The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1893-10-18

and guard you until the day comes when
you are free. Then l shall come and
claim you as my own, and nothing shall
mar the happiness of our lives.'
you will never be able to be near me
and yet keep from my side. You must
go away altogether, and when you may
come back will send you q message.
But it may be years."
"As you wish. We are both young and
can afford to wait. But, oh, my darling,
reconsider your decision once more-the
last time! Thinkr'
She shook her head sadly.
mot even the love bear to you can
induce me to unsay what have already
said"
"Then we must say goodby."
All the coldness went out of her heart
at a sweep when those bitter words fell
upon her ears. She looked full into his
eyes and said falteringly:
ut seems TO me that l have spoiled
your whole life. All pray for is that
you will learn to forget me soon and to
put me from your thoughts. l do not
mean to be unkind, but such a state of
affairs will be better for both. Goodby."
Five years had flown, and Nine.
Novar sat in her drawing room at st.
Petersburg. In her hand she held the
key that unlocked those chains which
had bound her life's happiness for so
long and which she now hesitated to
utilize as her heart told her. For more
than an hour she sat, filled with n
strange happiness, that savored of re-
gret mingled with remorse. She was
free now, freed from the bonds that the
law had wound about her and the man
who was once her legal husband.
Drawing her writing materials toward
her, she wrote the letter which she had
promised to send five years before.
"Come, Stanislos," she wrote, "if you
are happy, that may know it and re-
joice. Come, If you are unhappy, that
Imay comfort you"
She did not dispatch it, but kept it,
with the intention of handing it herself
to his lawyer.
That evening she had an engagement
at Nine. Zernovo's. There were more
lines on the forehead and cheeks of the
image reflected in her mirror than she
had ever noticed before. The gray hairs
stood out with distinctness that she
had never realized hitherto. After bend
ing close to the glass, she stood erect
sharply.
"What am doing? This childliko
vanity is foolish. But where is that
beauty which brought my ruin. Where
is the luster Of my eyes or the roses of
my cheeks2 All, it is sad that while the
heart is still young the flesh should have
aged so much"
She went down the staircase and en-.
tered her carriage, driving to the house
of her friend.
There were large number of guests
that night. Nine. Novar became her.
self once more and played and enchanted
the company with her captivating voice.
There was one song which on this
particular night she sang with all the
fervor of her heart. It was 1.-The Sleigh
Bells" duet of which she sang but one
part, while no one accompanied her.
People wondered at her strange freak,
but she laughingly told them it was her
whim. Never had she been SO gay since
the time of that terrible parting.
During the second verse tall, hand
some man, dressed in the uniform of the
Imperial Guard, walked quickly over to
the hostess and whispered:
"Will you bring Nine. Novar over to
my wife9 should like to introduce
them to one another"
When the song was finished-the one
in which he had so often accompanied
her five years ago-Mme. Zernova led
her across the room to where Stanislos
stood by the side of his wife.
Madame, let me introduce TO You n
new arrival in st. Petersburg, Captain
Feovitch."
There was an awkward silence for a
moment, while Nine. Novar went ghast.
ly pale and pressed her lips tightly to
gether.
"Allow me to introduce to you my
wife" he said, holding out his hand to-
ward lovely young girl, who glanced
shyly at the woman before her.
LET me congratulate you. You have
indeed a sweet wife,"
The words were slowly and painfully
uttered.
When the Others had moved away, he
said: "You did not write to me. wait
ed until year ago. Then thought |
should never hear"
He spoke with the same frank, boyish
voice that had poured out its torrent of
passionate love in her ears five years ago.
She refrained from telling him the
whole truth now-now she was free-and
how she had waited all these years to
claim him. She said nothing about all
this.
Some one was playing dreamy waltz
while amid the throng of dancers was
his young wife. Mime. Novar reused
herself from the reverie into which she
had fallen and cast her eyes round the
room. When they fell on Mime. Fec.
witch, she murmured:
"She is lovely" She sank into chair