Wichita eagle., 1888-04-25
UNTO DEATH.

In the fashion or all Idle slghtSeers VINO KNOW
each other Intimately, were laughing and
testing merrily together. Suddenly, as we
passed Tarascon, some one announced that II
was here the aSsassinations had taken place
and began to speak of the mysterious, insa-
table murderer who, from time TO time In
the past few years, had harassed the life OF
the traveller Every one had suggestions TO
make and advice to give, until at last the
women OF the party were in a state of hyster-
ical nervousness that bade fair to end in re-
treat. Every shadow that crossed the panes,
to their excited imaginatlons, was a robber
demanding life or gold,
Nonsense said the doctor, celebrated
specialist in pulmonary disorders, and the one
who had been the latest TO fall into ranks;
Astop talking of the frightful-give me q
chance and / will relate to you history the
end OF which was the cause of my delay in
joining you 1t is not only exciting, thrilling
an adventure on the railroad, in other
words-but sad enough to bring tears from
the eyes or the boldest.
physicians are brought in contact he
continued, musingly, with almost daily
tragedies and dramas, yet if it were not that
my client died recently, the one whom this
mysterious and affecting story concerns,
should be compelled to still seal my lips;7 and
with the air of professional raconteur the
doctor settled himself comfortably upon the
cushions and began: "She was Russian, this
Marie Baranow, a grande dame Of the car
mas suite and woman Of the most ethereal
and exquisite beauty, and you know how
beautiful the Russian women are, with their
delicately chiseled nostrils, their scarlet lips
i IL L
are cold, perhaps, but nevertheless wonder
fully attractive In their tranquil grace to
Frenchman. The physician of the court also
her own physician from the days of her child
hood, seeing her menaced by malady Of the
chest, had insisted that she should quit Rus
sia forever and permanently reside in the
south Of France. But Nine Baranow had
obstinately refused; it was only at the begin
ming of last autumn that, finding the case
hopeless, the doctors appealed to the husband,
who ordered his wife to leave at once for
Mentone. Hopeless of everything she obeyed
and took the train alone fny France the
people of her suite going in another compart-
uent.
Leaning in the corner of the carriage
sorrowfully contemplating the passing coun-
try, feeling herself isolated if not abandoned
in the hour of her sore affiiction, childless,
motherless, and with husband whose prof
ligacies were open secrets, whose love was
dead and who had thrust her to the ends of
the world to die, as he would have sent .
valet to the ward of the hospital truly her
lot was sad one.
"At every station where the train slackened
speed her servant, Ivan, an old domestic
blindly devoted TO the service of his mistres
and ready to give up his life if she demanded
it, came to inquire if there was aught he
could do for her comfort.
The hours rolled on night came at last, but,
nervous and excited by the rapidity with
which they were travelling, the comtesss
found herself unable to sleep, to read or TO do
anything in fact but nurse the wretchedness
growing in her heart. Suddenly she remem-
bered that she had forgot to count the money
which her husband had given her in French
gold at the moment of her departure; she
would do it now, and, opening her little sachel,
she emptied upon her knees wave of shin
ing metal in order TO arrange it. All at once
current of air blew upon her forehead, and as
she lifted her head she saw that the door
was opening. Distracted with terror tie
comtesse had only time enough to throw a
shawl across the gold in her lap as the figure
of man appeared at the opening, bareheaded,
painting for breath, clad only in evening dress
and with blood streaming from cash in the
hand.
Swinging himself into the carriage and re-
closing the door as he entered, this frightful
apparition seated himself opposite his terror
stricken neighbor and began to wrap his
handkerchief about his bleeding hand. He
had seen her, thought the comtesse-undoubt-
edly this man had seen her ernptying the gold
into her lap and had come to rob, perhaps to
Kill her. he was watching her now, intently,
breathlessly, ready to bound upon her at the
slightest movement
Madame said be at last, in deep and
musical voice, you tremble, but have no fear
/ am not here to trouble you'
But the comtesse did not respond; she was
incapable of it, absolutely incapable of even
opening her lips, and her heart beat in her
ears Ike thunder.
~ am not a malefactor,' he went on: 4
shall do nothing to harm you. On the con-
trary'- But Mime. Baranow's strength was
gone, her teeth chartered In her head, her
knees convulsively knocked together, and the
gold, which she had entirely forgotten, rolled
in all directions. The man, astonished, bent
to pick it up, but the contesse misunderstood,
and with cry OF alright darted to the door
TO fling herself upon the track Her neighbor
caught her in time, however, and forced her
TO be still.
Listen 10 me, uadamer he cried, listen
to me, l entreat. l am not a malefactor, as
you seem TO suppose am only an unfor-
tunate gentleman-a lost, nay, more dead
man, if | fail 10 pass the frontier. l have no
need of your money and stopped to secure it
for you. All ask of you is aid, aid to cross
the boundaries of this terrible land. | can
not tell you more, not now, at least In au
hour we shall be at the last Russian station
If you do not assist me | am lost. In the
meantime, l swear to You that have neither
robbed, killed nor done anything else iucom-
patible with honor. l may tell you this, but
at present no morer and going down upon
his knees again he began to gather up the
money which had hidden itself beneath the
rugs and benches, and when the bag was full
again laid it upon the lap of its owner and ST.
lently resumed his seat.
-They moved no more, neither the one nor
the other, and by degrees composure returned
to the countess, and he, equally mouonless.
erect in his corner, pale as death and evident
ly suffering from the wound m his hand. sat
ike figure of stone Nevertheless Ii was
impossible for Nine. Barsnow 20 avoid seeing
that be was very handsome, richly dressed,
gentleman, as he had said. IN the nsiShbor-
hood OF 50 or SS years Of age
The train running through the darkness
threw to the night its piercing calls, relaxing
its speed from time to time only 70 resume it
more quickly. Suddenly il s,ackened It's pace
ard draw into q station and Ivan appearAd
as usual to receive orders Once more the
comtesse regarded her strange companion.
then addressed herself 70 her servitor