The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-11-13


departure. In her determination 10 pursue
this course she felt ready, If necessary. 10
qualify herself for Siberia by committing
gone honorable crime-the publication, for
the commission of some Unsuitable political
homicide. If anyone in this world
deserved killing IL was that treacherouss
Gorski, who had SO shamefully betray ed
her husband. What had her husband coneT
lie had striyen to raise the moral and IN
teliectuai status of the soldiers intrusted
TO his charge. The books he had gwen
them TO read were of an elevatiDg. but not
of a Revolutionary kind. And now her hus-
band was to pass the seven best years OK
his life In Siberian exile. while his vile de-
famer, traJucer. betrayer. was TO remain
at St Petersburg TO profit by tho Tepnts-
ton TOR eloQuence he had gained at her
husbands expense.
just then Natalia's maid. Masba. hurried
In with q newspaper. which contained q
brief but sufficient account of the fatal
duel between Gorski and Borodin.
The wretch has fought and has not been
killed. Is there justice In heavenf che ex-
claimed. Not only has he slain Borodin-
better, Drawer man than hlmself-a man
who sincerely cared for me, and whom |
perhaps treated harshly. Why, did they
fight7 see il all; Borodin understood the
wretch. He saw through him and hated
bin for his perfdy towards Miliutin. and
for the injury, the cruel injury he was do
ing to me. But BorodiD," she said 10 her
self, as she looked once more at the news
paper, 1.-The Borodin / knew, the Borodln
that villain Gorski knew, MAS tutor; and
this one was q soldier. Why could he
have enlistedf 1t was perhaps for my sake
that he joined the army"
Happily for her peace Of mind. Natalia
did not know 1t was through Borodins
jealousy of her husband that Miliutin was
first informed against.
Colonel Miliutsn was to start on his
dreary journey in about a week, during
which time Nataiia was permitted TO see
him every day. The sympathy felt for the
young officer by ST. Petersburg society was
general, and endeayOrs were made In va
rious quarters TO obtain for Natalia Mi
liutin permission TO accompany her hus-
band to Siberia. But all in vain.
Several months passed. Miliutin was
now half way on his road to Irkutsk; the
grave of BorodIn was already covered with
grass, and Gorskl, after undergoing q
comparatively brief term of imprisOn-
ment. had been set at liberty. During
the whole period of bis imprisonment
Gorski had never ceased to think of the
enchanting Natalis. To what crimes his
passion for this woman had led him. And
now, after he had got her husband exiled.
and had killed one of her most de-
voted ADMIRERS his SUIT WAS no more adj
vanced than when, in the drawing-room
of General Gontseharoff. he had gszed npon
her for the first time. Ii Natalia know the
truth: 1T she was really aware that he had
so defended her husband that he was sure
to be convicted. IT, moreover, she had in
any way discovered that his mortal quarrel
with Borodin had its origin in BOrodiD's
knowledge of the shameful betrayal he had
practiced, then his case would, of course,
be hopeless. But be would assure her-he
sacred-that he had defended her hns-
band in all sincerity. and that if he had
allowed himself to be carried away into
an imprudent hurst of passion. the origin
of this purely tactical error was the pro-
found sympathy with which her husbands
case had inspired him. If he had after.
ward qnarreled with Borodin. the cause of
their falling ont was one which Natalla, OF
all persons In the world, could not ignore.
1t was Borodin who had first Informed
against Colonel Miliutin; and Miliutin's
wife c0uld scarcely blame him if, in his
rage be had provoked the spy. and risking
life against life, shot him dead in a duel.
This, as he himself would have put il.
was his case and with this case he resolved
TO go to Natalia and throw himself at her
feet
One autumn afternoon at sunset Natalia
Gontscharoff was gazing from the window
of her house on the English quay upon the
cold blush waters of the fast-howing
Neva. when visitor was announced.
Who is itP' asked Naralia.
1.-THE mani" stammered out the footnan
the man. madame, you know who
What mani Has he no cardi"
mony." said Gorski," who, forcing his way
past the servant, walked into the drawing
room.
Great heavens; you venture to come
here." exclaimed Natalia; you. who are
the cause of my husbands conviction, of
his exile. of my despair"
Listen to me, Natalia Ivanovna" cried
Gorski. II have been misrepresented cal
umnied-I. who would die to serve you.
1t has been my misfortune not to be shot
by that villain BorodiD. who. as fate would
have il, fell by my hand. 1t would have
been better had fallen by his. He was
an informer and traducer, and slew him.
Your husband was hero and instead of
lessening the part he played. | magniiied
1t. and inspired by my sympathy aud ad-
miration for him. exalted his heroism.T
Il have nothing to do with your private
quarrels." exclaimed Natalia; but re-
CARDS my husband. you gave him deliber-
ately into the hands of his enemies. Viii
lam that you are, you purposely betrayed
him."
lyon cut me to the heart. Natalia Ivan
ovna by such words" exclaimed the barris-
ter. III, in the ardor of speech, lost nv
If he had been stranger should have
remained calm. but. knowing how dear he
was to you, and feeling how dear you nave
always been to me. could not restrain N.Y.
self ] was full of Indignation. and my in
dignation spoke in words of its own: and
you have not one atom OF sympathy--nOt
even of pity-for me-"
He approached her and m ade an attem ut
to seize her hand, which she at once with
drew.
keep off. leave melD she exclaimed. She
glanced at q richly -jeweled Circassian dag
ger lying on the table before her. 1t be-
longed to her husband. aud she had been
using it as a paper-knife.
Incapable of love. Gorski nevertheless
felt an overwhelming passion for the
woman no had so deeply injured. He again
advanced toward her. and. taking her
by the hand-his touch made her
shudder as though she had come
in contact with some reptile-he
placed his arm around her waist, nd tried
10 imprint kiss upon her cheek. now
scarlet with shame and anger. She seized
the dagger. which. in his blind infatuaton,
Gorski had not perceived. and stabbed him
to the heart.
Then she rang the bell. and, on the SER
want appearing pointed to the PROSTATE
form Of the advocate. and said. Call the
police"
On the details of the trial it is needless
to dwell. The act was not TO be denied.
and the prisoner. for reasons of her own.
was not anxious to have 1t too com pie tely
justified. The barrisier who defended her.
without attempting 60 emulate the de-
ceased Gorski, made ont poor a case for
his client that 1t wac impossible not to
send her to Siberia; and four months after
ward Miliutin had thu happiness of en-
bracng his wife in the TOO famous city of
exile. where he had now been appoin ted to
a place of some Importance in the civil ad-