Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1906-12-18

y w
stand there listening. have come t(
you ut once, boldly, because I'm sure
that / shall win. He is not worthy Of
you-ln your heart you know that also
He cannot hold you; he is too weak;
shall wrench you away! You're moi
the woman to be tied to gilded
mediocrlty."
She had been leaning away from him
staring into the fire, as though charmed
into silence by this impetuous elO
quence Now she stood erect and look
ed at him.
"What you are proposing to me is In
famous" she said through clinchet
teeth.
ut is not In the least Infamous" ht
retorted coolly. Il am Offering you tn,
future l know you sigh for. 1t Is {
future that sigh for, too; that have
sighed for from the first moment
saw you. and which l am going t.
make come true. Together we vii
conquer the world. AS my wife,
"Your wife?" There was scOrn, m
ger, fear In the words and In the glance
she cast ut him.
"Certainly-my wife," he repeated
with emphasis. III should prove to
YOU
She stopped him by an imperative
gesture.
"You 20 too far" she said. There
Is a limit to what even I will endure
Do not push me too far. Do not rely
too much upon my fOrbearance. a
man capable Of any crime
He held her by the motion Of a
finger.
"Is Il man who appeals to YOU" he
concluded.
You strangely mistake me-" she
said in a cold voice. You are reading
your own nature into me. l would
ask no man to commit a crime for my
sake. should abhor the man who
did"
He did not answer, but stood looking
at her with a gaze which seemed to
envelop her, to pierce her through and
through. Drysdale felt the perspira-
ton start across his forehead. lie
wished to cry out, but could not
A door at the farther end Of the hall
opened, and Delroy came in. The
bonds loosened, and Drysdale fed back
to his room. He needed to compose
himself. After dinner he ut once
sought Grace.
Grace" he said gently, "as was
coming down to dinner tonight hap
pened to see you and Tremaine stand
ing here together, and, without intend
ing to, l overheard sentence which
stopped me up there at the turn Of the
STAIR"
She turned away from him, and her
arms dropped wearily by her sides.
"Your proper course is to inform
Delroy," he continued doggedly, brav-
Ing the certainty Of offending her. "Or,
better still, will, and then kick that
scoundrel out. Why did you permit
him to talk 10 you the way lie did:'
II can't tell you," she answered
hoarsely.
But have right to know"
"Yes, l suppose you have. Why not
break 1t OF! Then you wont need to
worry about me any more
He started from his chair ut the
words. but controlled himself and sat
down again.
"Do you mean that you want to
break 1t off," lie demanded In quiver-
ing voice. do you mean that you can
possibly care for that
She turned upon him with blazing
eyes.
"Do you insult me tOo?"
For an instant he sat motionless rs
stone. Then lie fell ut her knees and
caught her hands and covered them
with kisses.
Listen" she said, bending over him.
instantly moved, instantly tender.
"YOu told me last night that you trust
ed me-"
"I do with my whole soul"
"And Kate, the queen, needs you, as
she said she would. Only must have
time to think, to straighten out the
tangle. Tomorrow / will tell yOu-to-
morrow night-till them
He seized her and drew her down to
him and kissed her Oh the lips.
1--WE never doubted you," he said.
"And I'll fight the battle Of my life be-
fore give you up"
At the farther end Of the hall a door
closed very. very softly.