The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1897-05-28

CHAPTER V-CONTINUEr.

ceen civil to me. only giving me
'g~ood-day' as | went and came,
or passing remark on the weather.
1t is only that have taken an unreal
sonable an;iputhy to him-a quite UNI
reasonable and uniustifable antipathy,
Vladimir. Thou knowest my strange
temper! An chou art wrong.n she
continues. in uervous haste. '.Assured-
ly thou art wrong that Isa cl has in
formed the police. Why should he:
And how could he suspect'-
He watched us leave thy lodging.
He followed us along the colonnade.
We both saw him as we mounted the
droski to come here. He has driven
after us-spied on us-crouched at
our door,
why, then, am I here9' she in
terposes. III. as thou sayest, he OBJ
served thee leave my lodging, why
an | not also under arrests"
The devil and his own black heart
know why" ! answer; with grim sig
nilicance.
She reads my meaning. and the
color flies atfrighted from her cheeks.
leaving them hueless-her whole
c~ountenance turns white and blank,
like q snowy summit ere it has been
kissed by the rosy lips Of dawn.
Now thou knowcst thy enemy-he
is waiting even now 10 pounce upon
thee-by Cod"
make a rush to the door-Marus-
cha flies to me--she clings to ne
drags me. Or tries to drag me back,
with all her slender force.
'Wouldst thou lose us ALP" she
whispers wildly. Listen, listen. to
what [ would say to thee, and then go
if thou wilt"
The impioring anguish Of her tones
lmpels me. and l pause, though my
desire to Stay ~]sajeff has not dimin-
ished. Now l perceive how my vio-
lence has terrified her, and my blood
thirstiness gives some place to COM
Function.
Il will tell thee" she pants. what
l Will do-only-only give me time.
Vladimir" She presses her hand to
her side.
am subdued. To soothe her-calm
her-undo the mischief | have done is
now my only thought
My sweet love. forgive me-" l beg.
IL have frightened thee"
She smothers bravely a storm of
rising sobs. still holding me with both
hel small hands until she has sufficient
ly controlled herself to speak. Il
need never 60 back to my lodging
he need never see me again, she be-
gins, watching the effect of her words
with wide eyes fastened on my face.
go back, l repeat, thrilling with
apprehension at the mere suggestion.
Thou wilt 90 from here to Olga
Petrovna's, and quit not her lodging
save to so to the station and take
train for thy home! Petersburg is no
place for thee ]hencerorth. Maruscha.
Promise me that thou wilt leave it
TO- morrow, lever to return"
Il promise but-but-I owe a
weeks lodging-I must give notice
my clothes!"
And thou wouldst take into con-
s1deration such paltry matters whore
SO much is at stake!!" I cry, beside
myself.
Listen to reason, Vladimir " she
falters. IF l pay not my landlord he
will have an excuse for i%nstituting a
search for me. Thou art so violenv
that | cannot get in a word. l will
go to Olga, and she will pay the
money for me and bring away my
things"
so that he can follow her and and
thee! No. that will not do. And
yet. l say. moderating my tone.
thou art perhaps. right about the
money ~ muse a moment then
Olga must find some one else to pay
it. and invent some lie. He must be
led to expect thy return. Say that
thou hast been called away suddenly
to a dying relatives" laugh grimly
at the glibness Of my inventions.
She has been commissioned to pack
part 81 thy wardrobe to send after
thee. Thou canst give her a lie for
the scoundrel to that effect"
Yes, yes Marusha agrees,
eagerly. That is well planned.
And as proof that I am returning,
everything will be left standing in the
room-my stove and all my belong
ings."
nod. Yet thou must not lineer
a single day in Petersburg. Maruscha.
Dangers beset thee here at every turn.
The police know thee to be the friend
of suspects; they have thy name and
address,
How knowest thou that?" she in
terrupts in surprise.