News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1902-05-07
MASTER
ano SLAVE
BY T. n. Thorpe.
Copyright, 1901, By T. II. Thorpe.
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81 need no time for reflection. My
answer is ready now and must be de-
livered. What you ask can never be-"
She spoke gently and firmly, but her
voice was not wholly free of resent
ment.
mot to save your grandfather from
9overty and disgrace" he said, his
eace darkening with anger and MALICE.
She staggered, but answered reso-
Eutely:
MOP
"And yet you said you would die to
give him peace and health
"And so l would, but l did not say
lwould commit sacrilege."
"What do you mean?'
81 prefer not to explain"
He eyed her suspiciously.
"You have not taken a nuns vows?"
81 wished to do so, but Father Grhe
would not give his sanction. He in
structed me that l would best serve
God through my duty to my grand
father"
And by booming him to shameful
Beggary you perform that duty?" he
Sneered.
"The duty must be a sinless one.
Rather than profit by a sinful service
my grandfather would cheerfully lay
his hand in mine and walk forth from
this house forever homeless, beg from
door to door and sleep under the trees"
So serene and self trusting did she ap-
pear as she spoke and looked away to
the green forest that Evariste felt him
self dwindle before her.
Have l asked Of you a sinful deed"
he demanded.
Eyes. A loveless wife is shining
woman. / could not give you my love
with my hand. have no love to give"
You were not always lOveless. Why
now"
"My love is dead" she moaned pite-
ously, no longer able to restrain her
emotion, and hid her face against the
mantel
81 understand" he said tauntingly,
sand lies buried under the apple trees
IN Kentucky"
She turned upon him a whitening
look of mingled contempt and indigna-
tion. "Wretched man." she cried,
''how can you speak such ruffian words
of the noble dead? Can you not see
him hide his head from the shades of
his comrade heroes, Inundated by the
perfidy of the brother whom his love
and generosity strove in vain to make
a gentleman? Oh, unhappy migrate,
spare from your Decorating hatred
that sacred spot where sleeps your
benefactor, whose narrow bed beneath
the sod shines with a light the black
darkness of your heart will never
know"
Then you do not deny that your
love lies dead in that same hallowed
grave" persisted Evariste writhing
under the denunciation. and you seek
TO play against me Horace dead as you
did Horace living"
Monsieur" she cried, do you dare
Eyes" he interrupted insolently, II
dare anything now. You have made
me desperate. decline to accept this
answer as final l will come this day
next week Tor another Dare Yes,
will dare to come again, and | will dare
meanwhile to make such provision that
you will not then dare say me no
again"
do not return"
81 Will"
ut VIII be useless"
1--WE shall see"
81 will not receive you"
"You shall"
Blind with rage, he dashed furiously
up the bayou road and across the
swamp to Dede's cabaret to inform
waiting Quillebert Of his rebuff.
Estelle few to her priedieu and fell
upon Der knees. In anguish she prayed
for strength to bear her through the
approaching ordeal. Rising, she stood
moment gazing into the sky of cloud
less blue and murmured softly:
REST, my Horace. My love shall
wake only with you. Remember the
vow l made when they told me you
were dead, That VOW shall not be
Broken"