Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1894-12-13
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your father, who traded on my infatua
tion for YOU
Ynfatuation! You swore you could
never love another woman, and taught
me to loye you, Cecil
Her voice softened; her face grew lesf
stern.
u am sorry for that episode in my
life,' he answered. u was learning
to forget it and hoped you had ALSO
u? Meyer I shall love you to my
dying hour. Oh, my darling,she cried
clasping her hands passionately and
taking step toward him, have you
really-trulY-ceased to love me?
THE topic is an unpleasant one, Olga
--one I haye no wish to discuss. 1t
was not loye l had for you. l have
discovered that
YOU have dlscovered-ah 7
Her swift flashing eyes fixed them
selves on a photograph standing upon
the mantelpiece. 1t was the picture of
young girl whose face was the embod'
iment of beauty, tenderness and trust.
YOU llaye discovered it have you
Did she help you to make the discoY-
ery?'
THAT is the lady l hope soon to make
MY wife,
'Oh, Cecil. she cried in bitter anguish,
then l must not hope-I, who have
carried your image in my heart these
long, long years? In what FOOLS par.
ad,se l haye lived! And yet it has been
so sweet
Undoubtedly. I will not commit
murder
THE chiefs punish with death those
who do so as you are doing
u have no fear of them
She said nothing for some minutes,
but, looking steadily at him, extended
her hand.
u am afraid my coming has brought
cloud over your triumph and happi-
ness. | am sorry, Cecil. Good-by.'
He pressed her hand. She, turning.
mooyed toward the door. Austen fol-
lowed.
Olga be said. a burning desire r,s-
ing in his heart to speak kindly words
to this woman whose love he was bound
to reject. She interrupted him.
Say nothing to me except at last
good-by.'
Sobs burst from her throat in wild
torrent. Austen stood with the paper
she had given him still in his hand,
looking, as he felt. terribly agitated.
The memory Of those few months he
had passed in Russia as an attache to
the British embassy returned to him.
He remembered the ambassadors balls
at which be first met Olga Dobrouloff.
He had fallen iu love with the surpass-
lugly beautiful girl at first sight-or at
least he believed it was love at that
time.
Introduced to her father-her only
living relative-the young Englishman
eventually became the recipient of Paul
Dobroulof's views concerning his coun'
try, but it was not until Austen had
strongly expressed his own opinion re-
garding the Russian system of govern =
ment, with all its attendant evils, that
Olga's father boldly avowed himself a
nihilist. Austen applauded the aims
of the society and was at length induced
to become one of the brotherhood, tax
ing the oath to aid them in their secret
war against tyranny.
Shortly after this the death of near
relative called him home. and he had
been in England but little time when
the conviction grew upon him that bis
love for Olga, which he had thought &C
all pervading, was dead. He wrote tc
her to this effect, but received no reply
Perhaps his letter had miscarried
Having no desire to return to Russia, he
resigned his post there, and, having &
small competency, DEVOTED himself te
literature with fair success. Indeed
only two days previous to Olga Dob
rouloff's visit play Of his had beer
produced and we'll received by critics
v accept my fate.' she said, and viii
not trouble you again. You refuse t(
execute the orders Of the nlhilist thiefs?
With head erect she passed out or
the staircase and iii a moment was gone
from his sight. Austen waited unit
her footsteps died away and then slowl,
and thoughtfully returned to his room
The first thing his eyes rested on wa
the order Of the nihilist chiefs that he
Cecil Austen, should take the life o
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