Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-03-17


rejecting the danciTg flames. spsrkled
like rubies.
He saw the birth OF horror in the
elders eyes. saw "a grow and grow
He saw the cOlonel's lips move spas
medically. but utter no sound. What
was Il ne saw over his (the count's)
shoulders and beyond? Instinctively he
turned. and what he saw chilled the
heat OF his blood.
There stood the girl. her white dress
marble-white against the dark wine
Of the portiere. an edge Of which one
hand clutched convulsively. Was it
Medusas beauty or her magic that
turned men into stone? Ny recollec-
ton is at fault. At any rate. so long
as she remained motionless. neither
man had the power to stir. She held
herself perfectly erect: every fiber in
her young body was tense. Her beauty
became weirdly powerful. masked as Il
was with horror. doubt. shame. and re-
proach. She had heard. little or much
was Of no consequence. IN the heat
or their variant passions. the mems
voices had risen 20 a pitch that pene-
trated beyond the room.
Karlod was the first 10 recover. and
he took an involuntary step toward
her: but she waved him back disdain-
fully.
do not come near me. loathe
youi" The voice was low. but every
note was strained and unmusical
He WINGED. His face could not have
stung or burned more holly had she
struck him with her hand.
"NIademoisellel"
She ignored him. Father, what
does this mean7''
Agony" The colonel fell back into
his chair, pressing his hands over his
eyes.
Il will tell you what II meansi"
cried Karlof. a rage possessing him.
He had made a mistake He had mis-
judged both the father and the child.
He could force her into his arms. but
he would always carry a burden OF
hate. TT means that this night you
! stand ia the presence OF a dishonored
parent. a man who has squandered
your inheritance over gambling tables.
and who. to recover these misused
sums has sold 20 me the principal for
! ufcaton plans OF his country. That is
what Il means. Mademoiselle."
She grasped the portiore for support
Father is this thing true?" Her
voice fell 20 a terror-stricken whisper
"Oh. it is true enough" said Karloff.
God knows that 70 is true enough.
But Il rests with YOU 20 save him.
| Become my wife. and yonder fire shall
/ swallow his dishonor-and mine. Re
fuse. and I shall expose him. After
all. love Is a primitive state. and with
Il we 20 back 10 the beginning; before
II honor or dishonor is nothing To-
night there Is nothing. nothing In the
world save my love for you. and the
. chance that has given me the power 10
| force you 20 be mine What a fury
and tempest love producesl II makes
an honorable man OF the knave n
| rascal 81 the man OF honor: 70 has top
pied thrones. destroyed nations. oblit-
| Grated races Well, I have become
a rascal. MademoiselIe. you must be-
/ come my wife" He lifted his hand
some head resolutely.
without giving him so much as a
| glance she swept past him and sank
on her knees at her fathers side. tax
ing his hands by the wrists and press
ing them down from HIS face
Father. tell him he lies. Tell him
he lies" All the entreaty. the love.
the anxiety. the terror that blended
her tones,
He strove TO look away.
Father, you are all have" she
cried brokenly Look at mel Look
at me and tell him that he lies,
You will not look at me? God have
mercy on me. II is true them" She
rose and spread her arms toward
heaven 10 entreat God 10 witness her
despair. Il did not think or know that
such base things were done That
these loving hands should have helped
Ito encompass my fathers dishonor.
his degradation For money!!
What is money? You knew, father,
that what was mine was likewise
yours. Why did you not tell me? l
fshould have laughed; we should have
begun all over again; / could have
earned living with my music; we
lshould have been honest and happy.
And now. And 1 drew those
plans with a heart full OF love and hap
piness. Oh, IL Is not that you gambled.
that you have foolishly wasted a
fortune; IL s. not these that hurt
here, pressing her heart. 1T is the
knowledge that you, my father, should
let me draw those horrible things. II
hurts! All how It hurtsl" A sob
fchoked her. She knelt again at her
parents side and flung her arms around
the unhappy. wretched man. Father
you have committed a crime to shield
a foolish act | know, know What
you have done you did for my sake
to give me back what you thought
was my own. Oh. how well know
that you had no thought of yourself;
1t was all for me. and thank God for
that. But something has died here
something here in my heart. have