"Die, girl! There are worse things than death in the world!" said
Colonel Le Noir, with a threatening glare.
"I know it! and one of the worst things in the world would be a union
with a man I could neither esteem nor even endure!" exclaimed Clara.
Colonel Le Noir saw that there was no use in further disguise. Throwing
off, then, the last restraints of good breeding, he said: "And there are still more terrible evils for a woman than to be the
wife of one she 'can neither esteem nor endure!'"
Clara shook her head in proud scorn.
"There are evils to escape which such a woman would go down upon her
bended knees to be made the wife of such a man."
Clara's gentle eyes flashed with indignation.
"Infamous!" she cried. "You slander all womanhood in my person!"
"The evils to which I allude are--comprised in--a life of dishonor!"
hissed Le Noir through his set teeth.
"This to my father's daughter!" exclaimed Clara, growing white as death
at the insult.
"Aye, my girl! It is time we understood each other. You are in my
power, and I intend to coerce you to my will!"
These words, accompanied as they were by a look that left no doubt upon
her mind that he would carry out his purpose to any extremity, so
appalled the maiden's soul that she stood like one suddenly struck with
catalepsy.
The unscrupulous wretch then approached her and said: "I am now going to the county seat to take out a marriage license for
you and my son. I shall have the carriage at the door by six o'clock
this evening, when I desire that you shall be ready to accompany us to
church, where a clerical friend will be in attendance to perform the
marriage ceremony. Clara Day, if you would save your honor, look to
this!"
All this time Clara had neither moved nor spoken nor breathed. She had
stood cold, white and still as if turned to stone.
"Let no vain hope of escape delude your mind. The doors will be kept
locked; the servants are all warned not to suffer you to leave the
house. Look to it, Clara, for the rising of another sun shall see my
purpose accomplished!"
And with these words the atrocious wretch left the room. His departure
took off the dreadful spell that had paralyzed Clara's life; her blood
began to circulate again; breath came to her lungs and speech to her
lips.