The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1903-10-14

E4D way, though, I'm spite of him
self, his heart exulted In the nobility
of the Il "Look, you beggarly Irish
man." he exclaimed, turning the sur
prlsed young man about before he
could recover himself. Look on the
picture of her whom you reject! Gaze
upon 1t! III you love her, say whether
or no your high flown sentiments of
honor can stand against that pros
pect." 1t was his final appeal, win or
lose. He had staked all upon the throw.
There in the great frame stood the
most beautiful picture that the eyes OF
either man had ver seen. Elizabeth
was standing. One tiny hand clutched
tightly her heaving bosom; the other
arm was stretched out with appraised
palm like a goddess I'm command. The
light of the nickering candles cast sub
tie shadows upon her face. The dusk
Of the room intensified the illusion and
s~piritualized her beauty. O'Neill look
rd at her with all his life In his gaze.
SO glorious, so splendid, so perfect q
creature would shake the very soul OF
honor itself!
The admiral had played his last card.
This was the end Of his resource, and
he watched the Irishman with all the
intensity OF n tiger about to spring on
It's 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 glances OF the two men ar
rested her step. She waited, one little
foot outstrctchcd, her body leaning
forward slightly, a picture Of triumph,
her eyes rs two lambcnt flames playing
upon her lover. He watched her In
awcstruck silence, sank on his knees,
stretched out his arms, %murmuring
softly:
"Thou knowest that I lovo theel 1
have dreamed sometimes that In hap
pier days thou highest have given me
thy heart, but I could not take 1t with a
bar sinister Of shame between us!
No Was she moving? Was that
some trick OF the wavering light?
Good heavcns!" cried O'Neill fear
fully, rising. "See-is 1t a spirit? She
shakes her headi Look you, my lord,
she is alive. The picture fell last
night, o remember TITS herself!
Sou hNNS htuIu
and s~een-havc 1 not decided wellf"
"IIow dare You, my lordv' exclaimed
the girl, coming down from the dais
and stepping swiftly toward the aston
ishcd admiral, who shrank back from
her. "How dare you make my hand
the reward Of %treachery, my person the
bait for dishonor? And by what right
do you dispose Of me without consult
Ing me2 Am / n slave, that you forge
me upo this gentleman? My word Is
given to your son; you yourself insisted
upon 1t. You would play tho traitor
double and would fnin make him do
the same. And for what2 To compass
the death Of n poor man to whom /
w life n honor, who Is only fight
Ing for what he calls his freedom!
Shame upon your gray hairs, sirl Oh,
the Insult to my modesty, to be thus
banded about between two men And
you, STRIP she cried IN tempestuous
passion, turning to O'Neill. "You do
me the honor to refuse me-to reject
Observation-Disclosures Howard-look
at me-you would have none Of me-
"My honor cried O'Neill, amazed
at her sudden change and inconsistent.
cy.
"Your honor. Have I any honor, sir2
Would you have left me n shadow of
it between you? Stand back, sir! My
lord, is 1t thus you discharge the trust
committed to you by my mother-to
give this gentleman Qpportunity to re.
turn to France and say that he hos re-
fused my hand?"
"He shall not 90 back to France,
Lady Elizabeth" said the admiral
stcrnly.
"Why not, prnyI' asked Elizabeth,
faltcrtng, her passionate anger check
cd by the admiral's wore aud look.
because he shall be tried and hang
cd tomorrow as an American spy or q
captured traitor, whichever lie may
elect"
She stood as If petrifed at these
cruel words.
at is right, sir" said O'Ncill. 81
submit, and II you would make me die
happy sny that the hideous proposition
i have had from you was but the test
of INK honor"
"Oh, sir" cried Elizabeth In agony,
throwing herself upon her knees be-
fore the admiral, forgive me for my
wild, Incorporate speech! 1 know not
wfiat l say. You have been a father
to me from the beginning, and 1 have
cvcr loved you MS one! 1 have tursed
TO you for everything. Unsny your
cruel words! Rctract this order! You
cannot condemn this honest gentle
man! Dispose of me as you will. 1
love hlm-I love him-aye, let the
truth be heard-cven for Ills rejection
OF me! Nay, had he not done so 1
would have hated linn! Spare his life!
l Will marry Edward, do anything you
wish! Grant nc this boon!"
81 cannot" said the admiral slowly.
IL pity you, from my soul 1 do, and
him as well, but dare not. There is
but one thing that would excuse my
clemency to his majesty-there Is the
alternative he has nobly rejected. Die
he must or give up his captainv'
"a thousand deaths rather than
that" answered O'Neill. "Rise, Lady
Elizabeth; your appeal is vain. Re-
joicing I'm your approval of my action,
thankful to God that 1 have heard you
say, L love you,' 1 shall die happy"
"No, nor said the girl, spreading her
arms protectIngly before him and then
throwing herself upon his breast, "you
cannot die-you shall not die! oh, my
love, my love, 1 knew not until I heard