Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1897-09-16


folded paper. you'll excuse my run
ming away for few moments. won't
you, dear?" she added, turning to Ia
na. Il must send reply to this both
ering telegram" And, without await
ing any verbal assent, she hurriedly
quilted the room. Zana felt the situa-
ton little embarrassing; but she de-
termined to profit by it. and speak her
mind upon the subject of the flowers.
You have been sending me flowers,
lately. Mr.. Iyanovitch,' she said, cold
ly. pray do so no more. 1 would
have returned them had l known
your address,"
THAT is very hard on the poor flow
ers, Miss Clifford, as we'll as on me-"
he answered. biting his lips; but, of
course, l shall respect your wishes and
refrain from sending any more. Will
you do me great favor? There is a
piano over there in the corner. l am
passionately fond of music Will you
play me something-anythin
Miss Fitzclarence is sending her tele-
gram?'
Without word Zana rose and went
towards the piano, while he busted
himeslf filling the glasses with cham
payne. Now, above the piano, was
small hanging mirror, and, CHANGING to
glance up at it, Zana saw the Russian
pour the contents of small vial into
her glass, which he Immediately filled
up with the sparkling wine.
For a few moments Zana's heart
almost stood still. What was it this
man had put into the glass destined
for her? Did he intend to poison her,
in revenge, perhaps. for her rejection
of his flowers? Eastern stories Of
similar acts Of vengeance focked to
her mind; but with them came the re-
collection of how the would-be poison
er had sometimes been outwitted. The
same Hard set look settled on her face
as had once so alarmed Mrs. Baxter.
If treachery was intended she resolved
that it should recoil upon it's author.
There was something of the tigress, as
we'll as the lamb, in this Eastern
maiden.
"Do, pray, have a glass of wine be-
Ivanovitch, persuasively. you took
absolutely none at dinner
'vThank you; think WILL" she an
Almost Immediately she glanced at
of the tablecloth.
Il have dropped ring" she re-
marked. quietly.
With prompt gallantry, the Russian
Mt once stopped beneath the table to
search for the missing ring; and, quick
as thought, Zana changed her glass
for his.
Had he been less intent upon the
success Of his own villainous plot,
Ivanovitch would have noticed the
deadly pallor of Zanas face as she
raised the glass to her lips. But he
noticed nothing except that she was
humofing him by drinking the wine.
Truly. it was wierd moment. He be-
lieyed she was slipping the contents of
the vial, which she kreW, when he set
down his empty glass; he had swal-
lowed himself
"Faugh"' that wine is too sweet for
my palate:" he exclaimed, making
wry face. "But 1 believe ladies all
like sweet wine; SO it doesn't matter.
Come, Miss Clifford, drink it up. Sure
ly, one glass Of wine can do you no
/ HARM
! 10 avoid argument, Zana drank the
wine, and then went back to the piano
to play as much as she could remem-
Der of the Moonlight Sonata" glanc-
ing occasionally at the tell-tale mirror
and marveling much at Miss Fitzclar-
ence's protracted absence.
The Russian poured himself out
some more wine, and, finding 1t more
| to his taste than the previous sample,
| he lad several glasses in succession,
listening, meanwhile, to the music,
with u look Of dreamy triumph in his
pale-blue eyes. Gradually this look
gave way to one that was almost vacu-
GUS In expression, and hi, head sever
al times fell forward, as though heavy
| with desire for sleep. Presently he
rose. stared vacantly around him, and
/: staggered towards a couch near the
wall A sound Of reeling footsteps
, reached Zana's ears and then all was
still.
| She closed the piano. advanced to