Show BY WHOSE HAND by EDITH SESSIONS TUPPER author of by a hairs klack deamons etc copyright 1889 by willard braeker co coper 1 by street smith CHAPTER VI continued because he said as he drew me into his arms and held m close him because catane you are going to tell me that you a marry me though my pulses were madly leap ing and though I 1 was wildly happy still the matter of fact way in which he took possession of me enraged me he was so sure of me I 1 resisted his embrace struggling to tree myself but in vain be quiet my beautiful satan that 8 the name for you you wild untamed thing you sweet vixen ou re mine no help for you yield catane lodic at me he raised my flushed burning face to his his triumphant exultant eyes held roe then his lips closed on mine CHAPTER VII it was my fathers wish that we should alt until angele returned from france before we should marry this plan rex was inclined to corn bat but at last waived his wishes and it was arranged that in the next july our marriage should take place rex was a devoted an impassioned but an absolutely self assured lover I 1 used to wish that he would ever seem a little insecure of me but no he had read me too well he knew I 1 was his body and soul that every fiber of my being respond ed to his caressing words and touch that tor him I 1 would gladly lay down my life at his command commit the blackest crime catane he asked maeday as he lay idly stretched upon a pile of cush ions in the library watching me as I 1 teased my paroquet pa roquet catane what would you do it I 1 should love another for an instant my heart stopped beating I 1 stared stonily at the gor ageous shrieking scolding blid then t slowly faced him nostrils the manner in which he bit hard at his under lip the expression of absolute pain upon his handsome face I 1 had seen that look before she seemed about to speak then marking my approach gently drew her gown irom his lingering hold and continued her walk I 1 came up with a smiling face and going to my sister thrust the geran alums lums in her hand As she took them a shower of scar let petals shivered over her white gown look angele I 1 exclaimed they are like drops of blood then going over to rex I 1 sat down beside him on the lounge and pressed my lips upon his was it fancy or did he shrink from my caress the next afternoon after madame follie had tried the last beautiful ere aaion of her ait upon me I 1 left the house to go to my favorite nook the little sequestered recess in the thick shrubbery where rex had first kissed me As I 1 drew near I 1 heard voices I 1 paused uncertainly then prompted by some instinct stole cautiously tor ward parted the leaves and looked in angele was standing there her lovely face bent troubled and flushed rex knelt before her both arms about her his face was upturned and on it such an expression caused me to grind my teeth in rage with me he had always assumed the satisfied secure air of a conquer or to his captive now he was a sup pliant pleading before his queen angele he murmured angele I 1 beg I 1 implore ou to listen do not ruin both our lives I 1 cannot help it it Is you I 1 love you I 1 have fought against it I 1 know I 1 am a traitor a coward but I 1 cannot live without OU and I 1 heard angele ask catane that beautiful fierce ere flung myself in the long deep 4 grass 1 I world mil you I 1 muttered through my set teeth he threw back his handsome head a favorite trick of his and laughed in the most tantalizing fashion it maddened me I 1 took a step toward him he suddenly looked at me then sprang up and caught me in his arms good god catane don t look like that why child you alarm me sa tane darling I 1 was only trying to tease you why my passionate little love what a tropical creature ou are I 1 absolutely believe you could have murdered me then you were like a statue of wrath and our eyes sa tane those glorious eyes that were made only tor love glances w ere blaz ing with fury you pretty shrew you lovely vixen you tigress yes that s what you are a beautiful fiery tigress why catane for as he talked in his halt master ful half tender way I 1 so realized my utter helplessness in this man s hands my complete captivity to his love that I 1 burst into a tempest of tears and sobs it ended as did all our quarrels in my entire submission to his will held fast by his arms I 1 kissed his eyes his lips his hair and begged forgiveness for this exhibition of my wretched temper the middle of june brought an gele from france she had developed wonderfully and was very beautiful with her stately grace her exquisite skin and golden hair she was like a fair annunciation lily I 1 saw rex s eyes rest admiringly on her when I 1 presented him to my sister and a pang 0 jealous tear shot through my heart but she seemed to make no further impression upon my lover and my tears were all lulled as soon as we were alone and I 1 w as in his arms the das went swiftly by I 1 was closely occupied with the preparations for my marrage and naturally angele and rex entertained each other their happy voices often floated up to me as I 1 stood hour after hour in the hands of various dressmakers it was such a trifle that at last opened my eyes one moonlight night we three were upon the broad piazza rex lazily stretched himself upon a bamboo lounge I 1 sat near content only to gaze at him in admiration angele strolled up and down looking in her white gown and with the soft silver moonlight her fair hair like a saint that had lust stepped from some cathedral niche presently I 1 ran down the steps to pick a cluster of scarlet geraniums glowing la a bed close by re turning t arranged my flowers and under my lashes glanced at them As angele passed rex s couch she half paused and her graceful body wavered slightly towards him with a sudden movement he caught a fold of her gown in a passionate clutch ing grasp he raised his eyes to her face I 1 could see the dilation of his she will storm and rage no doubt but she would not care to mar ry me knowing my heart Is yours angele he rose to his feet and drew her yielding upon his breast and smoothed her hair with a gentle ness and tenderness he had never shown me angele my lovely flower my saint my angel you are like a sweet cooling draught to me after a fit ot intoxication catane Is like champagne you he broke off and laid his lips upon her hair her eyes her mouth her throat I 1 could bear no more I 1 struck the leaves apart and stood before them I 1 made no scene I 1 did not upbraid them I 1 even smiled as I 1 said I 1 am gratified rex that you have discovered your mistake before it Is too late I 1 agree with you that an gele can render you more happy than I 1 here my friend la your ring and I 1 held it out to him with an un falter ing band no no catane cried angele breaking from rex s arms he is mis taken he loves you it was only a momentary madness forgive him and take him back my little sister I 1 calmly an suffer rex and me to arrange this slight unpleasantness he has said that he cannot live without you we do not wish our good friend to die come then angele give me your handa she did as I 1 commanded and I 1 laid it in reas then without another word I 1 left them he soon sought me and in the try ing interview that ensued I 1 was self possessed and calm while he de bounced in violent terms his fickle ness his dishonor as he was pleased to term it I 1 answered him that he made much of a small matter could I 1 forgive hima but yes without doubt we parted on the most arnica ble footing and on the day set for our wedding he and angele were married I 1 bade them farewell with smiling lips I 1 stood and watched them drive away to happiness then I 1 went back to my dreary solitary life and waited CHAPTER VIII rex and angele lived in new york during the winters and spent the sum mers at a beautiful old place a few miles below sea view which had tor years belonged to the dalrymple pal rymple fam lly they were always urging me to visit them but I 1 invariably contrived some excuse I 1 was not ready to go I 1 wished to wait until the novelty of possession had been thoroughly adissi before I 1 paid my dear brother and sister a visit the sixth summer however after their marriage I 1 concluded to pass with them I 1 deemed the time ripe for taking observations of their wed ded bliss they had one child little marcelle an interesting infant and the image of her handsome father I 1 soon dig covered that this pretty ittle girl waa angele s only solace rex was neve at home he spent all his time a neighboring resorts and many a spicy whisper of his amours crept to me he had grown it possible handsome and fascinating abw st ald his manner to anga sas s as ailway charming and courteous to his ahlie he was most indulgent and tender one not knowing all would have sail of him that he was a devoted and father but what was patent tf his friends to his wife to his ser even was not long hidden iron me I 1 saw that he had grown quim weary of his flower his saint hi angel that the cooling draught had palled upon his abed taste an that he again longed tor champagne and the flesh pots of egypt how I 1 reveled in angeles how adroitly did I 1 remind her of hi careless neglect with my most hon led words and sweetest smiles I 1 stab bed my dear sister again and again and when she winced I 1 but turned my knife and plunged it deeper in the wound I 1 was strongly tempted to take a richer revenge hex at first paid m great attention he remained at hom several evenings he asked me tc sing over the old songs which h declared after all were the best 1 often caught his eyes fixed on me with a strange expression was he regret ting mea one afternoon I 1 sat reading alone in the library angele and marceau had gone to the beach the greal house was still the goft breeze came through the open windows and ruffled my hair and laces I 1 was absorbed 1 my fascinating novel and heard no sound until suddenly rex stood before me he had evidently just come from sea view as he carried his riding whip in his hand his face was flushed his eyes shone with unusual brilliancy his soft golden hair was tumbled over his forehead in grace ful disorder he tossed his riding whip aside and impetuously seizing my hands drew me upon my feet and stared greedily at me with shining eyes you look as if you had been drink ing champagne I 1 laughed giving him one steady glance then dropping my lido in pretended contusion at what I 1 saw revealed in his eyes catane he murmured I 1 feel so I 1 feel the intoxication of your pres ence I 1 never see you never heal your step your voice your gown never brushes me even that I 1 do not experience the same wild thrill houi wonderful magnetism used to give me catane catane to think I 1 gave up such a glorious woman as you a creature of flesh and blood for a piece of ice a marble statue my god it drives me mad to be continued |