The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-07-11

rou viii De pleased to withdraw
yourself, sir, and let me 60. My heart
is broken"
She spoke with forced calmness, but
there was a tremor In her tone that
cast doubt on het former assertion re-
garding the tears.
Your heart is not broken, and IL lie
was I'd mend it for you. Absurd!
Why, you knew the man for scarce q
day, and that time is full short for the
growth Of any large affection"
II shall never love any as have
loved him."
"Tush! How little you know of your
self You are very goddess Of love,
and will
He released one wrist and endeavor-
ed to slip his disengaged arm about her
waist. This seemed to rouse the girl
from her stupor, for she suddenly
thrust him back and, taking him I'M
aware, sent him sprawling; then she
sprang for the door. But he was as
nimble as she, for, quickly recovering
himself. he held her tight before she
could turn the key.
"Sir, you forget who am. Release
me at once and modest me no further"
"Divinest of the fair, / swear to
you
She whisked herself free of him, and,
darting to the other side of the room,
whipped down thin rapier from the
wall.
You will be well advised to put an
end to this fooling. am now in no hui
NOR for it, and with you-never. If you
have not the gift to see it. would
have you know that I detest you and
despise you, and have done so since
first l saw you"
"Ah, my little Lady Termagant, You
say as much now, but when the world
knows you paid Thousands pounds for
a lover there will be many envious per-
sons who wish to be despiseds as
much"
you rufian and thief! Well, did
Vollins estimate your honesty. But
stand aside from that door or your
stealing will profit you little"
Indeed" cried De Courcy. with q
laugh, as he possessed himself Of q,
similar weapon to that which threat
and / am in sore need Of further In
stallment. Are you for duel, then?"
IF you are coward enough to- lift
blade to woman"
II meet kiss with kiss and steel with
steel, always ready for either. Guard
yourself. madam"
His pretended antagonism was but
a feint to throw her Off the guard. he
advised her to maintain, for. being one
of the best swordsmen OF his time, he
knew by her holding of the blade, that
she was ignorant Of its practice. He
brushed her sword aside, dropped his
own and sprang in upon her, grasping,
again her helpless wrists, her arms:
pinioned thus transversely across her
body, her right hand still clinging. to
the useless hilt, with the blade extend
ing past her shoulder and behind her..
His sneering, grinning face SO close to.
hers that his breath famed her cheek.
he pressed her back and back against
the wall, the sword bending and bend
ing behind her until the blade snapped
off some six inches from the hilt and
fell ringing to the floor.
There, sweetest of amazons, you
are stingless now, and naught but the,
honey is to be gathered"
The very ease with which he had
overcome her hoodwinked him to his
danger. The proud, dominant blood OF
the Wentworths flushed her face with.
an anger that steeled every nerve, i'm
her 1.-THE body. AS, with q victorious.
laugh. he released her wrists and slip
ped his arms around her she struck
him twice with lightning swiftness,.
first across the brow, then down the
face. Nothing could well be more ter
rible than the weapon she had used,
for the jagged iron tore his flesh like
the stroke OF tigers claw. The red
cross showed for brief moment, then
was obliterated in crimson food.
"Cowardly poitroon, wear the brand
of Cainw
CONTINUED Tomorrow