News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1902-04-30

! train Oh ulSturDlHS thoughts, winch
flushed and paled her brown face and
escaped in signs from her heaving
bosom, and she threw from dark, melt
ing eyes glances of yearning and adora.
tion upon her unseeing companion for
which many Gasconoid would gladly
have given all his worldly possessions
Arrived at the cottage, she drew a
bunch of keys from her reticule and,
begging Evariste to await her on the
veranda, unlocked the door and enter
ed The stiffness of the house and all
its surroundings, the motionless pros
pect of open field and rigid forest, the
creeping shadows of evening and
Laure's words, They dread her curse
the more because she Is dead" worked
insidiously upon the scoffer a sense Of
the uncanny, and Evariste was op-
pressed By a feeling of the presence of
the old doctress. Dreamily he fell into
a reverie, in which he seemed to receive
a presentiment from the white haired
oracle. A footstep recalled him, and he
started, as If at an apparition, upon be-
| holding Laure, her head barred and the
luxuriant hair tumbling in wavelets
| about her forehead, clad In the gown
| of filmy, clinging fabric she had worn
the day he gave her the crescent of
rubies and diamonds. Her ripened fig
ure, of voluptuous contour, strained to
the utmost the delicate enveloping It's
sue. Entreaty was in her moist eyes,
passion in her mantlng cheeks. Quiv-
ering lips and quick breath betrayed
the agitation of her heart. Rich. glow
ing, tropical, her beauty was that of
the red lily. Evariste gazed upon her
in mute, admiring wonder.
"Hear me patiently Evariste, and
weigh well what | will say" There
was intense pleading in her voice, and
as she drew near to him he could see
the rapid throbbing Of the veins in her
aatiny neck You have book learning
and know the ways and rules of what
is called society. You understand the
business and politics of men. But you
do not know yourself or human ma
ture. l do. 1t is gift Your passions
possess you. If you attempt to hide
them, they consume you. Opposition
Stays discretion and sends you on reck-
less courses. You have never been
happy. You envied your brother. His
very generosity irritated you. His for
tune you coveted and his intended
wife. Both desires were enemies to
your content. Your heart was lighter
when you had none of his fortune than
now that you possess it all. You would
be more at peace with only the half he
promised you"
Alarm came to EvariSte's face at
these words, but whether she detected
it or not she continued her dissection
of his life without pause
"And should you acquire the woman
as you did the fortune, your Wretched-
ness would be complete and beyond
other cure than death. She will never
love you. Her weak spirit would
yield a fearful, meek submission, which
would rub against the grain Of your
temper, hold you back, fret you and
end in tragedy"
Indeed, Laure, you talk very like
fortune teller" Evariste said coldly,
"and l foresee quite a career for you
in taking horoscopes. You will have
many patrons, but at present l do not
care to be numbered among them.''
'Do not make light of what l am
saying" Laure implored. "Be just to
yourself, Evariste, and to me. | know
that fine ladies would condemn me in
this, but l know they would be hypo-
critics. Abandon the pursuit of that
which can only desolate your life, and
-and-come, Evariste, to me- who ,
alone cam Her speech was stifed by
rising Sob Opening her arms to
him, devouring him with her passion
lit eyes, her face afiame, she put aside !
restraint from her words, which came !
burning from her ravishing lips ooh, |
Evariste, love you! | care not what |
you think of me for saying it. love |
you. Do you hear, Evariste? l love !
you My love is not what these people !
about us call love. My love is myself. |
Apart from it l am not; without it l |
cannot breathe or sleep or think-I do !
not exist. And you are my love, you
are my life. Without you l cease to
be. Would not you defy the worlds
opinion to save your life? l live but
once, l love but once. Life and love,
they are but one to me. Then brave
the world to save my love, my life"
Pausing for breath, she saw the
frown which had settled upon his brow,
and as scalding tears coursed down her
cheeks she said in supplicating tone:
"No other woman can ever know you
so perfectly as do, Evariste. No one
can smooth your path as l can. No
one will ever understand how to stay
and direct your impulses as l will. l |
can and will be your watchful guard
ian, your faithful slave. 1t is not |
your fortune | crave; it is only you.
All interest in the estate l would re-
nounce. l would sell this little place
my grandmother left and maintain N.Y.
self upon its proceeds. l care nothing
for dress or luxury. 1t is only you l
want. Oh come to me, Evariste, and
let me compel your love and happiness!
Save me from myself and let me save
you from yourself. Come to me in
peace and wait not till you must fly to
me for refuge from Storm"
CT