Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-10-29
CHAPTER XXI-Continued.

CHAPTER XXI-Continued.
And now," she said, what do you
want Of me?"
what do l want Of you?" repeated
ST. John, his eyes beginning to hasn
\sngrily. Really, after our long part
ing, this is hardly the greeting ex-
neeted from you, Paulette. Is there
can there be any truth in the abomina-
BILE rumor 1 heard from Megrim-that
YOU have a lover here at Hazel Hail.!
Her hands worked. Her face II pos
sibIe grew paler still, but she did not
answer. The old-time jealousy hameo
darkly into his face.
why do you not speak?' he cr1eo'
seizing upon her roughly. is 1t true Oh
false?"
She could not bear his touch-she
tore away. -,
Guy, tell you 1 thought you dead"
she answered.
Yes; you mentioned, also that tne
news reached you few weeks ago. Ano
already YOU have a lover-he who was
with YOU here in this very place to-
night. Truly, mine was an inconsola-
BILE widow!"
Her stony anguish suddenly gave
way. She stamped passionately upon
the floor Of the pavilion.
"I never loved you, Guy!" she cried.
.I recognized you as my master-l
feared, but 1 did not love you!"
And you looked on my DEATH no
doubt with great relief-you were
only too glad to be free. I saw that
man with you tonight saw the looks
he gave you'll could hardly Keep my
hands off his throat"
The same st. John as OF old. Paulette
felt her heart sink like lead within her'
DO not speak Of him." she crieo'
with a gesture Of intolerable pain.
What would you do-what do you want
of me? Let us talk only of ourselves.
Agreed; but first must understand
Won clearly. / mistook matters once In
the case of Varneck, and that blunder
was sufficient for lifetime. l ask you
frankly, do you love this Arthur
Guilte?"
"Yes" she answered. Il love him."
He had not expected so honest con-
fession. An oath fell from his lips.
You are candid, at least" he said'
bitterly. You like him! Then you
cannot feel particularly tender toward
me. 1t would have been better, per-
haps, had 1 remained away altogether,
and left you undisturbed to your nne
Philander. Your lines, of late, seem TO
have been cast in pleasant places. IL
seems to have been a fortunate day for
you when your poor devil OF huspano
left you to yourself"
You told me to forget you" she cried.
you forbade me ever to think Of you
more, and obeyed you."
He WINGED.
True. But l was mad with jeal-
ousy. You must have known, even
then, that did not mean a word OF 1t.
81 knew nothing of the kind" she
answered. You deserted me-you left
me to die-and l should have died In
yerv truth, had it not been for General
Guilte."
DO not tell you repent the past?'
cried st. John. Look at me. l nave
been casting forlorn about the world
for years, but you are lovelier than
ever. You have been petted and hap
py. Well, that is all as it should be;
but would to heaven my love, Paulette,
had died at our parting! 1t did not
however, though tried hard to kill 1t.
1t lives! 1 love you tonight more fer
vently than ever before. 1 love you
yes, and by the heavens above us, you
are mine!"
This last in wild exultation, advanc-
ing toward her again with hurried pas
sion.
Don't touch mel" she cried, her dis
heveled hair sweeping back from her
stricken face, her hands flung out be-
fore her. You love me still? Oh, no,
no! You cannot mean it,"
Il love you!" he repeated, chafing
savagely, "and these Guiltes have no
part nor parcel in you. 1t is time our
secret was known-high time, seei for
me to claim you as my wife. Sorry as
! am to say it, you seem to have been
with these people too long already. You
must leave them now, Paulette, and
come with me-"
She looked him full in his burning
eyes.
Il would die sooner!" she said, fatty.
There was a moment of ominous ST.
lence. The rain began to patter on the
top of the pavilion.
BE careful how you provoke me,
Paulette," said st. John, through his
teeth. There's a limit to human pa
tience, and / have almost reached it.
You are my wife, and I love you, and
l will have you! Why should 1 not
go up yonder and arouse the house, and
make known the truth this very hour,
both to that old man and his heir? AS
we'll now as any time"
He maze as IL 10 SIrlQe past Hel.
With a cry Of terror, she flung herself
before him.
Guy! Guy! Oh, for the love of God,
no, no, Give me time to think. You
have no proofs. The certificate Of our
marriage 1 destroyed with my own
hands will deny it all-everything."
He looked down on her in dark tri-
umph.
will you, indeed? I admire your
pluck, but your judgment is at fault.
Megrim lives-the Cambridge clergy
man lives. l think l shall find them
proof sufficient in establishing my claim
to you"
Il will throw myself on the generals
mercy" said Paulette, wildly. He will
protect and save me from you. Oh,
why did you come back?-why did you
come here?"
when you were happy with Arthur
Guilte!" he added, bitterly. Because I
supposed with one husband still living,
you would not care to marry another.
For this spasm of morality I do not