Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1894-09-14
A NIHILIST MANDATE.

was early in the evening, not long after 7,
and he was wondering where to spend the
hours till bedtime. A knock at the outer
door of his chambers disturbed his reyerie.
Being alone, he went himself to answer
the summons. \ lady, tall and thickly
yelled, stood in the passage without.
Mr.. Austen GreyY'
"That is my name, madam"
"NIay / speak with you in privatc'"
Her accent was foreign.
Certainly. VIII you come imp
The lady entered, Austen pulling his
brain rs to who his visitor might be. She
declined the scat offered to her and glanc-
ed around the room.
faro we quite nloncY" she asked.
Quito"
The lady lifted her veil.
"Olqa I.broulonl" cried the young
man in tone ol CONSERVATION.
IL hive NOT altered so much in six years
that you fail to r-cog, iae lie, then, Cecil
Austent" said she. faint smile at his start
OF surprise ara sudden pallor crossing her
durllly beautiful face. Cecil Austcn All,
but you are known more by your nom dc
Theatre now, are YOU notY'
Austen forced himself to appear calm.
What is your business with me, mad
ann" he inquired.
so austcrc Your manner toward me
was so different six years ago in Russia.
Well, well, my businessl To give you
this"
she andod him n letter, which he hest
tatud at first to open.
Breaking the seal at length, he cast his
eyes over the communication which he
drew from the envelope. One glance was
sufficient to cause his hand TO remblc so
violently as to rustic the paper it held.
His palor docpcncd for a moment. Then
his face flushed, and "a disGainful look
came into his eyes.
TAKE this back to those who sent you
to me, " he said, ''and say l have not held
my self subject to their orders since l left
Russia"
"Remembor your oath"
''Such as it was, l took it in a moment
of youthful might say boyish-enthu-
siasm over things l did not rightly under
stand ! saw my folly in time and aban-
doncd the society into the membership of
which 1 was beguiled by your father who
traded on my infatuation for you.
"Infatuation! You swore you could
never love another woman and taught me
to love you Cecil"
Her voice softcncd; her face grew less
stern.
Il am sorry for that episode in my life, 4"
he answered. i was learning to forget
it and houcd You had also"
II? Never! l shall love you to my dy
ing hour Oh, my darling" she cried,
clasping her Lands passionatcly and ok
ing step toward him, "hayc you really
-truly--co..e.d TO love mc:'
1.-The topic $ an unpleasant one Olga--
one have 10 wish TO discuss. 1t was
not love l had ior you. l have discovered
that"
You have GiSCOvcrcd-ahn'
Her swift Fl >hing eyes fixed themselves
ON u photog,u, d standing upon the man
telpiece Il WAS the picture Of n young
girl whose face was the embodiment of
beauty, tenderness and trust.
"You have discovered j., have you? Did
she help you u make the discovery"
THAT is the lady hope soon to make
my wiIc"
The words We're spoken coldly, haughti-
ly. For n moment Olga Dobrouloffs fca-
lures burned with the fierce fire of pas
sionate hate. Hor fingers gripped the pic
ture tightly-grippeu ii as though they
would crush it. suddenly they relaxed,
and with pitcOus moan she sank upon
her knees and lowed her head.
"Oh, Cecil, " she cried in bitter anguish
"thcn | must not hopc-I, who have car
ried your image in my heart these long,
long yearsY In what a FOOLS paradise l
have lived And yet it has been so sweet. "
Undoubtedly l will not commit muir
der"
'Ivan Bronslli is a traitor-a dog unfit
to breathe God pure air. 1t is not muir
der TO take the life of such as he. He re-
vealcd plot which would have struck a
gigantic blow for Russian freedom and be-
trayed my father, who is sentenced to a
living death in the Siberian mines-he
l.. ell
l succeeded in escaping arrest. 1t was
known that Bronski had fed to England.
He had merited death, and the lot fell to
you among our brothers in this country
to wreak vengeance upon the traitor /
begged to be allowed to carry the decision
of the chiefs To you, but on my arrival in
London none of our fraternity could tell
me where to find Cecil Austen. BY chance
i was present at the first performance OF
your play, recognized you when you were
called before the curtain and followed you
to this place. | have kept your identity a
secret from our friends, because my in
stnct told me it would be for your good.
Your population of me Is not unexpect-
ed, Cecil Your six years silence could
only mean that you were tired of me. New
ertheless 1t was shock to hear the truth
from your lips And you still refuse to be
true TO your oath as nihilist?"
Il am no longer nihilist, however
much Imsy sympathize with the nihilstiC
aims. To ask me to commit murder is re-
voting.'
The chiefs punish with death those who
do as you are doing"
Il have no fear of them"
She said nothing for some minutes, but
looking steadily at him, extended her hand
81 am afraid my coming has brought a
cloud over your triumph and happiness
am sorry, Cecil. Goodby."
He pressed her hand She, turning,
moved toward the door. Austen followed
"Olga, he said, a burning desire rising
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 a last good
by"
Sobs burst from her throat in a wild
torrent. Austen stood with the paper she