The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-09-22

him; a look whether of fear or some
hidden aguish ] could not determine,
only l know that instinctively shrank
when ne warmly shook my hand.
Imagine my unutterable amazement
when, on my going to my boudoir after
dinner that evening, the Countess said
to me. in a trembling voice:
MY dear Miss Tremayne, the strang-
est thing has happened. My boy, my
dear and only son, who till now has
never looked twice at any woman has
fallen passionately in love with you"
with me?'' | cried; why, he has
only seen me for five minutes
II know, l know she answered;
''but he has one of those natures which
are on fire in a moment. Miss Ire
mayne.''-her voice grew extraordinar-
lily grave and earnest-"I beseech you
to consider whether you could not
make my dear boy happy by becoming
his wife,
Il gasped, and with difficulty re-
Piled:
But II am only a companion; how
could such a thing be possible: And
i do not love him. In England"
Il know she interrupted, Il under
stand that it is not your custom to WOO
in such haste, but" her voice shook
with excitement, 81 long for my sons
happiness
| was too stupefied to think clearly.
| only realized that, for some reason
impossible to understand, she actually
wished that I. penniless. dependent,
should marry her son.
But" | stammered ''the Count in
his position could marry anyone-the
highest born lady, the
Yes, of course he could" she an
swered, and l suddenly saw an odd fur
happiness she seized and wrung
my hand 1T is you who can give
him that
She then proceeded to tell me of all
the advantages I should reap by be-
coming her daughter-in-law. She
mentioned settlements which positively
made my hair stand on end. She talk
ed of jewels that set my heart beating.
She spread an alluring prospect before
member. The prospect was suffi-
GENTLY dazzling.
Yeti remembered the odd shrink
ing with which the Count had inspired
me, | knew that | did not even like
much less love him, and | refused the
wonderful offer.
AS said the words an extraordinary
gleam came into her eyes: she leant
over me. and again wrung my hands
in grasp that was actual torture, and
in a whisper closely resembling a hiss
she murmured:
"Ah, but you shall marry him.
Il shall not marry him. I answered
firmly. and then she laughed softly a
laugh that made my blood run cold.
I was a prisoner at the castle.
knew i'll felt it. though no one had
told me So For where in the first
week l was free to wander on the
mountain side as I would. l was now
never allowed to stir outside the gar
den. My way further afield was al
ways barred by the sullen porter or
one of the other men. and 1 felt that a
dull persistent pressure was being ap-
piled to me make me agree TO mary
the Count.
An unaccountable but intense dis
like to conside even the possibility
of such a thing grew upon me. Every
day I felt more and more like a Gagged
animal. Another fact was borne upon
me. / was not allowed to be for a
second alone with the secretary.
Whether the countess had become
aware of the warning he had given
me, or what, cannot say. All | know
is that he and | We're never able to
exchange single syllable of CONVEX
sation, although | instinctively felt
that he wished to communicate with
me. | was watched-watched in ev-
cry direction and why this should be
so | could not imagine.
Each morning | was forced to listen
to pleadings, beseechings, almost
threats from the countess: each after