Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-10-09

or the drOSky driver, n ne lmmc0l-
ately had cause to 60 to his horses,
which were standing peacefully enough
where he left them.
II wish to speak one word before we
leave here" said the prince, taking the
hand of Frances, which she, in her sur
prise, permitted him to hold a moment.
II love you. I have loved you ever
since the day I saw you first. We
have beautiful women in Russia, but
non like you. am rich, powerful and
am not offering you an empty name.
Will you be my wife, my princessT
"Prince Neslerov," said Frances gen
tly, but still in a tone of reproof. you
cannot mean, l am sure, to take ad-
vantage of my situation, alone and Mt
your mercy. You are a gentleman.
Please leave such words for q more fit
ting OCCASION"
"All occasions are the same to a mar
who loves ms I do" answered Neslerov.
81 asked your father. He treated the
matter as Of no concern. To me it Is
my life. Make me happy, the world
IS yours. Refuse me, you plunge me
into deep despair. I do not care to live
without you"
"What nonsense" said Frances. "Ev.
erybody has sooner or later to live
without a loved one. My father-I-my
mother died many years ago.. He loved
her. He has been true to her memory,
but he has lived"
"Ah, but that Is not the same thing
at all. Had I possessed you for a time
and lost you at the command Of death,
then | could live, happy in the blessed
memory. But to love you and lose you
to another! All. I would kill him.!
You are mad. Such words do moi
inspire love in the heart of an Ameri
can girl. Fools kill their rivals, but il
Is a poor revenge. l do not love you
prince, and so cannot marry you. Let
that end the matter. l must now re-
turn to Moscow"
you shall not 60 till you are mine"
cried Neslerov, driven to madness by
her GOODNESS. He sprang forward and
slammed the door, shutting them alone
in the unoccupied house. He stepped
toward her. His breath came hot upo1
her cheeks. His arms were outstretch
cd to seize her. There was a look Of
mad passion in his eyes.
She knew no help was near or posi-
BILE. The drosky driver was a Russian
and would not fight the prince. Sh'
might scream. but her voice could not
reach within two miles of the nearest
house. The threatening lips, the touch
of which would be pollution. were neal
her own. With a quick movement she
: slipped her hand into her pocket.
Stand back, you insulter!' she said
with a cold, steely voice.
The shining barrel Of a revolver wa
thrust into his face. 1t was not a larg'
weapon and was ornamented with sill
yer, but it was large enough to do ex
! ecution at short range, and it was al
most in N"slerov's vcry mouth. Ii
: staggered back, taken by surprise.
. you she devil" he cried.
!, With an upward motion he made a
1 IL to knock the revolver from her hand
She bent the barrel downward. TIL
) contact with his hand exploded on
Z cartridge. The flash blinded hin
l There was a red mark on his forehea
Z where the bullet grazed the skull. Hal
stunned and cursing, he fell back.
U Opening the door, Frances wake
out. The drosky driver was waiting
He had heard the shot.
: do you see this?" she demanded
pointing the revolver at his head.
"Yes,' he stammered.
81 have just shot Prince Neslerov. !
you do not take me to the railway stf
l ton at Perm and get me there befor
! he overtakes us, l will empty the othe
u four bullets into your head
y Get in," he mumbled. Then to hin
U self he said: 'Thcse American wOme
i are devils. They are better fighter
than the Cossacks!"