Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-03-23

I have held my own, l nope, as the
Countess Stravensky, never forgetting
the wrongs of Anna Klosstook, the per-
secution of the Jews, and my vows to
this brotherhood. -
Again she paused, for the suppressed
demonstrations of her audience, who i,
much as thew had seen of tragic trouble
and romance, were carried away not
alone with Annals story, but with the
majesty of the woman as she narrated
1t.
PhiIip still sat a dumb witness; moved
by deep emotions, but standing apart, as
it were, altogether from his companions,
listening to Anna IS story from different
standpoint, Influenced altogether from
motives they could neither follow or
understand.
''To the patient and the true, the day
they hope for comes. 1t was at Venice,
two weeks ago. You remember, some
of you, our parting here, the naming of
our rendezvous for Paul Petroski, for
Ferrari, for myself. We met again,
and the Gen. Petronovitch; once more
as the Countess Stravensky, Anna Kloss-
took again had the honor to find favor
in his cruel eyes. Not as in the old days
did she struggle to be free from that
it, courted it in the very presence of his
wife; won him to her size, as Gretchen
might have won the f1end, methinks had
she desired. l beckoned; he came.
tolerated the pressure of his false lips
upon this hand-upon this hand!''-she
continued, raising her right arm aIoft
and clutching her fingers as If she had a
dagger there that beckoned him to his
death!'
Amidst the general gasp of satisfaction
which welcomed Annals tragic declara-
ton, Philip covered his face with his
hand.
Anna looked at him for the first time
during her confession.
"Does anyone doubt my right to the
vengeance which has thrust the dagger
of the Brotherhood into this supreAe
wretch? Let him look upon me!'
Philip, feeling that the words were
addressed to him, raised his head and
again fixed his eyes upon the speaker.
'Let him know why 1 am a Nihilist of
the Nlhilists! Let him behold my title
to vengeance!'
AS she spoke she tore open her dress,
exhibited lovely white arm and part of
a beautiful bust turning at the same
time with swift rapidity to exhibit her
right shoulder and her neck, no farther
than is considered correct by ladies of
fashion at balls and in opera stalls, but
sufficient to thrill iron men who had
themselves been witnesses of the worst
of Russian tortures. Red and blue,
deep ridges and welts crossed and re-
crossed each other, with intervals of
angry patches of red, and weird daubs
of grey that blurred and blotted out all
remains and tokens of the beautiful
form with which nature had endowed
one of its loveliest creatures.
Philip looked and fell forward upon
the table with a cry of horror, his head
in his hands. The others remained dead
still for few seconds until Ivan Kostan-
zhOglo rose quietly from his seat, re-
placed the torn garment over the
woman's shoulders and kissed her rev.
erently upon the forehead.
AS Anna, herself much overcome, re-
sumed her seat, Andrea Ferrari ad
vanced to Philip and laid his hand upon
his shoulder, at which the young fellow
looked round.
''Philip Forsyth, said Ferrari, it
will be against the wish of Anna Klos-
stock if you take the oath that will make
you, body and soul, one of US. What
have you to say?'
Nothing" he replied. "Petrono-
witch is dead. -
ITO BE CONTINUED