New-York tribune., 1885-01-04
~.


What a terribly long hypocrisy and suspense that
three months of dreary waiting before m answer -
her letter could come from Iobolsk and me 'oV-
| ernor could send detachment OF the military To
rescue her from this nest OF murderOus banditt!
How Olga hated herself for still pretending 20
keep on terms with MAJ How she loathed and de-
tested the man with whom she must yet live as wife
Tor that endless time till the day Of her delivery
And MAJ couldn't help seeing that her manner
| was changed toward him, though lie iiatteIed him
self that she had as yet only bare suspicion, ana
no real knowledge of the horrible truth what
sad thing that she should ever even have suspected
| il! What "A pity if hc coud not keep her here to
soot he and ghten his winter solitude = for he loved
her: yes /: he really loved her. and he needed sym
pathy and companionshp IN all the best and tixh-
est instincts of his inner nature. These Buriats.
what were they "A miserable set of brutal snyagrs
| nero hard working robbers and muir erers, good
enough for the practical rough work OF everyday
! life isuch as knocking IurcOman merchants on the
head but utterly incapable OF approaching or sym
patuZing with the better tastes Of cyilzel human
tv II was hard calling that of chietaIn 10 these
Tartar wretches, especially for q man of musical
culture brought mp in Paris and he had hoped that
Olga might have helped hun through with it By her
friendly companOnshp. Not, OF course. that he
ever expected to be able TO tell her the whole truth
women Will be women and coming 10 rough coun
try, they can't understand he necessities lad upon
ono for r0uln dealing. No, he cOuld never nave
ex pected her TO relish the fun details of bOrdereTs
profession. but ne WAS vcxed that she should
already begin suspect IFS nature on so very short
nm ac1uantance lie had told hor he was like IA
Highland chcftain of the old times: did she suppose
that the Rob ROys and RoderIck Dhus OF real lie
water and chvalryi After all, women have really
no idea of how things must DO managed ia the stern
real.te of actual existence. ~
So tLe three months passed slowly away, aud Olga
waited and watched, with SmiloS on her lips, IN
mute terror -,
ments warning, or a single premOnitory symptom,
Olga saw the courtyard suddenly filled with men in
Russian uniforms. aud friend of hers. major Of
infantry at TobO,sk rushing III at the head OF MS
soldiers upon the Tartar barrack.
Ia one second. as If BY maze the courtyard had
Il loft t.lf.f liza
ing al the Tartars and the Iarars were firing at tho
CDssacks There din OF guns and q smoke 0l
language. she heard the voice of MAJ. iraatlcaly
encouraging his men to action, ana sh0ntlng 10 the
with wild energy ~ incomprehens,ble gnttgrals.
The surprise had been so complete that almost De-
fore Olga realized the situation the firing began TO
die away. The fort was carried. and MAJ ana ms
men stood disarmod and sullen, with bleeding
faces in the midst of hastllv-fOrmcd square OF
| stout COssacks, among the dead and dying strcwh
upon tho ground.
Handsome as ever. but how she hated him
His was wounded: aud the Russian surgeon
led him aside to bind it up. TO Olpas amazement.
while the surgeon was actually engaged IN binding
IT, MAJ turned upon him like savage dog and bit
his arm till tho teeth met herccly In the very
middle. She shut her eyes. and half tainted with
disgust and horror
The surgeon shook .im o. with IN oath and two
COssacks coming up hastily bound his hands be.
hind his back and tied his legs. quite regardless OF
his wounded condition
Meanwhile the Russian major had sought out
Olga. MADAME la Baronne he said respectfully
/ congratulate you upon your safety and your re.
covered freedom. Your father is with us; ho Will
soon be here. Your letter reached him safely. in
spite of It's roundabout direction and the Governor
of TObOlsk dispatched us at once upon this crrand
of release. Baron MAJ had long been suspectedj
yonr letter removed all doubts upon the subject"
minute or two later. the Cos'acks marched their
prisoners out of the courtyard, two aud two, into
the great hall Of the stronghold. .
wish TO bid farewell to my wife," MAJ cried TO
the major, in a loud voice. / shall be sent to the
mines, suppose. and shall never SEQ her again IN
this world most probably"
The major allowed him TO come within speaking
distance, under guard of two Cossacks. -,
"Madame Ia Baronne,' he missed ont between MS
cIenched teeth. I" this is your hand. II was your
hand that you gave me In marriagej IL was your
hand that wrote to betray mo. Believe mo. madame.
come what may. your hand shall pay the penalty.
So much he said, passi0nately, indeed. but with
the offended dignity of civilized being. Then the
Tartar In him broke through the thin veneer OF
European culture, and he olied his tongue out at
her in savage derison, with hideous menacing leer
like an untamed barbarian. Till that moment, IN
spite of the horrible sho had seen with het
own eyes, Olga had never suspected what profouna
depths Of vulgar savagery Icy uItpercelved Deneatn
Alexander Niaz's handsome aud -sristocratic Eu- |
ropean featureA
One moro word he uttered coarsely - word OF |
foul rcprosch unfit to bo repeated, which maae
OlgSs cheek turn crimson with wrath and lndigns |
tion even In that supreme moment OF eo9hlcting |
0assicus SLs hupra1 mar fanA hat " two Il