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

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 lie
promised you.''
Alarm came to Evariste's face at
these words, but whether she detected
1t 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 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 a
fortune teller" Evariste said coldly,
"and foresee quite a career for you
In taking horoscopes. You will have
many patrons, but at present 1 do not
are to be numbered among them.'
"Do not make light of what I am
saying" Laure tmplored "Be just to
yourself, Evariste, and to me. know
that fine ladies would condemn me in
this, but I 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 stif1ed by
rising sob. Opening her arms to
him, devouring him with her passion
lit eyes, her face adame, she put aside
restraint from her words, which came
burning from her ravishing lips. "Oh,
EVariste, love you! care not what
you think of me for saying it. love
you. Do you hear, Evariste? I love
you. My love is not what these people
about us call love. My love is myself.
Apart from it I am not; without it I
cannot breathe or sleep or think-I do
not exist. And you are my love, you
are my life. Without you 1 cease to
be. Would not you defy the worlds
opinion to save your life? 1 live but
once, 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:
mo other woman can ever know you
so perfectly as 1 do, Evariste. No one
can smooth your path as l can. No
one will ever understand how to stay
and direct your impulses as I will.
can and will be your watchful guard
ian, your faithful slave. 1t is not
your fortune I crave; it is only YOU.
All interest in the estate I would re-
nounce. I would sell this little place
my grandmother left and maintain N.Y.
self upon Its proceeds. I care nothing
for dress or luxury. It is only you
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"
She was on her knees, and her up-
turned face shoDe with the light of de-
votional prayer.
It cost Evariste an effort to steel him
self against the power Of such a reve-
lation of beauty and passion. But his
answer was delivered coldly and harsh
~.
There is at least one insurmountable
obstacle to what you PROPOSE" he
said.
"Name it, and I will overcome it,"
Laure exclaimed hopefully.
"You cannot" He gave a cruel en-
phasis to his words. 1T is your posi-
ton in Quillebert's householder
She sprang to her feet, every fiber of
her being tingling with the sting Of
this thrust, and glared upon him with
the fury of wounded tigress.
You know your words imply a mean
lie!' she cried. Checking her anger,
covering her burning face for an in
slant and gulping back the bitter
speech, she presented to him an Offend
ed countenance struggling for calmness
and added:
but 60 your way. cannot renounce
you and live. Thus far have waited
| and suffered. can endure a little
more. 1t will not last very much Ion.
ger, for, Evariste, come to me YOU will
and in the fight of terror. I see it! 1
will waltz
There was in her manner the posi-
tlveness Of prescience which awed the
man who had prided himself on inn
FEASIBILITY, and he turned away per-
turDed and vexed. She re-entered the
dark room and hinoino horco1f into
the huge chair of her grandmother, sat
staring into the future until the fury
within her had spent itself. AS if
charged with the sturdiness of spirit
which had borne the old doctress
through many trial. she resolutely
exclaimed:
HE shall not, though it take his
death and mine to PREVENT
Resuming the gown she had worn
through the day, Laure composed her
features and returned to Quillebert's
+ dwelling, lOathing it now as q charnel