The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1901-09-07

ISOLATION 10 offer, so she did all she
could do. She drew the head Of her
mistress upon her bosom, and there
she held il for a long time. She held
it thus until the door of the apart
ment was opened and female do
nestle entered
Lady,. the newcomer said, trem-
bling perceptibly while she spoke,
''thc duke babe me tell you no
awaited your coming below in tho
hall"
She stopped here and seemed to
wait for an answer. But Rosalind
did not speak.
"What answer shall I give him,
lady;"
At this the countess started up,
but she sank back again without
speaking.
'Tell him we viii come" inter
posed Zcnobie, who saw that the an
nouneement had taken the last pow
or of effort from her mistress.
eyes, yes" whispered the count
ess as the messenger hesitated and
gazed inquisitiyely into her face.
And with this the woman left the
apartment,
"Aly dear mistress" spoke Zeno-
bic, now calling all her power Of self
control to her aid, call means Of
help and escape we have tried in
vain. The time has come
20 God, have mercy!" groaned
the countess
-"and we must meet it, since
there is no further hope. II viii be
better to 60 down at once than TO
arouse the bad mans anger by more
delay. Were there the least glim-
mer Of hope, we would not go. But
there is not. You know what !
mean a
a few moments Rosalind sat like
one dead. Then she started up, with
her hands clasped, and raised her
eyes toward heaven. She did not
speak aloud, but her lips moved,
and she surely uttered a prayer to
God, and it was none the less elo-
quent because il was silent. Then
she turned to her companion. Her
lips were set and colorless, and a
deathly look had oyersprcad her
whole face.
"Zenobie," she said in a tone
which bore no feeling more than
the gliding Of cold, icy sound, II
am ready. Once more, before the
last JOY Of earth departs from me,
let me bless thee and press thee 70
my bosom ! am pure now"
She opened her arms MS she spoke,
and when she closed them again Ze-
noble was within their embrace.
BLESS you, bless you eyerl God
keep and guide YOU TO the end Of
life and then receive you home to
himself! Kiss me. There, | am
ready nowW
The broken hearted girl wiped the
tear from her eve, and in a moment
more she was as cold and passionless
as before.
LEAD on, Zenobie. | shall walk
without help"
Without looking around the Mos
lem maiden led the way 20 the hall.
She walked slowly, and she fancied
size could hear the beating of her
mistress heart. In the hall stood
the duke with some half dozen Of his
own male attendants. lie took the
hand Of the countess as she APP
preached him and razcd earnestly
into her face, but he did not speak.
He led her toward one Of the draw
ing rooms, and when they entered
there they found tic humpbacked
priest already in waiting. Rosalind
came well nigh fainting when she
saw this miserable villain ready for
his work. She knew now that the
priest was like the master.
"You see, my dear countess"
spoke the duke in low, hypocritical
tone, chat we have all prepared. |
trust we shall have no trouble be-
fore this holy man.
This last sentence was spoken in
threatening tone, but it had no
effect upon Rosalind She hardly
heard the word he spoke
Come, father said Olga, turn
ing now TO thc priest. eve are
ready"
Savoiano moved forward and
mumblcd q Latin PRAYER. Then he
looked upon tile twain before him
and directed them 70 kneel.
"No. uo. noW gaspod the fair
countess. trembling for the first
time. 81 cannot DO thatw
"Kncolw h ga tla duke between
his clipohel teoth, and a. he spoke
he gra ped the mailt1 more firmly