The Press., 1890-09-11

of the bushes to the west I noticed 8 figure stealing toward us woman.
 "Looki She has lost her way. Come nearer to me closer, Ivan, closeri l fear! tremblel' cried, as he clasped me in his arms. But the woman only quickened her pace. which we discov- cred by the frequent flashes of light. Faster and faster she ran toward us. Irenes becoming inconsolable, rushed oil to the nearest cafe.
 The woman was now upon usl For an instant a bright flash illuminated the spot. looked;s I saw face.
 Great God! Vera!
 ''Ivanr' I cried. ssDo you see! A spiriti Her spectrei Vera's ghostr'
 The man strove to speak. His tongue was lashed to the roof of his mouth. He moved ed-confronted her, the phantom like figure, as daredevil might face hamburger of deathi
 ''At lastr' the woman cried.
 'sveraw screamed Ivan, and fell upon his knees before her.
 ''It is here that find your' she con- tinued. ""I have tracked you many times, thinking that you were but build ing our plans as we agreed"
 ''As who agreedY' Ivan cried.
 ''You, Ivan Trolsky, my husband, and I, Vera, your wifer' she answered, as her hot temper fired her. "Yes, as we agreed! have crossed your path score oftimes. Under the park tree heard you plight your troth. In the lovers seat have heard your passionate words of love. have watched and waited pa- tiently, believing that you but schemed as we had promised. But now you have gone too far. Your words are no longer empty sounds. You love that girl! An, deny 1t not! Trust to woman's eyes to read the perfdy in mans heart"
 ''Verap he protested, asI crept further into the shade to miss the flash of her temper.
 ''Out upon it!" she exclaimed. s'The farce has gone far enoughl You would have made it tragedyl Oh, know! The girls failing health but few weeks back, her discovery of her weakness, your attempts to poison heri It is too truei And where is the stranger you found fainting in the street? Olef- f-where is heY'
 "Godl Olefp' screamed, as the fright full truth all darted to my brain. "The stranger, the accident, the hospitalr' I bent my tortured heart to listen.
 "Where is hes" she repeated. "You have told me in your letters-the forci- ble detention of Olef at your friends house-now confess iti And the se- curities that you stole from his bag and sent to me! Ahl you would have killed the girl for her fortune, as we agreed! But your heart, even blacker than mine, turned false to your wife! You ruined the plot by your perfdy! Jeal- ousy drives me to confess iti You loved her! I am here to avenge the wrongl You would have wrought a tragedy-till your mind turned topsy-turvy, and then you would have wed the girl, deceiving her into the belief that I was dead! But now it is my turn! We will end it here! Aye, and with tragedy indeedl Now pay for your sinsv' And with the stout arms of maniac Vera bound him in his tracks; then with giant force she pushed him to the cliff. My heart stood stilll The ground whirledi
 At last Ivan found his speech.
 ''Womanl what would you do?'' and he struggled with her as one of his feet slipped over the rock. He was falling!
 'Verar' he gasped.
 t'No words, man! Over, say!' And as she gathered strength to force him down he Sclutched 8 bush. "Your false, lying tongue shall deceive no more! Down!'
 ''Stopp rang out voice, and to Ivans aid came strong arm, dragging him back to the green turf, where he lay ex- hausted and speechless.
 The dense clouds hung heavier. A tremendous flood of fire swept down. A deafening crash instantly followed and hewn bolt of thunder fell at our feet. The ragged clouds parted. The light swung over the scene.
 "Olefv'
 And I leaped into the arms of my boy loveri
 ''Your worthless life is spared you this time" cried Vera to Ivan. But he spoke not. The sun broke forth from the edge of 8 ragged cloud, shining over the up. turned face of the defenseless man.
 We looked. Vera had been talking to the dead!
 The forked light had left the scared mark of 8 double cross upon his browl
 ''Cesca dear, can you not speakY cried Olef.
 ''Yes, that Is all that can do. You find me here, the withered bush that you have made me--a heart without green leaf upon its twigs; dead tree, upon which you hung your cruel letter, your message of adieu, your declaration to become the husband of another!"
 ''CescaY' was all the protest that he could make.
 'Cescal' cried Vera. '.lt was my wickedness! It was who wrote my own death letter. went to Stockholm, and from one of Olef's letters that he had sent to you, forwarded back to Swe. den to me by Ivan Trolsky, forged Olef's hand; and that Ivan might recog. nize 1t marked the letter with the double cross," as understood between us. It was I who sent the cable dis. patch and the last letter to Ivan, signed 'Olef.' released him from his bondage with Ivan's false friends, and the old housekeeper told us where you were to- day. Isaved your securities. They are here," she concluded, handing me g packet.
 The sun bearned brighter. The fresh. ened trees and grasses held up their green heads with pride as they drank from natures cup. The daisies never Il l,o T