Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1906-09-05

his neither lip. Only the table stood
! between them.
That term or another. II does not
matter The fact remains that you
have sold to me the fertilization plans
of your country; and though II be in
times OF peace, you are none the less
guilty and culpable. Your daughter
! shall be my wife
Il had rather strange her with these
hands. "-passionetely.
We'll. why should I not have her
for my wife? Who loves her more
than |? am rich; from hour TO hour,
from day to day. what shall | not plan
to make her happy? | love her with
all the fire and violence Of my race and
blood. I can not help It. will not.
can not live without her, Good God.
yes. recognize the villiany OF my ac-
ton. But / am mad tonight"
so | perceive" The colonel gazed
wildly about the walls for a weapon.
There was not even the usual orna-
mental dagger
window again stirred mysteriously.
A few drops of rain splashed on the
glass and zigZagged down to the sash.
Sooner or later your daughter must
know. Request her presence. II rests
with her, not with you. as TO what
course | must follow" KarlofI was ex-
traordinarily Tale. and his dark eyes
rejecting the dancing flames, sparkled
like rubies.
He saw the birth OF horror In the
elders eyes. saw II grow and grow.
He saw the colonel's lirs move spas
medically, but utter no sound. What
was II he saw over his (the count's)
shoulders and beyond? instinctivcly he
turned and what he saw chilled the
beat Of his blood
There stood the girl, her white dress
marble-wEte against the dark wine
OF the portiere. an edge OF which one
hand clutched convulsivcly. Was II
Medusa's beauty or her magic that
turned men into stone? My recollec-
ton is at fault. At any rate. so long
as she remained motionloss. neither
man had the power 20 stir. She hcsd
herself perfectly erect: every fiber in
her young body was tense Her beauty
became woirdly 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
of their variant passions. the mems
voices had risen TO a pitch that pene-
trated beyond the room
Karlof was the first to recover. and
he took an involuntary step toward
her; but she waved him back disdain-
fully.
DO not come near me. loathe
you" 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
"Mademoselle,"
She ignored him. Father. what
does this mean?"
Agony" The colonel fell back into
his chair. pressing his hands over his
eyes
Il will tell you what 1t means!"
cried karloff, 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
ne would always carry n burden of
hate. 1T means that this night you
stand I'm 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 to me the principal for
tficaton plans of his country That is
what II means. Mademoselle."
She grasped the portiere for support
FDf hcr Il.
voice fell to a terror whisper.
oh. IL is true enough" said Karlof
God knows that 1t is true enough.
But it rests with you to save him.
Become my wife. and yonder fire shall
swallow his dishOnor-and mine Re-
fuse. and | shall expose him After
all, love is primitive state and with
II We 20 back 20 the beginning: before
1t honor or dishOnOr is nothing. To-
hight there is nothing. nothing in the
world save my love for you. and the
chance that has given me the power TO
force you to be mine. What a fury
and a tempest love produces, II makes
an honorable man Of the knave.
rascal Of the man Of honor: IL has tor
pied thrones, destroyed nations. oblit-
Grated races . We'll, / have become
a rascal Mademoisc1le You must be-
come my wife" He lifted his hand
some head resolutely.
without giving him so much a. q
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. Tel him
he lies," An. the entreaty. the love.
the anxiety. the terror that blended
her tones,
he strovc 10 look away.
Father you are all have" she
cried broacnly. Look at me, Loo
at mo and ten him that he lice.
You viii not look at me? God have
mercy on me. it ig true them" She
rose and spread her arms toward