Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1899-02-16

no baughtily. But the next instant he
remembered the necessity or conciliat-
ing the man who was of his capt
ors, and he added, with a change or
tone ard ann which was nothing
less than ludlcrous: "Ah. IL | had
taken your advice, Herr Won Mitsch-
ka, I should not have been here!'
True" said the chief, with a quiet
smile; ''but | am zone the less anxious
20 bring about your release-lf posi-
ble.'
"a thousand thanks, my dear sir!
And / can only say now, on the word
O. n Prince OF the Russian Empire,
that. il your efforts succeed, you shall
not find me ungrateful. Any little In
flucnce ! may have with his MaJes-
.y-"
Il suppose our friend here has told
! You tie project we have in view said
Won Mifschka, interTupting the Prince
without ceremony.
Yes. certainly. And he has as good
rs promised-have you not, my dear
Mr.. Heath? Ito perform the little ser
vice which you require OF him! 1T can
not. surely, be anything beyond his
courage to undertake."
'.That remains TO be seen. But | pre-
eume that. in the event of his consent
ing. you will keep your promise, and al
low him TO marry the Princess lreneg
The Prince turned ON me a stare OF
naughty amaZement.
flushed up angrily, as this was said,
and exclaimed: Nothing has been
said about the Princess"
But Won Mirschka paid no attention
to me. He kept his steely gray eyes
fixed on the Prince.
Krcpenski's brow became black as
thunder.
"You hear what he says he said,
sullenly, with n s~ide-glance at me-.
Not q word has been said about the
! Princess, my daughter. We viii keep
her name out of this discussion alto
getler, If you please"
II fear that is quite impossible. How
can we discuss the terms OF n bargain
without mentioning the quid pro quo?
At these words, coldly as they We're
spoken, the Princes name changed
altogether. Anger swept away all h
CT feelings. His prudence vanished.
Striding up to Won Mitschka, his large,
red face flushed, the veins on his half
bald forehead knotted to bursting, and
his hands c~lenched, he shouted out:
"If you had been in my castle of LOyna,
or anywhere else outside of this ac-
cursed hole, you would not nave dared
to speak those words in ny hearing!
And if you were a man, you would not
insult who is in your power
II did not insult you, Prince" said
the Nihilist, in the calm, even tones he
had used throughout. But what should
make this young man undertake an en-
terprise, which / freely admit is n of
the greatest danger, but some such
! prize as the hand OF your daughter!
DO YOU imagine he would risk his lie
for love of you, Prince Kropenskiy Or
do you take him for an Italian bravo,
who will sell the use Of his stiletto for
so much down? No"
But l could keep silence no longer.
listen me, Princer! | cried. turning
| my back on Won Mitschka. 1T is true,
as hi would tell you, that have con
celved a mad, foolish love fer the
Princess Irene. / see nothing 70 be
! ashamed Sf in that. And it is also
true that l have entertained hopes
foolish hopes, m~aybe-that II sue
ceeded in doing YOU this great service,
YOU might be disposed to lcok upon
dlytiiih1 Il IllSDl sly Win itShit "
your daughter more favorably than
you would otherwise have done. But
nothing was further from my mind
than to take advantage of your unhap-
py situation, by forcing you TO a bar
gain about il. And still less would L
presume to ask fer the hand OF the
Princess unless she preferred me of all
men to be her husband. Unless she
should join in my prayer-and | have
not the slightest right TO think she
would do such a thing-I would sooner
die than marry her as the price OF
your liberty"
The Princes brow cleared as he list
ened to me. He held tut his hand, but
did not shake mine warmly when he
took 1t. .'You have spoken like a man
of honoo at all events" he said. And,
without casting a second glance at Won
Mitschka. he began to pace up and
down the narrow limits of his cell, evil
IDENTIFY plunged in thought.
'sWhat you have just said puts a diff
ferent complexion ON the affair alto
I gether," he said, addressing me. Il
will sell my daughters hand to no
man, not even if perpetual imprison-
ment or death were the penalty for me.
But If all you ask is a promise that IL
you wiz Princess Kropenskfs consent,
/ will not refuse mine, that is a differ
ent matter. / see nothing dishonorabie
In agreeing to that"
1--WE understand, ther,' said Won
Mitschka, interposing, somewhat to
my relief, ''that If Mr.. Heath can pro
cure your release from your present
confinement, he is at liberty to be-
come a sutton for the Princess Irene,
ard il he is fortunate enough TO win
her consent. you will allow him to
marry hera"
'Yes-that Is understood said the
Prince; and we left the cell without
another word, except that l whispered
to his as I took his hand ut parting:
II may not see you again, Prince, but
you can depend upon 1t that what l
can do shall be done"