The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1879-04-18

-
spare moments as he could snatch. b.
wrote several times 70 the koratines
and once he received an answer from
the Count with . postscript in Ida
hand; but after that he got no more 70
plies. Charley had never been news
paper reader, and the world might have
gone all wrong without his hearing any
thing about L.. Ile sometimes glanced
1t the Field, or 1t one Of the military
periodicals TO look for army promotions
but into the Times he never dipped, and
thus he was kept from learning the grim
reason which prevented his Russian
friends from writing TO him. He was
not fated to ascertain It for long
while, for when Lord Guerdon became
convalescent his doctors ordered him of
on yachting cruise and Charley &C.
companied him. The brothers spent
two full months sailing over the seas
and receiving no news, till at length
they put in At Cadiz and landed. 1t
was in this city that Lord Guerdon, Pc
rusiDg batch of London papers one
morning, while his brother sat at the
open window looking out listlessly over
the waters Of the harbor, exclaimed: 81
say, Charley, didn't you tell me you had
friend called Count Koratine?''
"Yes. What Of himP" answered
Charley, turning round with a sudden
flush.
"Why, your friend II going to be be-
headed for an attempt to murder. Read
that!r
Charley rose. doubling whether he
was awake. He took the newspaper,
and with reeling senses read the account
of an attempted political assassination
about which all Europe had been talk
ing for the last three months. An ex-
who hold the destinies Of Europe in their
hands-had come to E, and had
been shot at by Count Koratiuc. Ar
rested on the spot, along with his sis
ter, the Count was now proved TO be
the head of widespread Nihilist and
Socialist conspiracy. His bullet had
missed Its aim, but as it had killed
person who sat beside his int ended VIC
tim, he was to be tried for his head, and
the Countess Ida too.
81 must leave for Germany this day"
faltered Charley Guerdon as the paper
fell from his hand. He was so hoarse
that he could hardly articulate.
His brother gazed at him with con-
ssGreat heavens!' he said;
"you don't mean to say this girl is any
thing to you, Charley?''
" She is every thing to me-" was the
younger brothers. answer Two hours
later Guerion had left for Cadiz
The trial Of the Koratines had taken
place at D and ida had been acquit
ted, but the Count was sentenced to
death. Guerdon heard this as be Jour-
neyed, and he reached D. on the eve
Of the day appointed for the Counts ex.
ecution. His first step was to repair TO
the central police Office and inquire
where the Countess Ida lived. He was
informed that she was lodging in small
house near the prison, with two serv-
ants, but that she was under orders TO
quit the kingdom on the morrow. The
FASTENED to the house indi-
Gated with all the Gust of travel on him.
L was past midnight, but Ida received
him ~ once. He found her writing by
the fireside in that dismal parlor OF her
She was dressed In
deepest mourning, and her features.
blanched by her grief and long soiourn
in prison, were AS those Of statue.
But she held out her hand TO Gucrdon
as If nothing much had happened since
they had parted.
Give me no coincidence she said.
interrupting the Englishman as ne open
ID his mouth TO speak. 81 suppose Won
come to me rs friend P"
"Can you doubt it?" he faltered.
= oh, Ida; God knows what have suf
Iered on hearing this"
80 want you TO render me service, \,
'he said, not needing his remarks. I
= You are the only friend have on
Earth now. You must 20 and witness
my brothers. execution then come back
Ind tell me what is the last thing he did
before dying. l wanted to 60 myself.
but they would not let me. The execu-
ion takes place at Z, in the prison. and
Iou must contrive some means Of get
ing in"
Guerdon hesitated, but beseeching
ook from Ida nerved him. "Would /
lou refuse me thism she asked sadly.
My brother on the scaffold will make
sign which Is meant for me, and on
which the whole Of my life may depend. /
must have somebody there to see it.-
twill 60, them" muttered Guerdon, \
'oarsely.
He went, and was back with Ida at s
ne next day. Heaven knows what he
eli and what he looked like; his an
'earAnce struck the Russian girl speech
ess for mo0ent. But she did not
veep; hers was the sorrow that sheds
inward tears AL life long. She ques-
loned the Englishnan with a glance,
Dlding her hands over her breast a. II