Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1901-06-23

The reader Is not asked to accept Hell
ga Katiskoff as the heroine OF this nar-
ratiye. though as "a woman with a past"
an author would have fin de steele fash
ion to support he claim to that distinc-
ton.
Yhis creature, this modern Della. who
could be false as water or true as sts.cl
whose complex natur contained tho
capacity for a great devotion. who. VIXEN
she had placed herself at the foot of a
shrine was capable OF immolating her.
self on its altar-loyed Osborne well.
but did not even dare to hope that he
would never learn that which would rob
her of his love. The disclosure relative
to her husbands existence stood In the
way OF that marriage illegal or other
wiset, which would have saved her ever
from her friends of the secret society;
but she had still the six months grace
permitted to her, and it seemed Infinite
ly precious.
1AS4 OdlS tCdt was that BIC NOulO liz
make her happiness extend to the te-.
miration of half a year. Could she bu.
retain his love for that period she felt
that she could be we'll content. 1t was
little enough she sought-six months of
love and sympathy, six months in which
to live in a worthy heart; and after that
should he discard her, then it would
but be to return to those who had nell
Their hope nor fear, nothing but indomi-
table purpose. With a dead heart in her
breast. every passion and emotion
crushed out, she NIGH al least return
to the brotherhood, and presenting her
self to her master say to him: Feeling
is dead at last, now | am your equal"
Il shall not see you, dearest, until
tonight. BY that time / hope to have
devised. some means of taking you away
from your surroundings, to live where
you will not only be among people up
right and honorable, but where l my
self may, be near to watch over you
till we can thrash this unhappy business
out.
This was the substance of the brief
message Osborne wrote her overnight
and despatched before ne saw his sister;
and though it gave her hope she sighed
as she read it.
This wretched business indeed" she
said. but for it we need have had no
she-dragon like Maria to mar our hap
piness. No matter, he Will come to-
night. | must be satisfied"
Meanwhile society was distasteful to
her, but solitude and inaction absolute
" unbearable; and to kill time the, or
dered her carriage and directed her
coacher to driver somewhere-aiy-
where-where there was life and hustle.
The man set off at an unexciting pace
which presently dwindled to a walk as
they got into a crush of other vehicles.
They were near the pavement, and after
a time she observed that an individual
whom they had overtaken was keeping
up with her carriage nj glancing at
her.
That she did not know him she was
sure. He vas tall, but stopped. and car
ried his head bent forward as though
short-sighted; his face was sinister. fis
glance keen and furtive. There was a
certain insolent boldness in his car
riage. yet it did not seem to her. ac-
customed as she was to Judge character
at a glance. that the man was by nature
bold. No, she did not know him.; yet,
stay. he had raised his hat looking
straight into her eyes. at the same time
making a swift, peculiar movement with
his left 'hann. AS though against her
will. she returned his bow.
I'VE have met before. madam"
Il think not. ! cannot recall the oc-
casion."
He laid MS hand on the side OF her