Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-08-02
By Ashley TOwne
COPYRIGHT. 1901,
BY CHARLES II.
ET1YERINGTON.

In hard smoking and harder thinking.
Somewhat after midnight he betook
himself to bed and by the exercise OF
great determination went to sleep
He was awakened shortly after day
break by a hasty summons from the
princess. She was dressed in her mill
tary uniform, even to sword and dag
ger, but when she attempted to rise
from chair upon DarrelPs entrance
she fell back again. lacking the strength
to stand. Behind her stood the anna
zon, hollow eyed. CHASTITY pale, the pic
ture of despair that is too proud to be
! afraid.
Vera looked at Darrell steadily for
some seconds and then said with dire
brevity:
prince Kilziar has left Gredskov."
Darrell was stunned.
"In the nightY" ne cried
"Yes; In the night"
Gle has deserted your exclaimed
Darrell. ut is more than would
have accused him Of"
LET us do him Justice" answered
Vera. smiling. "He expected me to
! follow him. I was aroused about an
hour ago by one OF his most trusted
officers, who was the bearer OF this
message, which / shall read to you
The prince was too prudent to come
himself. l would have had him I'm the
guardhouse, where his messenger now
is, Listen t. this:
J Vera. cause is lost There Is treachery
among soldiers The American, Darrell. is at
: the head Of IL. lie has used Russian gold 70 buy
; our oficcrS II the force were still loyal. I would
cut our way through the enemy, but cannot at
tempt 20 lead traitorsL
! yet you and may have q destiny az glorious
, as the one we had planned There are other re-
I gions OF the earth where may our powers
| and the vast wealth In our banda The
/ treasure OF Credslov Is mine, and 81 greater
4 than you ever Suspected. part has already been
cent out CT the city by my secret way. The re-
mainder. in gold and Jewels, take with rne. We
shall reach the where friends OF mine have al
4 ready made preparations for our escape, and then
4 the world II before
Here follow details OF the plan by
which was TO overtake him under the
guidance OF the officer who brought me
the message The letter closes with q
! glowing picture OF our new life togeth-
! er-mine and KiIziar's. We were to
| found an empire In Africa, II remem-
Der rightly, and return some day to
free Circassia- ] am ashamed 30 have
/ given Kilziar so low an idea OF ny In
telligence. Yet doubtless he counted
upon my terror-a woman's Weakness
for. my friend, this Is the end OF all OF
us This news cannot long be kept
from the troops, and then-anarchy.
The Russians will overwhelm us, and
the only terms will be the edge OF the
sword"
Vera" said Darrell his face as
! white as marble, "this Is a matter of
minutes / have not even time to ten
you what hope to do. Give me your
authority to speak for you with the
Russian commander. Durham can be
trusted We will go out under q flag OF
truce. Let him be ready In an hour.
Have Korna and varnek among his
stan. I need all the trustworthy men
that can be found. And now goodby.
Remember that 1 was always absolute
I ly yours; that from the first minute
that ever saw you 1 was as much
constrained to serve you as was the
heart In your body. 1t was a law OF
nature and obedience was my only
happiness. Goodby."
They spoke at three yards distance,
and he did not attempt to come nearer
except for one instant, when she gave
him signet ring from her finger.
This is your warrant" she said. "I
know not what you win do. I am IN
capable OF thinking. You know that 1
am faintlng with Illness. Let that be
my excuse. 1 pray God that you may
find way 70 save your own life"
= "He that findeth his life shall lose
IT." whispered Darrell In English, and
he turned away as Vera, stretching out
her arms to him, tried to rise aud then
sank back into the chair, her eyes wet
,, with sudden childish tears She was
for an instant as be remembered her in
Paris at the Gordons' house that first
strange night BE dared not hook at
her again.
; For the next hour Darrell sought for
Kevsh throughout the camp, but with
out result except that he heard a ru-
NOR Of the mans desertion to the en-
envy. A woman who had known Kew
ski said that he had stolen out OF the
city early the previous evening.
Darrell Joined General Durham and
his suit at the northern gate and the
. party advanced under a flag OF truce,
proceeding according to the regulations
agreed upon when arrangements for a
conference were frst made between
the armies
Some distance from the tent where
the previous meeting had taken place
they We're met by staff officer attend
ed by half a dozen crazy Cossack
troopers. Darrell looked at those saw
: ages and thought upon the taking of
] Gredskov.
The staff officer advanced and eX-
j changed the customary situations
? with scant courtesy.
General Getchikoff," said be- "de-
j sires me 10 say that unless you have
9 come with a proposal for surrender
l without conditions conference win be
{ needless"
"This seems unusual" responded
Durham 1--WE had been given twenty
four hours to consider certain terms"
Those terms are now impossible, {"