The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1902-01-09

citation Of this threat was like the click
of the cooking of a rifle
God above us, Constantv' exclaimed
Evariste, trembling violently. 'You will
not do that?''
: II certainly will,'' Quillebert said
savagely. -.N
"She will not be believed. The origi-
nal was destroyed" said Evariste in
desperation.
perhaps. Nevertheless, she could
make great use of the story" guile
bert replied, with vicious nod.
The torture inflicted upon him nv
this menace and the prospect it opened
before him appeared to deprive Eva
riste of the power Of speech. With
terror depicted in his face he stared at
his tormentor until the latter stirred
him, saying:
"Well?"
II accept your proposition" he said
family. "Within 60 days Estelle La
tiolais shall be my wife,"
''Honcv' grunted Quillebert. "Set
about it at once"
II will begin tomorrow"
.:Good!' Quillebert rose. Reaching
the door, he stopped and said: IAN odd
thing has occurred. My little pistol,
the one kept under my pillow at night
and in the armoir during the day, has
disappeared"
i; "Whom do you suspect?' Evariste
asked, forcing a show of interest
Il do not suspect any one yet Laurie
Is the only other person who knew
where the weapon was. But 1 will
discover the thief" said Quillebert con-
fidently, and, mounting his horse, he
rode away.
: Evariste returned to his room to
brood over the particulars of this most
disturbing interview. The Importance
which Laure had assumed as q factor
In lis life startled him as he now real
lied it. The mention of her name in
connection with the missing pistol
caused him an uneasiness, too, he could
not shake off. Her passion, protesta-
tons, warnings and prophecies pre-
sented her to his harassed thoughts as
an impeachment to his purpose, mex
orable and mysterious.
The self denials imposed on the peo-
pie by the conditions of civil war he
had escaped through means of the
contraband trade so successfully prose-
cuted by the genius of Quillebert. From
France he stocked his larder and buff
fet; from Paris he supplied his ward
robe. Hence, when, after a night of
feverish unrest, he set out in quest Of
bis bride he was arrayed, primmed and
perfumed as became a gallant of the
boulevards, extensively incongruous to
the neighbors clad in homespun, the
broken fences and grass grown fields
he passed on the dusty bayou road.
There was unrest, too, at the La
tiolais home. Age, dissipation, hyp-
notes and remOrse were Fastening the
grandfather to wreck and miserable
death. Night after night he walked his
room with shaking step, sleepless and
bemoaning his impotence to recoup his
own and Estelle's estates or conceal
the unworthy methods by which he
had incumbered them to crafty his
low appetites. Her written authority
to mortgage for maintenance, unQues-
tioningly conferred on his advice, he
had meanly used to protect his gam
bling debts and bills for rum and NOR
phine, leaving the legitimate accounts
unliquidated, unsecured and bearing
ruinous interest. His perfidy would be-
come known to Estelle and the world
at his death, now fast approaching;
his memory would be execrated by all
honest men; his grandchild would in
herit only poverty and his disgrace.
The sole escape lay in her preceding
him to the grave; his only hope was to
die before the storm broke. These
goading, unrelenting thoughts banished
sleep; distress gave free current to his
tears, whether alone or in the presence
of Estelle; the coma Of opium was his
refuge.
When Odette announced Evariste
Estelle, tenderly ministering to the ven
cradle sufferer, was on the point Of
leading him to stroll in the garden
among flowers she herself had planted,
nursed and reared into loneliness. At
the name of the visitor tremor passed
over the wasted frame Of the old man,
but-he looked beseechingly at his COM
panion and said:
"Go to him, child, and receive him
pleasantly. He has been our very
solicitous friend. Do not keep him
waiting. Odette will assist me into
the house when I become fatigued."
She left him with Odette and pro-
ceeded to her parlor.
She was gewned in simple white. A
deep collar about her neck was clasped
by a medallion portrait of her mother
in miniature. The pale brow deepened
the hue Of her soft brown hair. The
eyes Of dark hazel large and liquid,
the small mouth Of perfect curves and
the finely nodded chin gave beauty
to her face which was eloquent of at
lection, truth and patience-the beauty
which subdues by it's gentleness, COM
pels by it's sweetness, the beauty which
refnes prosperity and hallows af1ic-
ton.
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