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

had been thrown up between herself and
her ardent lover was removed, and now
they were to be married.
Stanislos was comparative stranger
to Moscow and scarcely two and twenty,
so that the history Of Nine. Novar was
unknown to him. All he knew was that
she was widow, but until then he had
never had any idea Of the truth.
The next day Nine. Novar drove to a
distant part of the city. Happy in her
own thoughts, her face bright and suf-
fused with deep color as the biting
wind touched her cheeks, she scarcely
noticed the passersby rs the sleigh slip
ped over the snow. When at the corner
of street the horses slowed down, she
raised her eyes, and they fell upon the
figure of q tall, gaunt man hearing
coarse, ragged clothes, torn and greasy.
Neither the persistent scowl on his face
nor the thick, matted beard which COW
cred his cheeks could blot out the air of
refinement that pervaded his whole per-
son. In the dragging, slouching walk
there was a similitude of former firm
ness and elasticity of step that had been
shattered by debauchery and vice, while
the brown hands that swung carelessly
by his side had lost but little of their
delicacy and softness.
The cry that she gave caused him to
raise his head and look directly at her.
He stopped and would have entered the
vehicle, but she hastily thrust card
into his hands, and murmured hurriedly:
Call on me at noon today"
He looked her full in the face for a
moment, then turned on his heel and
continued his walk. He was Ivan Novar.
"You have come back, then," said
Nine. Novar in a cold, harsh voice as
her husband entered the room.
"Yes," he answered, folding his arms.
"The rumor you heard Of my death was
a false one, set afloat by those whom it
most benefited. have for long time
been trying to discover your whereabouts
to let you know the truth. l have come
now to save you from disgrace"
"You have come to save me from dis
grace" repeated Nine. Novar, dwelling
with bitterness on each word. "You
have come to rob me of the only happi-
ness which my life has ever knowni
You have come to poison my love, to
tear me away from the only man for
whom hold respect! You have drag
ged your own name into the mire, and
with it mine You ruined my life and
blighted my hopes, and now you come
to save Inc from from disgracel l thank
YOU"
you are very bitter" he answered.
II did it for your sake"
"And what are you going to do now?"
she asked, sinking into lounge.
81 shall go away--forever. shall not
seey you again. Twill let you know when |
am-when you are free. That is all /
can do"
There was few moments silence.
Then she spoke again:
"And VASTLY, where is she"
''Dead," he answered hoarsely.
"Well, you took your happiness at the
expense Of mine, and you have suffered
for it. no longer have need of you.'
She waved her hand in the direction of
the door, and the next moment he was
gone.
For little while Nine. Novar sat, cold,
dumb and passionless, trying to gather
the thoughts which flew madly through
her brain. Then of a sudden she threw
herself on the lounge and burst into a
food of tears.
Shortly after, Stanislos, unannounced,
entered the room and stood with his
hand upon the door, gazing in astonish.
ment at the sobbing figure. She did not
hear his approach.
Martha" he said, laying his hand on
her arm, "what does this mean?" He
went down ON one knee by the side of
the couch. She raised her head and stag
gered to her feet.
ut means that we must part" Stan
islos looked curiously at her, wondering
If intense happiness had affected her
mind. She saw his incredulous express
sion and added chokingly:
my husband is alive. have seen him
today"
at is impossiblew he almost shouted.
"You must be mistaken. 1t is an i'm
postor whom you have seen. Your.hus-
band is dead, and in a few hours you
will be my wife,"
Then she told him everything.
When she had finished. he led her to
seat and sat by her side.
''There is one remedy-the law. You
have but to release yourself from this
mans clutches by the law, and you will
be free. will go at once and arrange
the matter for you. Twill see that your
-my-future happiness is not destroyed
by this fellow"
He rose to go, but she detained him.
"No, no. am as free now as ever
can be while he lives. I could not wish
to seek redress from the law. could
not do it. 1t could never bring me hap
piness, and that is all want. No, no.
You must go away from me-must try
to forget me. You are young and have
all the world before you, while II have
seen enough of the world. You must
not ruin your peace Of mind by refusing
toseereasont through your love glamoured
oyao -