Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1890-05-19
ANNAPOLIS. MD. MONDAY EVENING, MAY Is. $780,

His friend tried TO warn him with look,
but before q word could be said, the Pole
had walked across the room. still twirling
the fatal glove in his fingers.
He did this with certain nonchalance
that would have angered q better-tem-
pered man than Count Ardloff A grim
scowl passed across bis face and he
whispered something to an aide-de-camp.
who stood near him. The officer left
the room.
1t was terrible moment, full of con-
sternation and silence. but before the
unfortunate Pole had time to realize his
danger two Cossack soldiers entered the
apartment The company gave way be-
fore them, withdrawing into groups and
lines. Vanca had his back turned to
them and he still wrapped the fatal
glove round and round his fingers He
stood as if lost in reverie, scanning a
marble bust Of the countess.
AT last the stiffness Of the room awoke
him and, as the Cossacks were about to
seize him, he turued. His frightened
eyes met theirs he started back pre-
cipitately, but, with quiet movement.
the soldiers laid hands upon him. In a
low voice the aide-de- camp said
"You are arrested by order of his ex-
cellency."
Dazed and bewildered, Vanca pushed
the soldiers from him and, stretching
forth his hands, appealed to the count
@How Is this, your excellency?" he
cried, wildly; i am guilty of nothing.
There must be some mistake.
Count Ardloff stood broad, tall. and
vindictive, with the light of the luster
shining full on his high. bald forehead /;
an iron-gray beard concealing the lower
part of his square face.
Vanca cried one more word of appeal
and then stopped, puzzled.
Nine. Ardl1f arose, pale and trem-
bling, but her husband motioned her
away.
The guests remained in rows. still as
the figures of frieze, aud, at sign from
the officer, with q movement of the
shoulders, the Cossacks forced the Pole
from the room. The scene was very
short.
Immediately after the count spoke of
indifferent things and glasses of cham
pagne were handed round. Nine. Ard
loft stared vacantly, unable to collect
her thoughts; till, suddenly seeing the
glove which Vanca had dropped, the
reason of his arrest dawned upon her
and she trembled violently, and 30 agi-
tated was she that she could scarcely
say good-by to her guests The count,
however, dismissed them rapidly, speak
ing all the while of the approaching
summer, the number of convicts that
had escaped from the mines and the
emperor.
When husband and wife were alone
the count picked up the glove and
handed it to the countess with an ironi-
cal smile, and, without alluding to what
had happened, said that it was very late
and advised her to retire to her room.
She obeyed without answering.
She knew something horrible was
going to happen and. stupefied with
fear, she mounted the staircase He
stayed behind to give an order and,
ma stering her fears, she listened.
He was talking in the hall below to
his aide-de-camp, and she heard him say
that Vanca must be at once degraded to
the ranks, and her heart beat with Joy
at the prospect of his escaping with so
slight punishment. Her emotion was
so great that she did not catch the next
phrase, and when she heard again her
husband was telling his officer to have
all in readiness, that he would be at the
barracks at nine next morning.
There was something strange in this
and Mime. Ardloff went trembling to
her room. The shadows seemed livid
and the lamp burned luridly and, op.
pressed with the horrors of the evening,
she sat in the silence, afraid to go to bed.
Through the frozen window panes she
could see glistening the wide SHOWS Of
the Siberian winter. Wearily she asked
herself why she had been condemned to
live in these impossible deserts. The
howl of dog broke the stiffness of the
night and it sounded in her excited
mind like the last dying cry of some
poor one unjustly done to death. What
was to become of Vanca? Why could
not she save him2 Save himi Was
there need for that9 Starting to her
feet, she strove by an effort of will to
Il0 NCIbcM Oh u61 t6KTOGbs AuSAs ShcAhSn
with forebodings and regrets, she un-
dressed but hundred fancies assailed
her imagination and gave life to the
figures on the tapestry, to the shadows
on the floor, and, white, like a ghost in a
tomb, she lay restless in her large bed.
Sleep fed from her until at last she
fell into deep, dreamless torpor, from
which, toward morning, she was awak-
ened by heavy tramping Of feet In the
corridor. A moment after her husband
entered. He was attired IN the Russian
military cloak and hts hand was on his
sword.
sect up, he said, impatiently. II
want you to come out with ma / have
ordered the sledge.
~Why should get up at this hour2
It is only just daylight and am very
tired
Il am sorry you are tired, but want