Page 135 (1/1)

"Ah yes, dear!" he interrupted, with a smile--"That would be so easy!"

The touch of satire in these words was lost on her,--she took theer

"Yes!--quite easy!" she said--"And you would be pleased! You would do as you wished with me--ht, looking at her with a curious pitifulness as one ht in a net Aloud he said-"Yes, Manella!--e--they have enjoyed it always, even in the days when the Indian 'braves' beat their squaws out here in California, and killed the! Wo to rule men--it's an experiment, but it won't do! Men are the masters of life! They expect to be obeyed by all the rest of creation I expect to be obeyed!--and so, Manella, when I tell you to go hoo!"

She !" she answered--"But I shall coain! and very often! I shall come even if it is only to find you dead on this hill--killed by your own secret! Yes--I shall coave an involuntary movement of surprise and annoyance Had Mr Senator Gwent discussed his affairs with this beautiful foolish girl who, like so but the satisfaction ofwhere her wishes inclined

"What do you mean, Manella?" he demanded, imperatively--"Do you expect to find me dead?"

She nodded vehemently Tears were in her eyes and she turned her head away that he ht not see theaily--"And I'm to be killed by my own secret, am I? I wonder what it is! Ah, Manella, Manella! That stupid old Gwent has been at you, stuffing your mind with a lot of nonsense--don't you believe him! I've no 'secret' that will kill h you coain and ever so often' as you say, you will not findto her inward exciteedy queen

"Do not boast!" she said--"God is always listening! No e of what you do--but this I will tell you surely! You may have a secret,--or you may not have it,--but if you play with the powers of God you will be punished! Yes!--of that I am quite certain! And this I will also say--if you were to pull all the clouds down upon you and the thunders and the lightnings and all the terrible things of destruction in the world, I would be there! And you would knohat love is!--Yes!"--her voice choked, and then pealed out like that of a Sybilline prophetess, "If God struck you down to hell, I would be there!"