The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1920-01-24


.hat Sidney Cleve did not love Ell
Drld1A it must be his possessions.
But she could give no warning; 1t
would be set down to jealousy. Be
sizes she had no proof other than her
instinct. Instinct fares badly when
opposed to woman's alluring beauty
and mans love.
Despair when deep enough Is tonic
Marcella found herself laughing, talk
Ing gayly, dancing like thistledOwn
with feet that did not tire. She did
not let herself think back nor for
ward; instead she concentrated her
self upon the flying moment.
With curious dual sense she went
through her own allotted part, yet
took note of all about her. 1t was
thus that very late she marked Sid
|, neys absence from the ballroom at
the very instant Elbridge came to her.
Give me this waltZ--no matter
about your card" he s;rid. whirling
her away to the rhythm of wailing
strings. For two rounds - said moth
Ing, only held her delicately away
from him and studied her face. Then
with quick SILVER he drew her closer,
whispering: "Marcella, | used TO
dream we should-go through life
together"
you have found out better--in
time" Marcella answered, in a voice
whose evenness surprised her. Ell
bridge drew a deep breath. "YOu
don't care-and I'm cur enough not to
be sorry of it, he said. Come away
out on the piazZa-I want to talk
and this is the last chance"
II think you can have nothing to say
to me-" Marcella began but found
herself imperiously borne outside
Down, down the long smooth stretch
Elbridge wheeled her, the music grow
ing faint and fainter, until it was but
a ghost Of sound. There had been
lights everywhere-now half the Ian
terms hung dark. and in the rest there
were but fiickers.
The shrubbery at the west angle
was all dark, but to those upon the
We're family visible Two stood there
IMAM and woman. locked in long
embrace, and shuddering visibly.
Neither spoke for a minute. FL
bridge made to draw Marcella away,
muttering an imprecatiOn under his
breath. Then the full moon riding
high among clouds, came suddenly
out, and flooded the shrubbery with
silver. The woman broke out pas
sionately: "Carl! Carl! Take me with
you! What do l care for money? For
anything-if only 1 have you"
"You chose-the rich one," the man
said, his voice that Of an Outlander:
"You laughed at the count without a
castle-who must ask your rich father
to take care Of both"
'Did you come here to mock me?"
Sidney Cleve demanded. II came
because you called" the stranger be-
gan. What else he might have said
died in his throat-with leap FL
bridge had reached him. borne him
down and backward, and knelt upon
him with murder in his face.
$50! you coward" he Kissed
through set teeth. this is how you
keep the promise that saved your mis-
cradle life. I forbade you to even
think of-but never mind. Remember
you had forfeited your life to me
and / spared you-on conditions. Don't |
delude yourself that shall spare you
again"
"But you will. And spare yourself |
much more" Marcella cried, kneeling |
beside him to unlock his tightening
fingers from the other mans throat. |
Sidney stood staring and dull-eyed as |
though stricken with madness. AS
Marcella wrenched loose Elbridge's
fingers. Count Carl Won Gutenberg
groaned in relief, then said thickly:
Let me up! will never more trouble
you"
Carl! VIII you leave me?" Sidney |
f1inging herself prone be-
side him. Elbridge got up. his face
curiously hardened. "He shall not. l
will see to that" he said. ut has
come to me suddenly that by making
him marry you / shall be sufficiently
revenged on-both."
vengeance? Do you deserve 1tT
Think WELT" Marcella said. stepping
back a pace. Again the moon hid her.
self. All was soft gray darkness
it Marcella spoke low and
clear: "Forget-all Of you-and let
things be as they were. You may
trust me-nobody shall ever know
Elbridge caught her hand. You
need not say that" he said. You
are truth and honor all throughput
one does not really forget l thought
] had forgotten you-now | know my
mistake. Sidney 1t is / who should
ask pardon-of you and the count.
Let me help you with the angry father
Il think l can make 1t smooth for
you there. In return you must help
me. l want to win back my good
angel. She has saved me from MUIR
tler-she must try to save me from
myself"