Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1901-07-21
CHAPTER XII.


on it, and Osborne saw a CHASTITY
countenance, lighted by fever-bright.
ened eyes, large and dark; the face o.
a woman who might have been fifty
woman he had never seen before.
He dropped back into his chair, and
covered his eyes with his hand; she had
turned again to the wall and all was
silent until the heavy breathing of the
two men told that they slept vodka
sodden sleep.
When he uncovered his eyes to find
that the woman was leaning on her cl-
bow and regarding him intently.
"You came here to follow me?"
YES"
Il thought so. ! do not know why,
but I thought so. You do not know my
face."
Il do not know It."
From your face, l see," she contin-
ued, speaking in French, that you have
made a mistake. You are English; you
have not come for the sake of the
cause; you have no wrongs to revenge;
it follows, then, that you seek some
woman other than myself
You are the Countess Alexis LAWN
skip"
Il was so called"
Il have been following the Countess
Lavinski. / was deceived by the de-
scription of her personality, by her sec
onu name, Helga, and by the report OF
that which she had attempted
THE deception has cost you futile
effort, and much pains; yet you may
thank God that 1t was but deception
If you still believe in Him
Osborne made no direct reply. He
slipped his heavy boots from his feet,
and advanced softly to her side.
"You would take nothing from those
men," he said; take something from
me-" and he handed her his wine-iask.
''Why build up my body for the
mines?" she answered. My life is fin
ished; and yet no. | will have strength
again for few hours. Give me what
you have brought"
Looking closer into her face, and at
the emaciated hand which took the flask
from him, Osborne saw that there was
no specific disease upon her, but that
she was dying of starvation.
MY God" he whispered. Have they
not given YOU food?"
Il have not taken it, was, the simple
4ply. ~
\ He bent over her with a great horror
and a great pity in his breast.
You are tender to me-, she said;
''but your heart is naturally with that
other. You would ask hundred ques-
lions did not compassion make you 81
lent
Il would ask but one" he replied.
you told me just how to thank the
God in whom my faith is placed; l
find it hard to do so before such a spec
tacle as this; besides, l know nothing.
/ have proved nothing, beyond the fact
that she is not here"
And you wish to know"
IF you were the only woman arrested
Cor the recent attempt on the Cars
ufe?"
Yes, the only one"
Thank you" he said, gravely, and
was moving softly away.
my friend" He started, it was the
first time that title of endearment had
been given to him since he had heard 1t
from Helgas lips.
my friend, your face speaks for you.
You are still unsatisfed. What is it
you would ask me?"
NO" he said. "My God. No. I
cannot ask that other question, It
would be too cruel"
ASK it, Give me the happiness Of
serving you"
He hesitated a moment; but at last,
unable to resist, he replied in a whisper
as hoarse as her own: You have told
me that no other woman was arrested;
If you would tell me that no other wo-
man was--was-"
Guilty."
That no other woman was con-
cerned. then l should thank God in
deed"
For a moment she did not speak. he
thought that a spssm Of anger contrac-
ted her features. II so 1t passed in a
moment and was gone BE OF good
cheer she answered. "the guilt was
mine. No other woman knew of 1t.
Sleep tonight in peace, MY friend.
e
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