The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-03-08
DAls1NE DECLARES HIMSELF A TRAITOR.

cret societies of the world, that mad mil
%lionaire, who. is, i believe, a friend of yours
l am not afraid of him either and Won mas
tell him SO. l dc. not yet fight against him
but If he comes IN my way tell him that ]
am an imperial procurator and that Schelm
has told me his real name. Remind Mr..
Muller that l can nave HIM arrested when
ever it pleases me! Iadvise him to flee and
will furnish him the means. If you ac-
cept my offer, madame. socialism will be
crushed and your husbands prosecutions
will turn into triumph for him. His name
will be written in letters of gold in Russian
history"
lana was d~umfounded by the energetic
duplicity of this man. She made no reply
"You hesitate, madame? One word, a
single word. l know I can trust you. l
only ask you to give me your word. But do
too late. Perhaps you still put your hopes
in Muller? Believe me, I shall crush him if
he resists me. But even if he should think
Of betraying the nihilists, he would never
Sir" said lana, why do you not carry
full to society, without demanding a price
for it? You are the representative of JUS
tice; a brilliant reward"
"Ah! you mean the cross of st. Vladimir
on my neck-a high order! Thank you, no!
l want a position and a fortune. Once
more, do you aRree?"
lana, remembering Muller's recommends
ton, said: Give me till tomorrow! MY
daughter is ready to make the sacrifice, but
l beseech you give me a respite of a few
hours. Tomorrow morning I'll write to
your
We'll, be it so!' he replied, getting up.
II shall wait. 1 frankly confess | wish
your decision may be favorable to mel" He
offered her his hand. Remember, madame.
that l now WELD a great power in the dark
which l shall exchange only for real power
i'll the world. But | am at the same time
justice personitied. If by tomorrow at
one O'Clock l have not received your COM
plete adhesion, a solemn engagement signed
by you. nothing in the world can save your
husbandv'
When Darine had left the door of the
bookcase flew out and Muller rose before
Iana's eyes. Two tears were trickling down
his cheeks and his face looked downcast.
The grief of this Colossus made a deep inn
preston upon lana.
II was smothering in there" he said.
Another second and l would have stran-
gled that man"
Muller, be calm!'
DO YOU, know, lana, that You have Just
now broken the whole strength of my life?
L am beaten.'
After a moments silence he drew himself
up again and said:
'Good-bve, lanai / have one more duty
to fulfill before | sink into-wnat2 / shall
save vladimir, l swear it, and were the trial
over and the sentence spoken"
Muller: you deceive yourself! You are
powerless!'
Are you losing your senses, or do Won
really believe this manT'
II forbid You to write to himn!'
MULLER, you are beside yourself..'
'Do not write! DC not bind yourself in
any way! Do you hearp"
Never had Muller dared sneak thus to the |
one woman he loved. She was not hurt by
it. hut she replied promptly: but if this
is the only way to save my husband"
But how naive you are. Who tells you
that this man may not use your letter for
the very purpose of strengthening tho case
against you husband? He may make it a
against him, and q formidable one
it would be in his willy hands. Do you
really expect YOU can fathom the depths of
his oonsciencep"
She felt how true his words were and fell
upon the sofa, sobbing and Weeping bit
terly. y w
'Jireat God" she exclaimed. ''That ia
Oh! That is the last chance that es-
me! Now we are truly lostv'
He took her hand and said: "And thus
Z becomes nfter all my duty to console you,
md that when my own heart il broken
within me! / have never vet deceived Won
have l?-sinco that fatal night that will
weigh upon me till the end of my life. Do
not trust me? Do you not love me-,
''
She had not strength enough left to pro
,est. He smiled most sadly.
''Yes,y you owe me--with u pure and holy
owe. This silence, for which but yesterday
would have given my life--this silence
it. Look at mel"
He forced her to raise her head.
"by my honor. by your life, by the love