Page:Maud Howe - Atlanta in the South.djvu/178

 "Fernand, the time has come for me to strike!" whispered the hidden witness of his agony; and with the spring of a tigress she was upon him as he raised his hands above his head, dumbly asking for comfort. She caught him by the throat, and he saw the gleam of a knife flashing between himself and the moonlight. Before she could strike, the weapon was wrenched from her hand and sent whirling into the shrubbery. He held her for a moment closely pinioned, looking down into her white face, which had lost all trace of womanhood in its look of rage and baffled desire. When he spoke at last, it was in a low voice, more sorrowful than angry,— "Therese, has there not been enough shame and sin and blood between us two without this? Remember who it is that you would kill, and thank your God that you were spared this crime."

She struggled to undo his hands, but he held her firmly.

"You must listen to what I have to tell you. I have money for you when you need it, and I think you need it now. I will send you back to Spain, to your convent, or where you will. There is nothing for you in this country but more sin, more shame, more madness; for I believe that you are mad to-night. Go back to the