The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1901-12-27

1t"
"Rosalind Valdai, have resolved
that you shall be my wife. Mind
you, this is one of the firm, fixed
purposes of my soul, and those who
know the Duke of lula best know
that he never gives up a purpose
once fixed in his mind. You cannot
mistake me now"
Slowly the stern fact dawned up
on Rosalind's mind. There had been
a lingering hope that he might be
only trying her to see if she loved
him or if she would willingly become
his wife. Awhile she remained with
her head bowed and her bosom
heaving with the wild emotion thus
called up. But at length she looked
up and spoke.
"Sir," she said family, but with
marked decision, "you cannot make
me your wife,"
"Ah! And why not ?"
Because | Will never CONSENT
"Ah! Say you SOP"
81 do, and mean it"
"Ha, ha, ha! You know little of
my power if you think you can
thwart me in my purpose. | tell
thee, as sure as the God of heaven
lives, you shall be my wife"
"No, no! Before heaven | protest
against such unholy union. You
cannot have my heart, and such a
union would be but foul mockery."
"Oho! Now you come to the
point. l can't have your heart, Ell?
Perhaps your heart is given to the
gunmaker"
Rosalind's eyes flashed in an in
slant. The words of the duke were
spoken sneeringly and contemptu-
ously, and they Jared upon the
young girls soul.
"Aye," she quickly uttered, and
boldly, too, q do love Ruric Newell,
and he is worthy of my love-"
"Now, nv pretty ward" resumed
Olga in a tone of peculiar irony,
"you have spoken as l hoped you
would speak-plainly and to the
point, so can answer just as plain
ly. Know, then, that Ruric Newell
can never be your husband. He
stands charged with horrid crime,
and the emperor only waits to see
whether the count RECEIVERS or not
ere he awards the punishment The
gunmaker is forbidden on pain OF
death to leave the city. 81 you
may cast him from your thoughts
as soon as possible"
"What crime is Ruric accused
off," the maiden asked.
"Of murder"
'Gn wounding the count?"
"Yes."
ooh, how can you bring youl
tongue to such speech? You know
the noble youth was not to blame il
this affair. He was"
''Hold, Rosalind. want no ar.
gument on this question. You have
heard what | have said, and be as
sured that | mean it. had hoped
you would receive my proposal will
more favor, but | did not enter into
the plan until my mind was al
made up and the thing all fixed
You will become my wife within onC
month";
81 will flee to the emperor" gasp
ed Rosalind.
lou viii not leave this paiact
again until you are the Duchess o
Tulap'
81 will never speak the word tina
is necessary to make me your wife
never! At the altar, if you be b,
my side, my lips shall be sealed, ant
no power on earth shall ZOOS
them!"
'FDo YOU mean this?" Whispers
the duke.
GAS God lives | do"
"Then mark me" the stout
dark nobleman gazed fxedly int
the maiden's face as he spoke, an,
in his look and tone there was
fendish expression that could no
be mistaken-'I shall do all in m
power to make you my lawful wife
If you refuse me, you shall be beat
en- with the knout in the marke
place, where all may see the un
grateful girl who refused the hear
and hand of the-noble Duke of TIL
la. Ave, and after thou art beate
thou shalt be cast into the street
for dogs to bark at. Dost hear IN,
Rosalind Naldai?"
With one deep, soul dying moa
the poor girl sank down, shiverin
and pale. The duke caught her q
she fell, and, having laid her sens,
less form back upon the couch, b
strobe from the apartment.
fro BE CONTINUED
Fdueate Your Fso~e,. win c,.r.r.,.-