The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1917-10-19
"That seems impossible to your" she
demanded.

"That seems impossible to your" she
demanded.
"Utterly impOsslbleP
"And 10 JohnT
~ am speaking for myself and not
for my brother" Stephen replied. "Men
like him, who are assalled by a certain
madness, are hest left alone with IL.
That is why / came TO you TO bargain,
II could. Is there anything that you
lack-anythlng which your own sue
cess and your lover, or lovers, have
failed to provide for your"
II was useless to try to rise; she
was powerless In all her limbs. Side
by side with the anger and horror that
his words aroused was a sense Of some
thing almost grotesque, something
which seemed to force an unnatural
laugh from her lips.
$50 you want TO buy me offY"
~ should be glad to believe that It
was within my power to do so. have
not Johns great fortune, but have
money, the accumulated savings of a
lifetime, for which have no better
purpose. There is one more thing, too,
to be said"
Another charger"
"Not that" he told her; "only It is
better for you to understand that II
you turn me from your house this
morning, shall still feel the necessity
Of saving my brother from you"
Saving him from mel" she ex-
claimed, rising suddenly and throwing
out her arms. do you know what
you are talking about? Do you know
that IL l consented to think Of your
brother as my husband, there is rot q
man in London who would not envy
him? Look at mel am beautiful, am
not? i am great artist. / am Lou
Use Maurel, and 1 have made myself
famous by my own work and my own
genius. What has your brother done
in life to render him worthy of the
sacrifice I should make If l chose to
give him my hand? You had better
go back to Cumberland, Mr.. Strange
wey. You do not see life as we see 1t
up hereW
"And what about John?" he asked,
without moving. "Yol tempted him
away. Was it from wantonness, or do
you love him?"
Love him?" she laughed. 81 hate
you both! You are boors-you are
ignorant people. 1 hate the moment I
ever saw either of you. Take John back
with you. Take him out of my life,
There is no place there for himI'
Stephen picked up his hat from the
sofa where 1t lay. Louise remained
perfectly still, her breath coming quick.
ly, her eyes lit with passion.
MADAM" he said, 81 am sorry to
have distressed you, but the truth
sometimes hurts the most callous of
US. You have heard the truth from
me. 1 will take John back to Cumber-
land with me, if he will come. If he
will not"
'Take him with youl" she broke in
fiercely. "He will do as bid him-do
SOu hSul IL L lllI iliJ liIIlC uuSSIg ue
will stay. 1t will be 1 who decide,
L"
"But you will not lift your little fin.
ger" he interrupted grimly.
"Why shouldn't I, just to punish
you" she demanded. "There are
scores Of men who fancy themselves In
love with me. If 1 choose, can keep
them all their lives hanging to the
hem of my skirt, praying for a word, a
touch. / can make them furious one
day and penltent the next-wretched
always, perhaps, but I can keep them
there. Why should I not treat youI
brother in the same way?"
He seemed suddenly to dllate. She
was overcome with a sense of some lat.
ent power in the man, some command
ng influence.
Because" he declared, "I am the
guardian of my brothers happiness.
trifies with it shall in the fu.
.ure reckon with mel"
His eyes were fixed upon her soft,
white throat. His long, lean fingers
seemed suddenly to be drawing near
o her. She watched him, fascinated
She was trying to scream. Even aftel