The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1910-01-30

treaty regarding Oregon torn in two
and you gone nun all a-sudden.'
Yes. my lord, it is torn in two.
The consideration moving to it was
not valid. But now | wish you to
amend the treaty once more, and
for a consideration valid in every
way. My lord, | promised that
which was not mine to give-my-
self! Did you lay hand on me
now, | should die. If you kissed
me, | should kill you and myself!
AS you say, | took yOnder price,
the devils shilling. Did | go on, |
would be enlisting for the damna-
ton of my soul; but | will not go
on. | recant,"
But. good God. woman, what
are you asking now? DO you want
me to let you have this paper any
how. to show old John Calhoun?
I'm no such ass as that. | apollo
gize for what I've said about you.
I'll be your friend, because | can't
let you go But as to this paper
here, I'll put it my pocket
My lord, you will do nothing of
the kind. Before you leave this
room there shall be two miracles
done. You shall admit that one
has gone on in me: | shall see that
you yourself have done another"
What guessing game do you pro
pose. MADAME" he sneered. He
seemed to toss the torn paper on
the table, none the less. The con
dition is forfeited he began.
mo, it is not forfeited except by
your own word, my lord" rejoined
the same even, icy voice. You
shall see now the first miracle"
Under duress?' he sneered
again.
Yes. then. Under duress of
what has not often come to sur
face in you, Sir Richard. | ask you
to do truth, and not treason, my
lord, She who was Helena Won
Ritz is dead-has passed away
There can be no question of fer
felt between you and her. Look
my lord'"
heard a half sob from him. |
heard a faint rustling of silks and
laces. Still her even, icy voice
went on.
Rise. now, Sir Richard" she
said. "Unfasten my girdle, if YOU
like, Undo my clasps, if you can.
You say YOU know my past. Tell
me. do you see me now? ungird
me, Sir Richard. Look at me,
Covet me, Take me-"
Apparently he half rose, shuffled
toward her, and stopped with a
stifled sound, half sob, half a
growl.
dared not picture to myself
what he must have seen as she
stood fronting him, her hands, as |
imagined at her bosom, tearing
back her robes.
Again l heard her voice go on,
challenging him. Strip me now,
Sir Richard. if you can, Take now
what you bought, if you find it
here. You can not? You do not?
All, then tell me that miracle has
been done, She who was Helena
Won Ritz. as YOU knew her, or as
YOU thought you knew her, is not
here
Now fell long silence. | could
hear the breathing of them Doth,
where I stood in the farther cor
ner of my room. ] had dropped
both the derringers back in my
rockets now, because ] knew there
would be no need for them. Her
voice was softer as she went on.
Tell me, Sir Richard, has not
that miracle been done?' she de-
manded. Might not in great
stress that thief upon the cross
have been woman? Tell me, Sir
Richard, am I not clean
He flung his body into a seat, his
arm across the table. ! heard his
groan.
God! Woman, What are you?'
lie exclaimed. Clean? BY God.
yes. as a lily. wish | were half
as white myself"
"Sir Richard, did you ever love
woman?'
One other. besides yourself
long ago.
May not we two ask that other
miracle of yourself?'
How do you mean? You have
beaten me already
"Why, then. this, If / could keep
my promise, | would. If | could
give you myself, would. Failing
that, | may give you gratitude. Sir
Richard, | would give you graft
tude, did you restore this treaty as
II was, for that new consideration.
Come, now, these savages here are
the same savages who once took
that little island for you yonder.
Twice they have defeated you. Do
you wish a third war? You say
England wishes slavery abolished.
AS you know. Texas is wholly lost
| TO England The armies of Amer
lea have swept Texas from your
reach forever. even at this hour
But If you give new state in
the north to these same savages
you go so far against oppression,
against slavery-you do that much
for the doctrine of England, and
her altruism In the world. Sir
Richard, never did ] believe in hard
| bargains, and never did any great
soul believe In such. / own to you