Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-08-06

arm was stretched OUT with appraised
palm like n goddess in command. The
light of the nickcring candles cast sub
tie shadows upon her face. The dusk
of tho room intensified the illusion and
spirituaiizcd her beauty. O'Ncill look
cd ut her with all his life in his gazc.
So glorious. 50 splendid. so perfect n
creature would Shake the very soul Of
honor itself,
The admiral had played his last cnrd.
This was the end Of his resource. and
he watched the Irishman with all the
intensity Of Il tiger about to spring on
its prey. The moments fed. He knew
that he had lost. Elizabeth had risen
In the stress of her anxiety. The strain
had been too much for her. she had
been about to intervene between them
when the chances of the two men ar
rested her stop. She waited. one little
foo oltstrctched. her body leaning
forward slightly. a picture Of triumph.
her yes rs two lambcnt flames playing
upon her lover. He watched her in
awcstrlck silence. sank on his knees.
stretched out his arms, murmuring
softly:
Thou knowest that 7 love thoc. |
have drca med sometimes that in han
pier days thou highest have given me
thy heart. but | could not take II with a
bar sinister Of shame between us!
No Was she moving? Was that
some trick OF the wavoring light?
GOOD heavens cried O'Neill fear
fully. rising. 'Sce-is it a spirit? She
shakes her head. Look YOU. my lord.
she is alive. The picture fell last
night, you remember IT'S herself,
Elizabeth. Elizabeth, you have heard
and ~sccn-have | not decided wcll:"
How dare vou, my lord" exclaimed
the girl. coming down from the dais
and stepping swiftly toward the aston
ishcd admiral. who ShrInk back from
her. "iIow dare you make my hand
the reward OF troachery. my person the
bait for diShonor! And by what right
do You dispose of mo without consult
ing me? Am I n slave. that you force
mo upon this geutlcmanf My word is
given to your son you yourself insisted
upon il. You would play the traitor
double and would fain make him do
the same. And for what? To compass
the death of one poor man 10 whom |
owe life and honor. who is only fight
ing for what he calls his freedom,
shame upon our gray hairs. sir. Oh,
the insult 70 my modosty. to be thus
banded about between two mon And
YOU. Sir..' she cried in tcmpcStuous
passion. turning to O'Noill. "You do
Inc the honor to refuse me-tO reject
mo-mc-me- Eliza beth Howard-look
at mo You would have rome Of me-
MY honor cried O'Neill. amazed
at her sudden change and inconsistent
y.
Your honor. Have I any honor. sir:
Would you have left mo Il shadow Of
it between you: stand back. sir. My
lord. is it thus you discharge the trust
committed to you by my mother-to
give This gentleman opportunity to re
turn to France and say that he has re-
fused my hand;"
He shall not 90 back to France.
Lady Elizabeth" said the admiral
sternly.
"Why not, pray?" asked Elizabeth,
ldll"lln@. hSF passionate anger check
cd ly the admiralS word &"i look.
"Bccausc lie shall he tried and hang
ed tomorrow aS an American spy or a
captured traitor, whichever he may
clcct.'
She stood as if potridcd ut these
cruel words.
1T is right. sir" said O'Ncill. 81
submit. and if You would make ne die
| happy say that tie hidcous proposition
nave had from YOU was but the test
of my honor"
"Oh. sir" cried Elizabeth in agony
tIroviny herself ui.,n her tre.s no.
fore rho admiral .forofya mo- for my
wild. i-ntoDnerutn sun,ch, know nor
vho, say Van Lov. hoan a fotb.r
10 me from th. hasinuing and havo
ovor loved vou 81. ono, l,ve turned
70 Won for ovory+bfng Tns,v vour
crual words, p.tr..t mis- ord.r, Won
,,uno+ cord,uu tti. horos. .,ar,l.
uou, Disno,n ~ mao os Won Gin T
lovo bi,u-I lovo him ava lot +ho
truth ho hoard ay.n for Ills roio.,ian
of mo, \.v hod bo ma, doro I
would bovo ho,.d him, Sr,,o hts TEA,
win ,r, L,1u..rI do aurthiru w.,
wish, f,,n, ,,o ,hi. ho,r":
.1 cou,,, said IN, ,dr,iroi s,ou.,r
81 rit,. ,o, ,rn,n NV souI do am"j
hin, v,u h,,, lava not rh.,o =,
I'm, ono him, th.t would ovc,.o NV