The morning call., 1893-08-13

sate ana leC ouE lnp messenger, Clom lcaVe
Inc. Ishall go to Warsaw tonight"
But the messenger stopped her.
For the love of your husband do not
show yourself in Warsaw. The trial is
taking place this evening; there will BE-
no justice shown-there is mono for our
unhappy country"
Doris waived him away imperiously
Even before she got back to the hall it
was empty, for to be found in the house
of conspirator might mean death or
exile. For moment the young Countess
stood alone in the big hall full of lights
aud flowers, and, looking up, she saw
her own figure reflected in large
mirror, round which beautiful exOtics
were grouped. She raised her arms
and clasped her hands over her head
AS if to ease me physical pain. but in
truth she was quickly making her plans
and deciding what line to follow. Sud-
denly she dropped her arms and murmured
almost unconsciously, 'Doris, my wife,"
She had no more time for thought, for she
had much to do. Running upstairs with
the light step that for the last year had
sounded like music to Felix. she rang for
her maid.
make haste, Nicotine. fetch me your
dark pelisse; no one must know me-"
"Ah, madame" said Nicotine, bursting
into tears, I'VE know-every one knows the
noble Count is prisoner"
''The Count has done his duty, and now
l must do mine. Come with me; we have
much to do. If influence can avail there
is yet hope. If my father were well-but
he is i'll, and has lost his memory-he can
not help me-"
By 10 o'clock the next morning the fate
of the c0nspiratOrs was known They
were to receive no mercy. The suspected
ringleader was not to be found, but three
of the foremost members OF the secret
council, among whom was Felix, were to
be- led 10 one of the public squares and
walk to the place of execution barefooted.
in their shirts. and black veil thrown
over them. in this manner undergoing the
same DEATH as a parricide
"Ncoline, DO you understands" said
Doris, for one moment breaking down.
"They are going to kill my husband |!
They will not even grant him a hero's
but one hope left, l must 60 to Prince
AivaZOwsky."
You viii not go to him, dear mistress ?"
said Nicotine. who had always lived with
Doris.
Il must 60. Bring me nv velvet dress
and make me beautiful, Nicotine. The
wife of Felix Kaplinski must be fittingIy
dressed"
Nicotine had but TO obey. and very soon
In closed carriage.
1t was lovely summers morning. The
Prince was reclining in the veranda of his
country houSe-once. the residence Of a
Polish nObleman-when his servant an
nounced that the Countess Kaplinski de-
sired to speak to him. The Prince rose
quickly and threw away his cigar. He
bad guessed Doris would come and he was
going to revenge himself for the past He
walked into his recepton-room and found
her standing By large armchair. Her
hand WAS resting on the back OF it, and
she looked very beautiful, with a bright
color in her cheeks.
You know ALL" said Doris. II do not,
for the Count never spoke to me OF his
affairs. but have come TO you, Prince, to
ask you to save him. You know he is a
patriot whose name will live; you cannot
let him die. You must speak to the Gar :;
you must"
Perhaps Doris had never looked more
lovely than at this moment. The Prince
resolutely turned his eyes away.
Forgive plain speaking, Countess kap-
lnski, but | cannot save your husband.
He is n traitor to the Gar. If you had
politics, and for your sake mos: men would
discard visions"
Il married him because he would not
discard Them" said Doris. proudly.
The Prince shrugged his shoulders.
Then you must accept the conse-
quence."
Doris. with spontaneous motion, held
out her hands as II TO emphasize her
words.
No, can not. l can not. Prince. listen.
You said once you loved me. Was il me
you loved. or merely my beauty? Don't
you see that loved Felix with q love that
prevented my thinking of any one else?
If you had married me- you would have
married a woman without soul. My soul
must have gone wherever Felix was. 1t is
with him now; it is in his prison; | see
him as plainly as see you; l see his dear
face, brave and resolute as ever. He is
thinking of me, but he thinks first Of Po-
land | have told you this because you will
understand. You have a noble nature,
though sometimes you hide it away. | must
go, | nave much to do. but my pleading will
ring day and night in your ears as iohg as
Felix is alive and if he dies. and you have
done nothing for him. then Prince Alva-
zowsky, you and / can never meet again.
not even in heaven"
The Prince stopped ana kissed her hand,
as was customary, but he said nothing as
Doris retired, to find her faithful maid
waiting for her below.
"Now, Nicotine. take me to your mother.
No one must know where l ALL"
Nicoline's mother was a washer-wOman
lust out side the town. The carriage drove
right through Warsaw. crossing the great
Place Sigismund. adorned with its cOlOssa.
statue, and going toward the Zameck, that
royal castle overlooking the town, paused
at the foot Of the hill. There the two
women got down. and now no one would
have recognized Doris attired in a peas
ants petticoat, and with her beautiful
face stained with walnut juice aud hidden
by hood.
When they reached the washer-woman's
miserable dwarek Nicotine introduced the
Countess and babe her mother keep the
secret.
''Do not be afraid of me-" said Doris
with a smile. II have come to work for a
week. / must wash and iron, so that at
the end of that time no one shall recognize
my hands or suspect that am Doris Kap-
linsk. and then / shall mix with the peo-
pie and see him again if"
She was not brave enough to finish.
Deep down in her heart she knew there
was hardly shadow of hope for Felix,
but she must see him once more.
So she patiently stood at the washtub
and learned to scrub. Nicotine dared not
stay all day because of the neighbors, but
she came every evening TO undress her
mistress ard to make her as comforta BILE
as was possible in the cottage; but Doris
seemed only anxious about the roughness
of her hands and how TO procure old
clothes from the Jews quarter. The
women who came into the dwarek Cos