The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1901-08-22
CHAPTER XII.

CHAPTER XII.
"HE MADE ME LIVE A LIE"
n FOR a moment Erna was stupe-
II fed by the outburst of pas
|s7E7Ss sion from Lisle. She had be-
e2VX gun to think that her new
friend would accept the change in her
destiny as a matter of course and that
in fact she was secretely glad that
fate had created her woman. The
repressed passion which Lisle had suf-
fered without manifesting any sign
was phase of character entirely for
eign to her understanding. All her
life Erna had without restraint ex-
pressed every emotion that possessed
her, and she could not comprehend a
nature which concealed the impulses of
the heart until they were swollen to
such an extent that they burst all
bounds and swept everything before
them, just as raging torrent, held in
check for years, at last demolishes the
solid wall of masonry which holds it
and PUSHES downward to engulf and
destroy everything that lies in it's path.
She did not know that Isles calmness
In view of the discovery made was the
result of pride of will, which dominated
her every act. She could not under
stand woman who could endure with
calmness agony that was consuming
her like fire within, and instead of as
sisting Lisle, as she had been requested
to do, she stood with clasped hands,
parted lips and bated breath, terror
stricken by the revelation of q depth
of passion which she had not believed
existed.
Not until Lisle had torn the 'instru-
ments Of torture" apart and flung them
savagely to the far end of the room
did she regain her composure; then,
using much better judgment than
would have been expected of her, she
sprang to the assistance of her friend,
but without Offering any protest
against what she had said and, better
still, without venturing to give advice
at moment when it could neither be
appreciated nor followed.
Lisle kept silence also while being di-
vested of the costume in which Erna
had dressed her. Not until she had
resumed the masculine attire, the one
laid out for Erna and not the one pre-
viOusly worn, did she utter word.
but the struggle was raging within her
with the same savage fury with which
it had announced itself, and Erna,
watching her furtively, became more
and more dismayed. =
When Isle was fully dressed in the
garments to which she was accustom-
ed, she walked to the window and with
quietly:
"Dress yourself, Erna, as you were
last night. While you are busy will
think. Do not speak to me, please, un-
til you are dressed"
Erna fastened to obey. Lisle's de-
meanor awed her into silence. She
felt instinctively that she was in the
presence Of character which dominat-
ed everything. She was, without being
sensible Of it, afraid, and she worked
in silence, rapidly.
II am ready, Lisle," she said at last,
but the girl at the window did not hear,
and she approached tlmidly and touch
ed her upon one shoulder.
II am ready, Lisle," she repeated, al
most fearing that the words would call
forth another TRADE Of passionate an
ger, but Lisle turned calmly, and there
was a pathetic smile upon her lips
when she spoke.
"Forgive me, Erna, for giving way
as did a few moments ago. l will en-
deavor not to repeat the offense. Such
evidences Of weakness cannot benefit
me, and certainly you are not to blame.
The only person who is responsible
for this moment lies dead in another
room, and my vengeance cannot reach
him. l am calm now and cold, too, as
cold as death, and, think, as unfor-
giving. You do not understand me.
Nobody does; nobody ever can, l fear.
1t l am revengeful, it is because | in
herit it and because have been taught
to~be so ever since can remember II
l hate and despise the memory of that
dead man who taught me to call him
father, as he taught me to believe my
oSAA W NC d 1iSsA, Tic Sill rests upon MS
soul, not upon mine or yours. If l
am unreasonable in my anger and re-
bellion against something that l can
not help or avoid, it is because that in
sane man wronged me so, not because
you discovered and revealed the truth.
The truth am glad to know. l am
angry only because it has been denied
to me all these years. Can a human
being commit greater sin than to
seize upon and defy law of Almighty
God and with his puny strength dare to
make the effort to alter it? l think
not. Just heaven! Cannot you, my
friend, imagine something of the horror
of the position am in? realize the
danger which surrounds me without
knowing what it is. l know that there
are bottomless pitfalls in my path, but
cannot locate them or recognize them
when l see them. know that there is