The Indianapolis journal., 1895-12-26
The Cars Diamond

such Is the proud position for which 1t
Is destined"
As the man speaks he turns the glitter
ing bauble this way and that between his
fingers, until. catching the rays from the
swinging lamp, its every facet reflects the
light in a thousand flashes of prismatic
fire.
Indeed" tho Princess responds. watch
ing the play OF color In the stone, then
why do you seek this interview with me?'
1.-The Princess" he answers will par-
don my presumption, but I have promised
the Brotherhood to fulfill their mission.
and I must perform my duty"
1.-The Brotherhood? What Brotherhood?
Are you a Nihilist. that you so glibly
speak the argot?'
"a Nihilistr' he cries IN alarm. DO
you desire TO ruin me? To breathe the
word Nihilism is to court death. Is 1t
likely that /, prosperous diamond mer-
chant of ST. Petersburg. would be in league
with the enemies OF the Car? NO. The
Brotherhood of which speak Is simply
our union of jewelers. in st. Petersburg,
and they, knowing that have always had
the honor of the Princess Prozorovska's ;
patronage-for which accept my ever grate-
full Ithanks-commissione me to fulfill their
loyal wishes"
"And those wishes are?''
..To beg the Cars acceptance from US,
the native jewelers. of St Petersburg, OF
this gold and diamond buckle for MS
cloak
.sUhat disinterested patriotism" she re-
marks. and then, with an almost imper-
ceptible sneer, continues: 'But surely 1t Is
not for the mere purpose of enriching our
Czar that you wish to give him so costiy
a Jewel: is there not some favor you seek
in return-some boon you have to crave at
his Imperial Majesty's most bounteous
hand?
'sYour Highness knows that st. Peters
burg, the city whose trade should peiong
to the Russians alone, is invaded by foreign
artificers. who compete with US in our own
streets, and undersell US in our own mar
ket places-Frenchmen who lure the pat
ronage of our nation from US with their
temptingly dressed shops. and we. the ma
tive jewellers. therefore ask our master TO
grant US his protection by accepting this
gift from the patriotic citizens Of our Queen
of Cities. for where the Czar shows favor
fortune needs must smile"
Eyes, yes" exclaims the Princess. ''but
why not go to the Gar himself? Why
father. and his clemency will be. as it al
ways is 10 those who merit II, extended to-
wards YOU"
The man hesitates for a moment, and
then, in an apologetic tone, reples
I'VE cannot but know, Princess. that you
hold power in this city second only 20 that
of the Car himself. and we feel that
gift coming through your hands will prove
all the more acceptable to his Imperial
Majesty"
A momentary flash OF satisfaction illum-
inatpS features. a g.
fiected in the face of her fiatterer, as he
realizes that his mission will succeed.
leave the clasp will present it myself to
the Car, together with your many loyal
wishes, and can but hope that the whole
of st. Petersburg will follow in his train
and by patronizing only our worthy native
jewelers., help to fill their Golfers to reple-
tion.''
With fervent expressions, OF gratitude the
mar places the jewel-case upon the table
and bows, himself from the apartment
In all cold. proud and naughty Russia
there existed no woman to compare with the
Princess Prozorovska, and scarcely one man
who could boast that he had seen a smile
dimple for moment the calm disiain Of her
habitual composure. once, and only, once,
had she loved, and that in the past, so long
ago that ii seemed to be blurred almost TO
oblivion, except, perhaps, at times, when
the ghost of what had been rose up before
her, moments of sentimental weakness,
when. even 81 the very steps OF the throne
she would have forsaken all for that one
man who disappeared suddenly years ago
suddenly, quietly. that his friends
scarce dared breathe his name. He had
gone, and-as Is best In Russia-was for
gotten.
in the days long gone by, and OF Siberia
alike, the thoughts Of the Princess are~only
with the present.
80. then" she muses., est Petersburg has
noticed the preference which has been
evinced for me. and may vet live to occupy
the proudest position Of all women Cf Rus
Smiling complacently, she surveys herself
in the mirrors of the apartment and shrugs
her noble shoulders with evident satisfac-
tion at the reflection of her regal beauty.
her splendid head SO proudly poised upon
her slender throat and almost fancies she
can catch the sparkle of the imperial cor
onet nesting amid those raven tresses.
A sharp click, as of a fastening being
forced, interrupts her reverie, and, turning,
she walks to the window, and throws back
the heavy curtains, only to clutch them
pressed against the glass. An icy bias.
rushes into the room as the intruder sud-
denly thrusts the window wide open, and
springing through, swiftly draws the hang
ings together again and faces her
''You Ivan! You. risen from the dead!'
'FNo, not from the dead-from living
death. Have you no word of welcome, OF
are you like the rest, afraid to breathe the
same air with the outcast-the escaped
from Siberian"
yes. Siberia, the hell where Nihilism Is
errge1dered, where each man swears, IL ht
but sets foot in civilized land again, fo'
every bow and every indignfty he has en-
dured he will be avenged a thousandfold
Yes Siberia. where every bowed and pre-
maturely withered victim Is conspiratoi
with but one aim. one object-escape, anc
| then revenge. -
"The Car, the head of the vilest system
| Of government in the world: the man who
! to the disgrace of paternal solicitude, Is
| styled The Father of mis- People. As
| swore II. so shall II be-. Even to, those
| wind, and the broken and decrepit wretches
! there will laugh with joy as the tidings
| reach them that yet another Car has beer
| done TO death, for they will know that
| Ivan Novikoff. have kept my oath.
Olga Prozorovska stands motionless a.
| this torrent Of words bursts forth, and
| with her fingers buried deeply in the silker
| hangings. still clings TO them for support
| as this your greetinC?" she asks al
| length "You. who left me with words OF
| love; left me TO dream OF the morrow wher
should see you again. Is this your greet
| ing?"
"Olra, do not speak OF that time; 1T 1:
II thought that love had led YOU on.
| ward" she whispers; had conquered al
| obstacles and brought you back TO me.
see I was but fiattering myself 1t is hat
.sYes, it is hatred for love cannot live ir
| that earthly hell where l have been i'm
| prisoned. At first, on that long. pitiless
| Journey. II was love that kept me alive
| love that buoyed up hope within my heart
! love that held me ever on the alert fol
any chance of escape: but there was none
| Then the bitter, sullen Siberian winter
| came down upon us halfway on our jour.
new. The biting wind crept to my heart
| and love departed leaving but one desire In
| life-vengeance. Unsuitable vengeance"
| The Princess. nervously clasping hel