Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1876-1904, 1901-05-29
THE PERIL
OF MADAME.
A Story of Love and
Intrigue.
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II insist, madame" said Amantor
Pasha. his eyes burning with anger
and the passion which possessed him.
And why refuse me? | love you be-
yond reason. ! have never loved as
love you Everything you can desire
shall he yours, Sophronia'
Call me madame" replied a beauti-
ful woman. with face of classic pro-
file. surveying the almost frenzied
pasha with cold contempt which ag-
gravated both his fury and his desire.
Il have already told you, pasha. that
decline to share your affections with
the 30 or more estimable ladies' of your
harem."
Then you have been playing with
me. madame" growled the pasha. You
have led me to think You were not in
different TO me. And here. in IIlutza.
am master, and you shall not leave IL
lutza except to become my wife" Here
he took Il stride toward her as If he
would seize her there and then and
carry her off.
Take care" She spoke in a low.
clear, unmoved tone. "A step nearer
and you are n dead man. | carry a re-
volver. can hit the ace of hearts at
20 yards. My nerve is good: my hand
is steady. Any violence. and the next
second Amantor Pasha is a corpse"
He stood stock still. Her GOODNESS
Gained him. conquered his rage. but
infamed his admiration.
AS the English say. you are cool
hand" he remarked To himself he
thought: Il will have her now at all
costs. What bride for a pashai What
nervei What resource, With her,
who knows. l might be grand vizier-
sultan evenp'
And he was perhaps not far wrong
Madame was OF many shifts. 1t was
she who In the great South African
war had been a spy OF fame. Courted
by the highly placed and susceptible In
the British camp in various parts of
South Africa. she had kept Paul Kru-
ger and Cronje and Christian De Wet
and Erasmus informed of all that was
doing in the English army. Her ma
tionality was matter of guesswork.
Some said she was French. others Rus
sian. but she was known as Madame"
par excellence.
II will take my leave now. madame"
said the pasha. drawing his handsome
form up TO its full height, but you
shall marry me-"
"A very good morning TO your excel
lency" said Sophronia Valoffsky. with
n mocking nod. but shall not marry
you"
The pasha withdrew, with never a
word more. and two minutes later
there was clatter of horses on the
roadway as he and his staff galloped
off up the little street.
BAH murmured Sophronia as she
peeped out at him through the jalou-
sizes Not bad looking man either
and sits his horse we'll" Turning
from the window. Sophronia Naloffsky
contemplated her face and figure in II
huge mirror which stretched from floor
TO ceiling on one side OF the apartment.
and then snatching up leather head
ed baton. she struck smartly large
gong 1t was almost Immediately an
swered.
Bring me my hooded fur cloak at
once. Iona" said madame. land cloak
yourself as we'll for l shall want you"
Madame went TO a sideboard and
poured herself out liqueur. while she
Lii the daintiest of dainty cigarettes.
She had not blown half dozen whiffs
OF smoke when Iona returned and
quickly enveioped her mistress in the
warm cloak
"SkIavatz is TO be found today, Lo-
nap
Yes. gracious mistress: at the yell
low khan in the lower town"
Then conduct me there. No time is
to lie lost. My liberty is threatened.
Iona. and may be gone from me at
any moment As she spoke Nine. Va
lofrSky stepped toward the jalousie.
Hist. Iona, There is body of Turk
ish soldiers coming down the hill eS-
corting closed carriage. Bolt and
barricade the front door while run by
the back
Iona. having done her work, rushed
after her mistress. She knew the Mac
adonian town thoroughly and led ma
dame by devious and intricate turnings
TO baflle pursuit. Besides. the twilight
had begun 10 deepen and rain was
falling aud threatening TO fall heavily.
AT last they reached the lower town.