Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-09-10
By Eta w. PIERCE.

lSpare-tnaC d CIidliCc ihS siiiS iAi'oA-
never fall to him again. He put on
hurried and determined front.
'T think" he cried, "a man has tht
right to tell a woman he loves her, nc
matter what her answer may be!
think she is bound to hear him. Ane
II love you, Paulette, and I am in deae
earnest about it. For weeks I've beer
waiting only for q chance to ask yor
to marry me-"
Her dull ear took in hardly wore
of TINS appeal. Half fainting again
she fell back on the sofa, repelling hin
with a gesture.
He recoiled a pace, growing pale
He was a man who did not know how
to take mo- for an answer when his
heart demanded "yes." Moreover, the
mad, unreasoning love Of early youtf
goaded him on. With a great cry ne
cast himself beside her; his arms clos
ed suddenly around her. He dragged
her up to him and pressed her to his
breast in spite of all resistance.
"You shall answer mel" he cried
"Paulette, do you understand me
Alright? 1 love you, repeat! Have
you no pity for mS when I say thati
I love you-yes, so well that I cannot
live without you. Do not ask me te
leave you. I cannot! Love for love!
Paulette, love me-love me as I love
you!"
These words, loud and passionate In
varneck's voice-Varneck! there-un-
der that roof holding the while, too
the childish figure pressed against his
breast, her yellow hair falling over his
flushed face, her iirap and lifeless body
seeming to yield to his close embrace
"Gardez bien, moasieur!" screamed
the old Frenchwoman.
At that shrill cry Of danger and
warning, varneck turned. He heard
footstep, he saw slanting shadow
and on the threshold Of the room
staring in upon the scene, pale and
with greedy, blood-shot eyes that flash
ed hell-fre, stood st. John.
He stood-he took in slowly, deli
berately, the kneeling lover, the Ian
guild form his arms encircled. Then
his hand flashed quickly up to his
breast.
Mon Dieu!" shrieked the old
Frenchwoman, ely! He will kill you'll"
Then there was flash, a report, a
cry, and Serle Varneck leaped to his
feet, staggered and fell face down to
the floor.
From her fatal swoon Paulette at
this moment awoke-stung into sud-
den, quivering life again, as by an elec-
trio shock She sprang up colorless,
disheveled, with that murderous shot
ringing through her ears, and stood
face to face with st. John.
"Guy!" she shrieked in a voice OF
unutterable horror. ooh, Guy! what
have you done?"
Never needing her, never looking at
her, even, he ran and lifted Varneck
from the carpet-turned him over to
the light.
Tve killed him." he cried, and
again, for the second time, and with
dreadful look. HE is dead-rve
killed him!"
He spurned the body with his foot.
Guy! Guy! Guy!" she cried, and
rushed toward him. but he flung her
violently off.
FAREWELL" he answered, wildly
"thera Is your lover-take him! Fare
we'll. Iraitress! From this moment
you are free! Forget that ever lived!
AS God hears me, I will never again
look on your face-you shall never
look on mine!"
Guy! oh, Guy!"
With a look that distorted his feat
ures beyond recognition, he thrust
her away. He turned and fed out OF
the house and into the street.
Come back!" she cried, cropping af-
ter him-"Come back"
She talked to a man mad with the
maddest of earthly passions; she talk
ed to a fugitive stung now by the in
stinct of preservation; she talked
to empty air, for st. John was gone.
"Ah! great heaven! the police are
coming, mademoisellel" cried Megrim
Strange feet ascended the steps
strange faces appeared at the door. She
stood for a moment like some hunted
wild creature, her dark eyes dilating
in unutterable horror, this little bride
of four short, troubled days; then a
sudden darkness and pain and confu-
sion laid a merciful touch upon her
and she fell, and knew no more.