The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1883-05-11


leading spirit in their friendship.
Prince Saltakoff sat alone in his stalls.
A frown of displeasure contracted his
brow at the man who played Romeo
to Evelyn's Juliet
lie felt it would have been the great
est pleasure of his life to knock him
down.
When the play was over he went
round to the green room, where he
found Olga and Evelyn, the latter al
ready cloaked.
"Will you escort mademoiselle home,
your highness 2 said Olga. "She is not
very well tonight; but l have to play
in the afterpiece, so must remain
He handed her INTO the sledge, and
as he did so, felt her hand sake.
"You are faint, he said, as they en-
tered the hotel; "you must have some
wine"
"No, thank YOU" she returned, 81
prefer a cup of coffee; it will do my
headache good. Will you join me, or
have some wine youi self ?"
OF course he declared in favor of cof-
fee.
The time was very sweet to him; to
Evelyn it was painful, for she was try
ing to find words in which she could
best ask for Mervyn Montroses life.
She leaned back on her couch, look
ing very pale in her soft colorless dress
OF delicate lace, with only cluster of
carnations fastened in her bosom
"l our higbness," she ventured TO ar
ticulate, 81 have a favor to ask of you"
"a favor?" his eyes lit up; show can
| serve you?"
"Tm afraid to ask you-I'm asham-
ed
"My child, you can have no cause for
shame or fear, surely. If can serve
you, let me- / am at your service
"What | would beg" she hesitated
and then spoke with nervous impetu-
osity as fearing her courage might fail
her. at is life, your highness, that
| ask-the life of a friend! Oh, if you
can save him, say you will"
"Whose life, Evelyn Chatteris?'
"One of the so called Nihilists, Mer-
vyn Montrose."
A hot blush overspread her face as
she spoke.
The prince read it wrongly, and, re-
membering the young and handsome
prisoner, he thought he understood ALL
''IIis life is dear to you?" he said, in
trembling voice. off so l would do
much to save him.
She did not answer, but her eyes fell
before his steady gaze.
He ascribed it to modesty, and he
forced back the thought of himself and
only remembered her.
"Forgive me-" he said, gently, l had
no right to ask that question, except
that of friend-a true one. Believe
me, Mile. Cha,teris, | thank you fol
having trusted me-"
He was grave and reserved enough
now. His keen sense Of honor showed
him that if he was to help her no sign
of his own love must escape him, so his
best security lay in formality and cold
| ness.
"You will save him?" she pleaded
"lle is so young to die, and he meant
no harm
And he never thought how beautiful
she was till now she was lost to him.
"God knows" he said; sit is had to
decide rightly in such case as this"
''Mercy cannot err" she whispered
with white lips.
Except when it be weakness h,
replied.
Sand you will not try to save him 2
she cried ., ..
"Certainly l will; if l have any in
fluence with the emperor it shall b
rsed. | cannot say more-I wish
could-but am his imperial majesty
servant as we'll as your friend. Will yo,
trust me?'
! She held out her hand in answer; sh
could not speak.
He raised it to his lips, and starte'
to find how cold it was
"Good bye" he said, "and heave
bless you" He was gone.
Aye, goodbye to his own love dream
to his dearest! How dear he had nc
known till now.
Two days later Mile. Olga was walk
ing up and down her saloon reciting
new part.
There was restless eagerness in he
manner, which showed her mind wa
i'll at ease.
"What trash this is!" she exclaime
as she cast the part from her contemp
uously.
Evelyn now raised her head at til
impetuosity of her friend.
Her eyes were sad, and the fail
smile on her lips was more pitiful tina
tears.
Olga went forward and knelt dow
beside her, aud drew the brown hea
on her breast, saying:
eva, child, you are not well; yC
are keeping something from me-"
"No, Olga, it is nothing; | am qu
a we'll"
, "Then | vow you must be in lov
Oh, tell me it was not with"
| But Evelyn drew herself away fro
, her friends embrace, and stood befo
I her with flushed cheeks and eyes spar
: ling with anger.
, "Olga, that is question you ha'
no right to ask
t Sand which you have answered, II
poor Eva! did not know how self
, | have been-forgive me-.
. 81 have nothing to forgive, Olga
/ did it; you could not guess"
q "And never dreamed how you h
given up your happiness for mine, dei
|. dear Eva. How can | thank you2 t
n me-
!, "By never reminding me of it, Or
y The girl was going to add, "my hea
{ will break, but she refrained from f,
/ of paining her friend.
4 Olga turned to the window TO hi
the tears which started to her eyes; S
was touched to the very soul to fl
how blindly noble Evelyns friendsl
had proved.
G Suddenly she turned from the Wind
: and exclaimed excitedly:
"Eya, Eva! here is the prince in {
a | g Al -. 1