Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1890-09-11
THE VOLTS FANGS.


men by birth, since our father was
Polish count who had been deprived Of his
estates in connection with the events Of
1868, an Englishman by breeding. After
the death Of our father, when we were
quite children, we two had been brought
up out of charity by countryman, who
taught dancing and lived in shabby
London street
As time went on | earned my four
guineas week as violinist. but my
brother. Paul Bolskoi, became the dar-
ling of society-frst, perhaps. because
he had the most beautiful voice in all
the world, next. because he was the
very handsomest man ever saw.
''Tve seen her at last, Louis, said my
brother one night to me: the woman
I've been longing for and dreaming Of
all my life; and I'm about to become a
teacher Of singing" he added. with a
laugh 'You wouldn't wonder. Louis,
if you saw my pupil" and he took from
his pocketbook II photograph. 1t was the
portrait OF = woman, a fair woman, with
hard mouth and cruel eyes "She
thanked me for singing for her. and then
she said Monsieur, want you to do
me favor want you to give me a
few lessons in singing. | stared at her
in astoaish1nent 'Ah. she said Mon
sieur Bolskoi the singing lessons are
only.a pretext | know your story;
know that you are of noble blood;
know that your fathers property and
estates were confscated long ago. and
would help you to regain them. Per
haps I'm not altogether disinterested,
she said, and she gave me one look from
those soft, ianguid eyes Of hers-a look,
Louis which sent the blood coursing
through my veins. For | love her
LouisT he cried.
The love Of the princess for my broth
er Paul had become matter Of common
talk among our friends by the time that
Prince Vlastoff had obtained leave to
visit his estate in southern Russia My
brother PaGl was to travel IL his suite,
and it was arranged that in the winter,
when he proceeded to the capital, the
prince shonld present him to the car
and use his influence in his favor They
had been gono Il month before | heard
from my brother Paul At length he
wrote as fellows
Il have returned to the barbaric life,
and enjoy it. The prince keeps almost
regal state in his great castle Of Sama-
rof | enjoy the free, wild life, the rid
ing, driving and the hunting here. and
1 am happy. for | am with the woman !
love. The prince is already moving in
our matter and has no doubt, SO he tells
me, Of his ultimate success.
Here the letter was continued in a
shaky, hurried writing. totally unlike
the commencement, which was written
in my brothers beautifully clear hand:
Louis, terrible misfortune has hap
pened. The princess and | were wander
ing in the park week ago, the very day
when | commenced this letter to you,
when we heard loud shouts and cries.
Suddenly, from tangled thicket close
to us, appeared wolf. There is nothing
very terrible here in solitary wolf in
summer time, but this was no ordinary
wolf The brute was mad; it had been
hunted and badly wounded BY the hunts
men and torn by dogs: its tongue hung
from its mouth, and rs it came toward
us it uttered little yelping barks Save
me, cried the princess. save me. Paulr
she shrieked, az she clutched my arm.
Her voice attracted the attention of the
infuriated beast, and it made for MS lit
once. Nadia fell fainting to the ground.
AS the brute made its spring | clutched
it BY the throat. and we fell to the
ground together got my knee upon
its chest, and tried to choke the life out
of it. felt its hot breath on my face
and stared with terror at its red eyes
aud | wondered whether my strength
would hold out. Flyr | shrieked to the
woman loved fly, Nadia. for the love
of heavenr But she never moved, for
she lay upon the turf in dead faint
The struggles of the wretched animal
grew weaker and weaker, but | never
relaxed my grip upon its throat: and
slowly-ah. how slowlyl-l strangled
the beast. choking it to death
n turned to Nadia, and | raised her
from the ground. and, pressing impas-
stoned kisses on her lips, | cried id her
ear, There is no cause for fear my dar-
Iingr She seemed to wake as from
dream the great blue eyes opened and
locked at me with unutterable love, and
my kisses were returned You do love
me. Nadia? cried. and her head still
Lay on my chest
Love you. PAUL. she answered. of
course love you Need tell you so in
words, PAUL. she said, and she looked
around her wildly Let us make the
most of our time. Paul, and again she
kissed me for the man | am betrothed
10 will come to claim my hand in one
short month.
NADIA. cried and you talk Of low
ing me;
my marriage with the Prince Bakou-
line she said. IL one Of policy. but
shall always love you, she added. and
then she looked at me in sudden fear.
Paul. Paul Bolskoi.' she said why do
you look like that:
Princess Nadia. answered. il never
loved You: | loved the woman ! thought
you We're
Paul Bolskoi she said calmly
you must BE- mad: the Prince Bakou-
line owes You deep debt Of gratitude.
and then she rose and turned her bGck OH
me. But let me thank you. Il. Bols-
koi. She said formally. let lie thank
you in his name for saving ny ME, and
then she turned as pale - death and
seized my hand Paul she ahrieked.
as she fell upon her knees at my feet,
Paul, my love. my life. you are wound
ed, and for my worthless sake!
''And then saw three bleeding points
upon the back Of my hand Madam, |
said coldly sympathy for one below
you in degree il surely misplaced |
turned away. Lonis, and walked alone
10 the castle
THE French doctor from Warsaw
/ gives me every hope; Elt, Louis, some
thing tells me that | shall die, and |
\ shall have died in saving the life of a
T woman who is worthless.
Z Louis there Is greas news for you,
/ my brother; the czar is willing TO let
! bygones be bygones. our rank and our
/ property are to be restored Prince
Vlastoff only today handed me the re-
I script from his imperial master. Count
/ Bolskoi' he said. as he pressed NV hand
don't speak to me of gratitude: shall
ever be your debtor