Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1911-10-06

you know my past. Tell me- do you
see me now? Ungfrd me, Sir Rich
ard! Look at me! Covet me! Take
mel"
Apparently he half rose, shuf1ed
toward her and stopped with a stifed
sound, half sob, half growl.
l dared not picture to myself what
he must have seen as she stood front
ing him, her hands, as I imagined, at
her bosom, tearing back her robes
Again I heard her voice go on, chal-
longing him. strip me now, Sir
Richard, if you can! Take now what
you bought, if you find it here. You
cannot? 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. I could hear
the breathing of them both, where
stood in the farther corner of my
room. | had dropped both the der.
ringers back in my pockets now, be.
cause I 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 demanded.
Might not in great stress that thief
upon the cross have been a woman?
Tell me, Sir Richard, am l not clean?"
He flung his body into seat, his
arm across the table. I heard his
grOan
God, Woman. What are you?"
he exclaimed. Clean? By God, yes,
as lily. l wish l were half as white
myself"
"Sir Richard, did you ever love
woman?"
"One other, beside yourself, long
ago"
MAY not we two ask that other
miracle of YOURSELF"
"How do you mean? You have beat
en- me already"
"Why, then, this, If I could keep
my promise, / would. If could give
you myself, I would. Failing that,
may give you gratitude. Sir Richard,
l would give you gratitude, did you
restore this treaty as it 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 defeat.
ed you. Do you wish a third war?
You say England wishes slavery abol-
ished. AS you know, Texas is wholly
lost to England. The armies Of
America have swept Texas from your
reach forever, even at this hour. But
if you give a new state in the north
to these same sayages, 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 [ be-
lieve in hard bargains and never did
any great soul believe in such. l
own to you that when I asked you
here this afternoon | intended to
| wheedle from you all of Oregon to 81
degrees, 40 minutes. l find in you
done some such miracle as in myself.
| Neither of us is so bad as the world
| has thought, as we ourselves have
| thought. Do, then, that other miracle
for me. Let us compose our quarrel,
| and so part friends"
How do you mean, MADAME"
Let us divide our dispute and stand
on this treaty as you wrote it yester
day. Sir Richard, you are minister with
| extraordinary powers. Your govern
ment ratifes your acts without ques'
ton. Your signature is binding-and
| there it is, writ already on the scroll,
| See, there are waters there on the
table before you. Take them. Patch
together this treaty for me. That will
be your miracle, Sir Richard, and
twill be the mending of our quarrel.
Sir, I offered you my body and you
would not take it. [ offer you my
| hand Will you have that, my lord?
ask this Of a gentleman Of England"
1t was not my fight to hear the
sounds of a mans shame and humilia'
ton; or of his rising resolve, Of his
reformed manhood; but I did hear il
all. I think that he took her hand
and kissed it. Presently I heard SONS
sort of shuffling and crinkling of pa
| per on the table. l heard him sigh,
as though he stood and looked at his
work. His heavy footballs crossed the
room as though he sought hat and
stick. Her lighter feet as [ heard.
! followed him, as though she held Ous
| both her hands to him. There was q
pause, and yet another; and so, with
a growing half sob at last he passed
out of the door; and he closed it sof,
| ly after him.
When I entered, she was standing
her arms spread out across the door.
her face pale, her eyes large and dark
her attire still disarrayed. On the
table, as 1 saw, lay parchment mend
ed with waters.
Slowly she came and put her two
arms across my shoulders. 'AfoD
sieur.'' she said, "Monsieuri''