came.
Their marriage was appointed for the
following week. Mr.. Stanton was not
going to leave any chance for his daugh-
ter to escape. He would have no folly,
he said.
with suffering. | knew now what sort
of man l had to deal with. [ was des
perate. | knew | could make Laura hap
ply. l earned sufficient income already
to live in comfort. and my fame was
growing. | watched necessarily near
the grounds there until | gained an in
terview with her. | pleaded as Il man
who loves and is determined can plead.
All! she loved me-"
Curzon paused a moment His gloomy
face was still more pale, his eyes emitted
strange light. He went on:
ESue COuS6ui6u " III! 10UuSSl. anu SIlC
only stipulated that she would not go
away with me directly. She loved her
father and she IOnged to be reconciled
to him. The next night she met me, and
we secretly rode to the next town below
US on the river.
1--WE were gone three hours and when
we came back no human power could
give her to any other-she was my wife!
| promised 10 wait a month before L
claimed her; and in the meantime L was
to keep out Of the way-to do nothing to
aggravate her father.
''She said she would alone bear what
ever might happen when Mr.. Stanton
urged on the marriage, which had been
appointed for the next week. 1t was
hard for me to bear, but there was ev-
erything to comfort me. She was mine
she loved me.
Afraid that [ might meet her father
and increase his animosity-fOr he was
inconceivably Infatuated against me
| and thus make her lot still harder. for
[ was not afraid of anything he could
do to me, 1 left the town, thinking
would remain away some days.
Il did not know myself. | could no
more have stayed away than 1 could
| came back that night.
Il did not go to bed until late, and
had hardly fallen asleep before | was
| awakened by cries which startled me into
springing from my bed. My first glance
from the window was in the direction
of the chateau. 1t was on fire. The
dreadful light Illuminated my ROOM
1T was but a moment before | was
| dashing Oh toward the hill on which the
chateau stood. The peasants round
about were focking to the place. but
! they did not seem to know what to do.
ter from the river.
1T did not seem to me that the fire
had done much as yet az L saw that
! the wing Of the house Were [ knew
Laura's room to be was the farthest
! from the flames.
stanton was running about, entirely
| bereft of his senses, as happens to some
! people at such times. He came up to
me, crying:
Laura! Laura She is in the studio!
! She went there before going to her
| roomr
Il did not wait to hear any moreover
though [ hardly believed what he said
"Ihe studio, where I had painted the
! portrait, and where were many pictures
! Stanton had collected, was in that por-
ton of the chateau that was burning.
'How [ ever made my way there
! know not. To look back upon the deed
! it seems an impossible thing to have
! done. But [ reached the heavy oaken
/ door-the door which thus far had been
a shield from the worst of the flames. l
burst it open.
Laura was upon her knees on the
floor. Half-dead with the heat and the
| smoke, she stretched out her arms and
cried out to me to go back-to save my
self.
Il took her in my arms. Heaven
must have smiled upon me, for L sue
ceeded in getting out of the burning
building with my precious burden.
mo one noticed US as | bore her to
| tho 1ay I did On hnr fathpT'
erybody was busy. [ put Laura down
on the ground, and knelt by her. She
was insensible at first, but in a few mo-
ments she opened her eyes. [ called her
all the names a passionate love could sug-
gest.
did that intensity of love recall her
wandering spirits?
Her beautiful face was not black
ened; uncOnsclously [ had shielded he1
| from that even.
''She looked at me; her eyes poured
undying love into mine. Feebly. for the
band. Then she died. The intensity of
the heat-some breathin of the flame
had killed her. Yes. she died" repeated
/ Curzon, with a terrible emphasis and a
| terrible glance.
.'What do you think I cared for life
after that? Soon the fire was con
quered. You see what part of the cha
teau was saved. This is her room
Here l have lived for years. and here
| intend to die-the sooner the better.
Mr.. Stanton left as soon as possible.
I had fortune left me. Lucky, wasn't
to" and he laughed in way that made
me shiver. Il bought this place"
/ Curzon walked to the window and
looked out, and in a moment made a
remark in a calm, quiet tone.
Beautiful prospect. isn't it?'
| do you still paint" | asked, not re-
| plying.
81 have never put brush to canvas
since 1 finished that" and he looked at
| the portrait.