The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-02-08
in . tone that was almost aggres.

"!he doctor hAd act the potion behind. q
CLOCK. IL took me q long time to ind It.
Pardon me. vandine. Pray wait a moment
this potion / NOR fes Snaiys 1a' Th .Sv D 6aGes -
whom ! have dism lssed. took good care 81
you; q change Of treatment might be dam
Rcrous. ! am going to have his medicine
anslyzea, II you please, Akouiina, give me
On the stand bv the bedside was quite an
assortment Of walls ana glnsses. Nine. Pc.
poR took q glass and handed II to the count,
who carefully poured out a few drops Of the
potion. Louiss's patience was utterly ex-
..'why do you not give it to meg' she
cried. lyon are too slow"
Vladimir, without observing the youhe
girls excitement handed her the cup
Louise raised the cup to Vandins's lips
After giving her a grateful look and gently
pressing her hand, the patient swallowed
tho potion at one Rulp.
Suddenly his eyes grew haggard, A livii
buck the cup with his clench0d hand and
cried:
1T was fire you gave me.' With spasms
in all his limbs he fell bnck upon the pill
lows, rolling convulsively. Then he uttered
u terrible cry:
"Vandine, what is the matter?" cried
Louise in dismay.
II nm dying!'' he gasped, writhiug.
III his fright Vladimir had dropped and
broken the glass into which he had poured
a few drops of the potion. Then Louise,
pointing ut him with outstretched hand,
cried:
Count Lanin, it is you who have
poisoned him"
Alexandra was petrified by terror. Vlad-
imir, still unable to account for what had
happened. was going ts draw near the bed
OF the wounded man. As he advanced he
stepped on a fragment of the glass. which
him q violent push.
"Oh!' she cried, you want to destroy the
proofs of your crime. l tell you, Count
Lanin. you have poisoned Vandins."
Akoulina Ivanowna suddenly thrust her
self behind the count and seized Louise by
the shoulders.
you lie, daughter Of Schelm!'' cried she.
IT there is a crime committed here you are
the criminal"
him!" Then returning abruptly to the
bedside, she seized Vandine's head between
her hands. Then raising herself into a
threatening attitude she exclaimed, grand
in her despair:
mo mi shall touch him."
"Louise!-are you mad?' said Alexandra.
But Louise had raised Vandine's lifeless
head.
I'm your terror" she said lyon forget
him. and yet "a i lis is for You that he died-for
She examined the patients face. His
glazed eyes and pallid features alarmed
her. With q %convulsive movement she
passed her hand over his brow and started
back, for Vandine'S brow was cold as mar
bic.
"He is deadr' she cried in a choking
voice. "
"Dead. echoed Alexandra.
"Deadv' repeated Vladimir mechanically
as he again moved toward the bedside. III
But Louise let go V%andine's head. which
fell inert upon the pillows, and darted for-
ward, pointed with her finger ut the spot on
the carpet where a few drops of the potion
had not yet soaked into the wool.
Here is the evidence of your crime! If
Won tnke another step / shall scream for
help"
Vladimir was trembling like a culprit.
He was unable, in his terror, to collect his
thoughts.
Louise she stammered, "come to
your senses; grief has distracted you. Per-
haps Vandine is not dead"
"He il dead and you know it but too
WELL" cried the girl. Moreover, l was
warned of the danger to which he was ex-
posed. Assassin! l will pursue you to the
very foot of the throne"
Akoulina %Ivanowna then coolly walked
bOWutu Uue 0eLl-rOpe, sayings: -r
You will get nobody to believe that
Count Lanin has killed his cousin"
She rang the bell, saying:
"AN will be explained. Unfortunately
the countess is out. Do not be uneasy, nv
lord count. just look at that viper! She
is frightened already"
But Akonlina lvanowna, after raising her
finger rs high as the girls brow, dropped it
in terror. Louise took her station beside
the place where the carpet showed traces of
the spilled liquor, and erect and defiant
met the old woman's glance.
"You are right, madame" she said; call
will be explained"
The door opened; some servants came in.
Behind the servants came a stern-visaRed
a police commissary. At sight of Darine
and the commissary Vladimir could not
help an involuntary tremor that did no
escape Louise. She gazed tixedly ut him,
An! count said she. "you tremble.."
"Wretch.' Alexandra murmured. indi2-
into your head?"
II have poisoned him" cried Louise, as
she suddenly advanced to- ward the COM
missary of police, but it was that man
who gave me the poison. l did not know it
was poison. / swear to o that I did not
il. l would rather have drunk the
deadly draught myself"
Darine came forward, followed by a phy-
sician.
II have been informed" he said. "that a
crime has been committed here"
At these words Vladimir started, rushed
the procurator, and grasping his
arm. cried:
lyon have been informed, you say, of a
crime?"
Eyes. The time has gone by when your
mysterious abodes concealed secrets of in.
To-day, everything is brought to
light and an imperial aide de- camps palace
il az open to Justice as the peasants hut.
Count Vladimir Lanin, imperial aide-de-
camp. you are accused of the crime of poi
your cousin"
II support tho accusation" cried Louise,
drawing herself up. ION the carpet beneath
my feet you will find the proof"
Louise" stammered Alexandra, "have
you lost your senses%
'Silence," said Darine. doctor, do your
The doctor. instead OF hurrying to the
bedside to exhaust the OF his art
lpon the sufferer. considered it his first
tuty to fall on his knees and cut out with
ais bistoury q piece of the carpet, still
with the liquid. which he wrapped
carefully in paper. This strauge action was
by Vladimir and Alexandra. but
Akoulina lvanowna being less excited OBJ
'erved it n said Indignantly:
Are you even sure that this man is past
I'VE shall see about that" coolly replied
he doctor.
You are all scoundrelsy' said Akoulina