The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-09-13
A NIHILIST MANDATE.

young man sat smoking and thinking. 1t
was early I'm the evening, not long after 7,
and he was wondering where to spend the
hours till bedtime A knock at tho outer
door of his chambers disturbed his rovcrie.
Being alone, he went himself to answer
the summons. A Indy tall and thickly
yelled, stood In tho passage without.
MIR. Austen Grey"
.That Is my namc, madam"
MAY / speak with you in private"
Her accent was foreign.
/ Certainly. VIII you come inf"
! The lady entered, Austen puzzling his
brain as to who his visitor might be. She
declined The seat offered to her and glano-
cd around the room.
Arc we quite aloncN" she asked.
Quite"
The lady lifted her veil.
"olga DobrouloilH cried tho young
man in n tone of conservation
o. Il have not altered 50 much in six years
that you fail to recognize me, then, Cecil
AUSTEN" said she, u faint smile ut his start
of surprise and sudden pallor CROSSING her
darkly beautiful face. Cecil Austen! All,
but YOU are known more by your nom de
theatre now, are you nott"
Austen forced himself to appear calm.
What Is your business with me, mad
amp he inquired.
1 $50 auslcrei Your manner toward me
was so different six years ngo in Russia.
Well, well, my business? 10 give you
this"
She nndcd him letter, which he hest
tatcd at first to open
Breaking the seal at length, he cast his
eyes over the communication which ho
drew from the envelope ono glance was
sufficient TO cause his hand 10 trgmblc so
violently as to rustic the paper 1t held.
His pullor dcppcnod for moment. Then
his face flushed, and dlsdainful look
ualuc into lis eyes
''l'akc this back to these who sont You
to me-" he said, land say | lunvo not held
my self subject to their orders since l loft
Russia"
"Remonlbcr your o9th." .........
''Suuh as it was, l took 1t In n moment
of youthful might say boyish--cnthu-
siasln over things dll not Rightly under
stand ] saw my folly in time and ahan.
doned the society into the membership of
which was beglilcd W your father, who
traded ON my infaruuton for you
"Infatuation You swore you could
never love another woman and taught me
to love you, Cecil"
Her voice softcngd; her face grew less
stern ....-
Il am sorry for that episode inmy life, I"
he answered. II was learning To forget
1t and hoped you had also"
II Never! l shall love you to my dy-
ing hour Oh, my darling she cried,
clasping her hands passionauly and TAX
ing a step toward him, ''havo you really
-traly-ceascd to love mct''
The topic is an unpleasant one, Olpn--
one i have no wish 10 discuss 1t was
not love had for you. have discovered
that"
"You have diseovcrrd-ahw
Her swift, flashing eyes fixed themselves
on photograph standing upon tho man
tcipicce. II was the picture Of young
girl whose face was the embodiment of
beauty, tenderness and trust.
"Hou have discovered it, have your Did
she help you to make tho discovery"
That Is the lady l hope soon to make
my wife"
The words were spoken coldly, haughti-
~ For moment Olga Dabrouloif's fei1.
r lures blEnrd with The fierce fire Of pas
sionute late. Her fingers grippad the pic
uuro tightly-Rrlppcd it rs though they
would crush it. Suddenly they relaxed,
and with piteous moan she sank upon
her knees and bowed her head
oh, Cecil, - she cried in bitter anguish,
I'theD l must not hopr-I, who have car.
ricd your image In my heart these long,
long years? In what fools paradise |
have livcdl And yet it has been so sweet. =
Undoubtedly. / VIII not commit muir
der !"
"Ivan Brunski is Il traitor-a dog unfit
to breathe Gods pure air. 1t Is not muir
, der To take tho life of such IA hu. ltu re.
vcaltd plot which would have struck a
3 gigantic blow for Russian freedom and be.
truyed my father, who is sentenced to /,
living death in tho Siberian mincs-hu
anl his follow martyrs BY good fortune
l succeeded In escaping arrest. 1t was
known that Bronski lind fled To England.
lie had mriited death, and tho lot fell to
you among our brothers in thi, country
To wrrak vengeance upon the traitor. |
begged To be allowed to carry tho decision
of tho chiefs to you, but on my arrival in
London none Of cur fraternity could tell
! me where to find Cecil Austen by chance
l was present at the first performances Of
, your play, recognized you when you were
called before the curtain and followed you
, to this place. l have kept your identity Il
secret from our friends because my in
}. sttnct told me 1t would he for your good
80 ~ f'N'"t'i' ~ 80 - i''' '4''1NA'''F'
cd, Cecil, Your SIX years silence could
only mean that you were tired Of me, Nev
ertheie7s 1t was shock 10 hear the truth
from your l'pa. And you sim refuse to b,
true 10 your oath as nihiitstf'
am no longer hlhlllst, however
much may syinpathi2e with the nihillatit
aims, 70 ASK me TO commit murder is re
Voting
he chiefs punish Win uralh those wht
do us you are doing.
u have no fear OF them.
She said nothing Tor a"nn minutes, but
locking steadily at HIM, extended her hand
Il am afraid my coming has brought /
cloud over your triIrAph aud happiness
/ am sorry, Cecil ,f"odby."
Ho pressed her hand. She, turning
: moved toward the door. Austen followed
Olga, ho said, burning desire risinl
= in his heart to speak kindly words to thi
woman whose love hew bound to reject
she Interrupted him.
say nothing to nle except n last good