The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-05-19
WITHIN The CIRCLE.
a Tragedy of Love and Nihilism.

and estates. A year ago he went TO live at
the Russian capital. where he presently fell
In love with young lady of exalted rank.
whom we may call Olga Ozoteroff. She was
the only child OF famous Russian general,
and as her mother was dead, she was mis-
tress of the household, aud thus free to do
very much as she pleased. Indeed, she was
noted as much for her freedom of manner
ana fearless unconventionality as for her
beauty of person aud grace Of character.
When, therefore, she and the young En-
glshman became engaged their manner
toward each other was more like that of a
pair OF American young people than OF the
chaperon-guarded and convention-fet-
tered people OF the old world.
Her freedom and independence first startled
and almost shocked her lover, who was &C
customed to conservative English ways.
But he perforce regarded everything she
did as right. And SO he obeyed her without
demur when one evening, as is learned from
the diary he kept, she babe him accompany
her secretly from her fathers palace TO
an unknown part of the city. For half an
hour they drove through various streets,
whittier he could not tell, for the carriage
curtain were closely drawn. Then the car
riage stopped. For moment she sat as if
irresolute; then bidding him close his eyes
until she gave him permission to look, she
led him by the hand out Of the carriage,
across court, into some building. The
murmur of many voices sounded in his ears,
and the luster OF many lights smole his
eyelids. And then she babe MIN look.
They stood in large vaulted hall, among
hundred men and women, most of them
young. Strange banners and symbols were
displayed along the walls, and on table
in the center Of the room three grinniug
skulls were laid. The scene was strange to
him, yet he recognized it at a glance. And
when he turned to her to see if it were a
dream, he saw the light of triumph and ex-
ultation In her eyes, and thus he learned
the truth.
She was nihilist.
These we're all nihilists. This was their
council hall. This was where they plotted
treason and murder and the downfall of
everything that he held sacred. and hither
to be initiated into their circle she had led
him! For one mad moment he could have
smiuten her to the death, and in the uext he
loved her more than ever. Why. this was
only an infatuation. This noble girl had
revolted against the brutal tyranny of the
imperial regime, against which the English
man had himself in secret ragged. In her
sublime enthusiasm for liberty she had
Joined these conspirators. 1t was a holy
ambition. She was a heroine. And be-
cause she loved him so greatly and trusted
him so implicitly, she had brought him
hither to make him share in her work of
humanity.
Would he be initiated and enrolled? At
once! And he pressed forward to take the
oashS with headlong zeal. Upon the three
skulls he swore them. Upon one he, a rep
resentative of the British empire, swore
the annihilation of all government. Upon
the second he, the scion of an ancient and
noble house, swore the humiliation OF
society. And upon the third he, pillar of
the established church, swore the annihila-
ton OF all gods! Aud when he saw the ap-
proving light in her eyes and felt the fond
pressure of her hand he exulted in that
which he had done.
Serious thoughts came on the morrow
when for a few hours he was parted from
her. he realized the enormity Of the oaths
that he had sworn. He knew that he had
allied himself with that which he most
loathed. He knew that he had imperiled his
name and his very life. 1t was horrible.
All, but he would get out Of it all! They
would soon, must soon, be married. Then
he would take her home to England and all
this would be dream of the past. 1t was
her love of freedom aud humanity that ha
made her nihiist. 1t was her love of him
that had inspired her to lead him into tbs
same dark circle. What a noble woman
And in England, beyond all reach of con-
spiracy, beyond all need of it, how happy
they would be-
A few days later a startling event oc-
CURED. The circle was informed that a
great blow was to be struck. A tyrani
was to be removed. The committee of
action reported that the time was oppor-
tune and the victim within easy reach.
His name. as usual, was not divulged to the
circle, but was to be known-uutil the
event-only to the committee and to the
member chosen to execute the decree. Thi;
report was greeted with unanimous ap-
prevail. Thornton hesitated for a moment,
but when he saw the fanatic fire that blazed
in OlRa's eyes ne, too, Joined in the cry.
Forth with all members Of the circle, two
by two, renewed their oaths, and added an
other, to obey unhesltatilgly the commands
of the committee on action, whatever they
might be. Two by two they swore, their
| hands clasped above the grinning skulls,
| while the president of the circle clasped
their two hands In his. 10 this way George
Thornton and Olga Ozoterof took their
oaths together. And the president Of the
| circle grasped their hands with unwonted
fervor and articulated with added emphasis
each word of their dreadful VOWS. He had
been a sutton of hers, this Loris Stransky,
and there were those VINO said he hated the
man who had succeeded where he lad
failed. Yet surely such passions were for
gotten now, aud he and Thornton were
loyal comrades in the holy work of Russia's
redemption. Certainly none had more cor
daily welcomed the young Englishuan TO
the circle, and none took more fraternal
interest in him than Loris Strausky.
Next the committee cast into an urn the
names OF all the mem bers Of the circle who
were fitted to execute the tyrants death
sentence and placed the urn before the
president that he might draw forth one by
lot There was painful silence for mo-
ment as StTansky thrust In his hand and
then held up the folded slip Of paper.
"Swear we, all OF u.s." he cried hoarsely
''to abide by the lot of fatem
I'VE swear it!n was the response Of all &;
the voices of the lovers blending with
vibrant energy in the fierce chorus.
Then Stransky slowly unfolded the ballot
| and glanced at the name it bore. His coun-
tenance was as fixed as marble and his voice
unchanged as he looked upon the circle and
announced the choice:
George Thorntonn
And then mighty cheer arose. and they
all thronged round the Englishman to con-
graduate him on his good fortune, in that
| he, foreigner and the newest member OF
| the circle, should thus be chosen for such
an exalted duty. And even she came
closer to him, with quiveriug lips but
| flashing eyes, and whispered fondiy:
Now am prouder of thee and love thee
more than ever"
Then the president of the circle spoke
| again:
1--WE greet thee, our brother" he said,
"and we envy thee the fortune that is
] hn lyY,ox