The Secret Shot; Or, The Rivals Of Misty Mount — page 31: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

A LOVER “ What! You—you never wronged me! If I did but think that—’ By a great effort Judith controlled the wild pas- sion of her true nature, which had almost betrayed her to Ida. “Forgive me! I— I—that is—” she stammered. “ Believe me, sweet lady, you somewhat wrong me in what you say. Remember, I'am but a slave. My master’s son compels me to act the part in which you despise me. He wishes to make you his wife. For your own sweet sake I would advise you—” “Allow me to decline any advice you may think necessary or bénevolent to be- stow,” said Ida, proudly interrupting her. “To become the wife of one we can not love is dishonorable; and any advice which points to the surrender of a maiden’s purest inheritance on earth —her self-respect—is no longer advice, it is villainy I—it is no longer precept, it is insult! Away! Iwill have no more of you!” Reproach—tearful reproach, leaped out from the dark eyes of the quadroon, at these words; and yet she replied as demurely and respectfully as before: “ Since it is your desire, Miss, to think ill of me, do so. It is not for a slave to reply to the heiress of Misty Mount. If you please, Miss, will you permit me to go, now?” “ Yes—but stay! To whom do you go?” asked Ida, as the slaye-woman was passing through the door. “To my master, Miss.” “ Bid him set me free this instant,” cried Ida, haughtily. dungeon. I will see him as a free woman, or never !” “ Yes, Miss.” And the quadroon disap- peared, closing and bolting the door behind her. Ida paced the floor in a haughty mood, The spirit of command, bred by her indolent, willful life, was struggling desperately with the hard circumstances, the humiliating pow- erlessness, by which she was surrounded. But she had little time for thought or anger, fer,in a few moments the bolts again clanged back, the immense door again creaked labo- riously on its huge hinges, and Heartstead Gleason stood before her, He was even paler, thinner, than usual; and the fierce, insane light of passion still blazed in his eyes with a fitful gleam. He was dressed in a captain’s regimentals of nis Majesty’s army—scarlet coat and breech: es, with heavy riding-boots and spurs—as if prepared for a campaign. SPURNED. “T will not see him in this 29 “Ida |” She did not answer. made her mute. “ Tda,” he began, in tremulous tones, “ Ida, I have come—” “JT care not for what you have come!” she burst forth, passionately. “I demand my instant release! “Once I pitied you— now I but hate you! No words but of © scorn until I stand released !’ *“ Tda—forgive this artifice—” “Tt is no artifice, sir! Palliate it not by that mildly wicked name. It is insult— outrage—crime! Release me on this in- stant !” “Tda, forgive! My passion has set me mad! My love—’ “ Ft is false !” she cried, vehemently ; “ you are a stranger to love! Your utterance of . it is a profanation of the holy name! Let me go, I say! Release me from this dun- Her indignation | geon !” “Tda! Ida! oh hear me!” cried the really half-demented man, falling on his knees in a& paroxysm of despair. “ Hear me!” he moaned. “I love you—madly, madly! No one can tell you wow I love you! Save me, or we are both ingulfed in one ruin. Help me, or I perish with this consuming passion. Speak, Ida, will you not save me ?—will you not love me?” “ Never!” cried the maiden, stung to des- peration by the humiliation of her position. “Trust no morein me! If I ever regarded you as 4 friend, that friendship is now turned to hatred—eternal hatred! If you have poisoned my regard, you must suffer its bane! Release me, I say !” The young man sprung to his feet, and eyed her with the moody glance of despair. “ Reflect!’ he exclaimed, in icy tones. “Reflect! You are in my power—utterly —absolutely—irrevocably !” “TY have reflected,’ was the scornful re- joinder. “Is it so?” he cried, his rage gathering fury as he spoke. “Listen, woman. There is one in waiting who has the legal power to make you my wife. Your beauty has driven me mad—desperate! I must—I wil have you! You confront a desperate man |” He advanced toward her. Ida forgot all about her dagger. She was completely be- wildered by the maniac blaze of those burn- ing eyes. She was terrified by the vehe- mence of his demeanor, and burst into tears. «“ Have pity—pity,” she sobbed, dropping