The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-03-08

- esAAN
G ::'; as s'.: ;;':::'
towards morning he grew calmer. Hi
mind began to work again; he looked at the
situation more coldly, and at once his in
vsntive mind began to suggest a way not tc
obey Muller. The thought that vladimir
should be saved and he, Schelm, should
have to undo all he had so cunningly de.
vised for the benefit of his enemy, was un-
bearable to him.
II should have waited fifteen years.
should have shed tenrs of grief and shame
at the sight OF this mans happiness-and
should miss this opportunity? No, indeed!
Here / I'm in my stronghold. l shall never
leave it again. Here / am invulnerable! !
knew there was danger in my leaving it.
Muller will move heaven and earth to save
his friend. He can do it. too, and he will
do it, unless"
Here lay Muller's mistake. He did not
think 6chelm would think him capable of
betraying the nihilists. Schelm knew man.
kind to we'll not to know his old agent thor
oughly. He knew full we'll that Muller in
his capacity as head of nihilism would al
ways shrink from the idea of harnlinR the
society of nihilists. There his very nobili-
ty of character made him weak. But
Sshelm was still more afraid of his dauRh-
ter. Muller would probably persuade her
to make q deposition, after he had opened
her eyes, and Schelm knew shat his dpugh-
ter was loyal in her way. Another Danger
he saw in Darine's cupidity. "He must be
frightened he said to himself. "Yester-
day he revolted the first time in his life. If
he comes back to me that SHOWS that he is
still afraid of me. FIJI frighten him and
he'll come round. I must be quick; the
trial is near at hand!"
He had himself dressed and then sent for
his daughter Louise" he said, II had an
offer for you yesterday"
II shall not marry" she replied, shaking
her head. "My heart is broken!'
"Refloct, Louise! The man who hopes to-
win your hand is enormously rich. He has
i've millions" %
"And if he had a hundred"
He only asks you to capitulate to your
conscience. 0 know You will be called
upon to testify at the trial-if you consent
to free Count Lanin-"
What are you saying, father?" she
broke in violently. Are you mad? Do
you think I would forget my vengence for
money! And they propose" Then, be-
coming more excited, she continued: II
do not see clear in this unfortunate affair.
Perhaps I'll learn more from the proceed
ings at the trial; but ] tremble, for l begin
to think you have had q finger in Vandine's
death! Then, father: oh!-I do not know
what l might not dol"
"Come, Louise" he said. keep quiet,'
and he smiled very strangely.
mo! do not sleep at night, for I al
ways remember that You warned me of
Vandine's danger. Do you know that /
shall mention that in court?"
schelm trembled. Even if it should
compromise you father?"
"Why not? But you had better explain /
to me how you stand in this affair. Do you /
not see ! am dying?"
"You know Darine is my friend. The
physician told him that Conn Lanin COW |
eted Prince Vandine's large fortune. II
would be a grand thing, he thought, to try
An alde-de-camp of the emperor for muir 4
der; hence Dariue let matters 90 on and
only reported them here. to me, as his su- |
perior."
But this is horrible!"
"The welfare of the individual must yield
to the Interests of the mass-the peoplev'
My conscience was uncertain, and |
now you make itstill harder for me to know |
where my duty CALLS"
Remember, at least, my daughter, that |
/ leave you free to act as you choose. I tell |
you more. Modify your evidence in court |
itr' ~ p"'N A'' A'i'oD fouo'eS iof
"NeverH cried Louise, indignant. "What? |
They expect to buv ME? Then they must be !
guilty! ] shall follow my conscience alone
in testffyine. Isaw the count bring in the
poison. He was pale"
Reflect, my child, Eve millions"
Sbe looked at him with contempt. II
verify believe you wish me to do it father.
/ am ashamed to call You father!'
ochelm pretended to be furious all of a
sudden. He seized his cords, crying out:
Leave me, unnatural child! Wretch! Leave
me Instantly"
Is soon as Louise was outside he rubbed
his hands. smiled and said: How easily
honest people can be cheated! Ha! ha! hap
On the evening of the same day Schelm
was alone in in his room, when the pre-
which announced Darine.
"Ah! He comes-conseuuently he wnnts
me-. his faith in the future of nihilism ia
my hold on him; why should he not believe
IN 1t! They have made HIM what he is.
Now-he must be frightened"
de drew the string and Darine entered.
have betrayed me-" said Shelm.
do you want here?"
II have not betrayed you! Our head or
dered me-
sour head? On! Very well. Go to him.
l am released OF all obligations to you. You
must look to him henceforth!"
"But, sir"
"Silence! l do not wish to see YOU. |
Come back to me when the count is con-
Then III pardon YOU. But only
that price. was helpless down there.
Here, ! hold you in my hand" Ii
"%3nron, permit me-"
"Not a word! Leave me! To-day I am
not able to listen to one who has 80 in
betrayed me. Go!' He stretched
out his hand towards the ball of strings.
But suddenly he felt a sharp pain in his
hand. This pain changed his affected
wrath into genuine evaporation.
why don't you 60? II you wish to see
ne choose another time; you ought at least
20 have had the grace to leave me twenty |
our hours alone. Here l am not the poor
,~aralytic and you will not get the better Of
ne, neither J OF nor that cursed nabob. Go
3
Darins looked at him with a strange OK.
'ression in his eye, shrugged his shoulders I
md left. SchOlm did not SEQ it; he was ex-
mining his right nrm, in which no had ]
cit shooting pains. The door closed. I
Il have frightened him" Schelm thought. i
and that ia good for me, that ia the way
'sed to keep the clerks in the bureaus up to