Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-07


asked Tomski to choose between "iorgetful-
ness and regret."H
And the conversation which had so pain
fully excited the curiosity Of Lisabeta came
to an end.
The lady who, in virtue OF the infdelities
permitted by the mazurka. had just been
chosen BY Tomski, was the Princess Pauline.
During the rapid eyolutions which the fig
ure obliged them to make. there was grand
! explanation between them, until at last he
conducted her to a chair, and returned to
his partner.
But Tomski could now think no more,
either of Hermann or Lisabeta, and he tried
| in vain TO resume the conversation. But
| the maZurka was coming to an end, and
Immediately afterward the old Countess rose
to go.
Tomski's mysterious phrases were nothing
more than the usual platitudes of the ma
zurka, but they had made deep impression
upon the heart of the poor little companion
The portrait sketched by Tomski had struck
her as very exact; and with her romantic
ideas, she saw IN the rather ordinary count
| enance of her adorer something to fear and
admire. She was now sitting down with her
cloak off, with bare shoulders; her head,
crowned with flowers, falling forward from
fatigue, when suddenly the door opened and
Hermann entered. She shuddered.
"Where were you?" she said, trembling
all over.
eIn the Countess's bedroom. I have
just left her," replied Hermann. ''She is
dead"
Great heavensi What are you saying?"
81 am afraid" he said, ''that am the
| cause of her DEATH"
Lisabeta looked at him in CONSERVATION,
| and remembered Tomski's words: HE
| has at least three crimes on his conscience.
Hermann sat down by the window, and
told everything. The young girl listened
with serror.
So those letters so full of passion, those
burning expressions, shis daring obstinate
pursuit-all this had been inspired bv
anything but lovel Money alone had
inf1amed the mans soul. She. who had
nothing but q heart to offer, how could she
make him happy? Poor child! she had
been the bliEd instrument OF a robber, of the
murderer OF her old benefactress. She wept
bitterly in the agony Of her repentance.
Hermann watched her in silence; but neither
the tears of the unhappy girl nor her beauty,
rendered more touching by her grief, could
move his heart OF iron. He had no remorse
in thinking of the Countess death. One
sole thought distressed him-the irreparable
loss of the secret which was to have made
his fortune.
a long silence.
"I did not mean to kill her." replied
Hermann coldly. my pistol was not
loaded"
They remained for some time without
speaking, without looking at one another.
The day was breaking, and Lisabeta put
out her candle. She wiped her eyes,
drowned in tears, and raised them toward
Hermann. He was standing close to the
window, his arms crossed, with a frown on
his forehead. In this attitude he reminded
her involuntarily OF the portraitof Napoleon.
The resemb blance overwhelmed her.
"How am to get you away" she said at
last. II thought you might go out by the
back stairs. But it would be necessary to 60
through the Countess bedroom, and 1 am
too frightened"
Tell me how to get to the staircase, and I
will 60 alone"
She went to a drawer, took out key.
which she handed to Hermann, and gave
him the necessary instructions. Hermann
took her icy hand, kiJsed her on the fore
head and departed.
He went down the staircase, and entered
the Countess bedroom. She was seated
quite stiff in her armchair; but her features
were in no way ontracted. He stopped for
a moment and gazed into her face as if to
make sure of the terrible reality. Then he
entered the dark room, and, feeling behind
the tapestry. found the little door which
opened on to a staircase. AS he went down
il, strange ideas came into his head. "Going
down the staircase" he said to himself,
"some 60 years ago. at about this time. may
have been seen some man in an embroidered
coat with powdered wig, pressing to his
breast a cooked hat: some gallant who has
long been buried; and now the heart of his
aged mistress has ceased to beat"
At the end of the staircase he found an
other door, which his key opened. and he
found himself in the corridor which led to
the street.