New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-10-26

~ A'Sf
Ieeiled and wreathed around fAvina's lead.
Pretty. pretty" she md hured; beautiful
| lyon sec. Paul Sergevitch, that your little
daughter has taken to me at once" remarked
She has certainly taken e you in most won;
heart"
MEs YET +. v aa@ss with Sr 80 STRANGE a.
new acquaintance, and sliding down Nom
hes knee, crept from the room IN search Of her
Paul and Ravina remained silent for few
moments and then the woman broke the silence.
is to trespass on your hospitality, and to ask you
to lend me some disguise, and assist me to gain
the nearest post-town, which think Is VitrosN
all?' demanded Paul, a deep Hush rising to his
cheek; you are perfectly safe In my house;
and if you attempt to leave Kostopchin you will
And Paul Sergevitch win tell them where they
can find me ?" questioned Ravina, with an ironical
| infection in the tone OF her voice.
| Il never thought-that is stammered the
man.
mo, you never thought that could read you
so plainly pursued the woman, pitilessly but
| it Is the truth that have told you, and sooner
than remain an inmate OF your house. would
leave it even il all the police Of Russia stood ready
|
Stay, Ravina' exclaimed Paul, as the woman
made a step toward the door: Il do not say
whether your reading Of my thoughts Is rlght
or wrong. but before you leave, listen to me.
| tell you plainly that from the first moment that
| set eyes upon you. strange new feeling has risen
in the cold thing that that society ht
flows down like molten lava from the volcanoes
crater Stay Ravna, be my wife-you are safe
enough from all pursuit here
And does Paul Sergevitch actually mean TO
4 I,or
| not even know and of whose feelings toward hum
he is entirely ignorant?' asked the woman, with
| her customary hooking laugh
What do care for name or birth ?" returned
he. hotly; Il have enough for both, and rs for
| love my rassion would soon kindle some spark
of it in your breast, cold and frozen as IL may
" Let me think little said Ravina, and throw
ing herself into an armchair, she buried her face
in her hands and seemed plunged IN aeep re re
Fiction. - Listen said she at last nav
! thought over your proposal seriously. and upon
certain conditions. will consent to become your
wife. At the present moment have no i Ili Ia
rcpugnance for you. l will remain here Tor o
month. and during that time I shall remain IN a
suite OF apartments which YOU, VIII have pre-,
pared for me. Every evening l will visit you
here for two hours. and upon your making your;
self agreeable my ultimate decision VII depend
And suppose that decision should be an un-
T Then answered Ravina. with ringing laugh,
Il shall. MS you say leave this and take your
| heart with me n,
These are hard conditions remarked Paul.
Why not shorten the time, of probation
NV conditions are unnlterable,' answered
| Pavina, with n little stamp OF the looC' W Sou
| agree TO them or not =
| Il have no Alternative answered he. sulenly.
The days slipped slowly and YEARLY away, n.'
Ravina showed no signs OF relcntinG E.c!S tnvi,
| ing. according TO her bond, she spent TWO noHIs
with Paul and made herself most agreeable lis''h-
ing to his far-fetched compliments and asseVerh1
tons of love and tenderness either WIN C o
.1, - har
! refused to allow Paul 10 visit her In her own
apartments, and the only intruder she permiIfu
there. save the servants was niue haiLin Nv
had taken strange fancy to the talr woman.
| Alpyis on the contrary, avoided her as much as
he possibly could, and the pair hardly ever met.
Meanwhile curious rumors began to be clrcul ;
| regarding the strange proceedings OF the iadS WIN
occupied the suite Of apartments which had FORM
erly belonged to the wife OF the owner OF NOS,
topchn The servants declared that the 1000 o
| sent up though hacked about and cut up; was
never tasted. but that the raw meat IN the larder
was frequently missing. Strange SOUNDS were
often heard to issue from the rooms as the panic
stricken scrfs hurried past the corridor upon when
! the doors opened, and jewellers in the house were
frequently disturbed by the howlings OF wolves,
the footprints Of which were distinctly visible
the next morning, and curiously enough, lnvafl-
ably in the gardens facing the west slde OF me
house in which the lady dwelt Little Alexis,
who found no eneouragemens 70 d.a Tie omnn ,S
| the serfs and heard the subject discussed with
many exaggerations. One of his most treasured
|
pistol a present from Michal: this he had learned
| 10 load, and by using both hands to the cumbrous
weapon. could contrive to fire it of as many an
| ilI->tarrrd sparrow could attest. With his mind
constantly dwelling upon the terrible tales he mad
so greedily listened to, this pistol became ms
daily companion. whether he was wandering ABOUT
the long echong corridors of the house or wander
ing through the neglected shruboerles OF 'he
| garden.
For fortnight matters went on in this man
ner. Paul becoming more and more infatuated by
the charms Of his strange guest. 10 satISiy q
whim of hers, he had even dismissed old Michal
from his Office and forbidden him TO approach the
house But the faithful old servant, whose love
for the children was stronger than nus fear OF
punishment took to wandering oy nlght apouC
the exterior of the great white house. urged on
by feeling for which ne could IN no wise
account.
One evening, as Michal was ma ing his accms-
toned tour of Inspection the wall OF child struck
upon his ear lie bent down his head and eagerly
listened: again lac heard the same faint sounds.
and in them he lancird he recognized the accents
ground-hoor windows in Ravna's apartment,
from which dim light STRAINED, he pressed his
aci ho pe'' sight sf @ Itself to his
iIiy the faint light Of shaded lamp he saw
Katrina stretched upon the ground but her vail
ing had now ceased. for a shawl bod been
Med across her little mouth. Over her was
bending a hilcous shape which seemed to be
clothed in some white and shaggy covering:
Katrina lay perfectly mOtionleSs, and the hands ot
the figure were engaged in hastily removing the
garments from the child's breast. The task was
soon effected; then there was bright CLEAN Of
Steel and the head of the thing bent closely
down to the child's bosom.
With yell of apprehension, the old man dashed
in the window frame and drawing the cross
| from his breast sprang boldly into the room.
! The creature sprang to it's feet and. the white
| fur cloak falling from It's head and shoulders.
disclosed the palld features Of Ravina, short:
broad knife in her hand and her lips discolored
| with blood.
Vile sorrrress,7 cried Miclal, dashing for
ward and raising Katrina in his arms, what
| hellish work are you about
Ravinas eyes cleaned fercely upon the old man
xho had inertercd between her and her prey.
She raised her dagger. and was about to spring
Ipon him when size caught sight of the cross in
MS extended hand. With low cly, she dropped