The Iola register., 1902-08-15

i-111ss.---.A.-.-S .NZ-N,S 3;;sscc2.1
Hc tSrNsr nts nruu an, arm mo ht
aperture.
Kilziar, who, having lighted cigar,
was gathering his cloak about him be-
fore stepping out into the rain.
Il Will do what you tell me-" said
Kcyski suddenly, and, as If it were q
part Of his pronlse. he turned his eyes
away from the man he hated. Then,
without more words, he hurried away
down the dark street.
Tho lights still burned in the lower
windows OF the inn, and those above
were dark.
"My love is threatened by a hundred
DEATHS" said Darrell to himself as he
crossed the road. This insane and
ceaseless toll viii burn her with fever.
She neither eats nor sleeps, 50 Korna
says"
The sentry challenged and Darrell
gave his name. With little delay he
was ushcred into Nera's presence. She
was quite alone and seemed to have
been warming herself before the en-
bcrs of fire in n broad fireplace.
~ am glad TO see YOU" she said. at
is n pleasure l have lacked in these
last few days. Moreover, you look
much moro cheerful than when | saw
you last. What Is the cause of lt-tlc
weather pcrhapsY
81 have always enjoyed great ropu-
tation for chccrfulness," answered Oar
roll. you alone seem to have found
my society depressing Yet that is not
surprising perhaps. There is a malady
which, according to all the poets, will
make any man sigh, aud have never
had it before
"That is rather a pretty speech" said
Vera. 81 have conversed principally
during these last days about corn aud
gunpowdcT n change cheers me. Yet
1 think you did not come at this late
hour for that alone"
81 came to tell you OF a discovery that
1 have made, or rather, hope to make"
answered Darrell perhaps you know
more of 1t than l do, yet / cannot as-
sumo that you possess the information.
Let me not waste words If this place
falls and you are taken, we may grant
that Circussia's cause Is lost, may we
notT
"The place will not fal," answered
Vera. but, admitting your supposi-
tlon, what followsY
"If you, With your best officers and
small picked force, could escape and
return to Circassla, there would still be
hope. l have learned that there is n
secret way along the face Of the noun
tains"-
"And you would have me take It,
leaving my soldiers to be butchered," :"
said Vera. "That Is not my idea of
loyalty, which should have two sides"
"Read the history of war" answered
Darrell "Have not princes and patri-
OTIS saved themselves when their lives
were essential to the cause they served?
Remember, 1 speak of the last omer-
gency, when it has become absolutely
impossible to hold the place. AS for
the garrison, the Russians will treat
your troops as prisoners of war"
81 do not deny" she replied, that If
could put myself at the head Of an
other army and continue to fight for
my country 1 should consider it my
duty to escape in case Gredskoy We're
taken by assault and resistance here
became useless. 1t would be equally
the duty Of the humblest soldier In the
army. But we cannot lose this fight
and yet continue the struggle. SO
shall remain and share the fate Of the
troops"
at is what expected you to say" he
re1olned. "If you had spoken other
wise, you would not have been the wo-
man who danced and sang with me at
the students bah In Paris. l can only
wish that the prince were equally
steadfast."
"IIilzlar" querled Vera. "Again you
wrong him, my friend. lie may not
succeed, but he VIII die fighting. OF
X that / am certain. He may not win
n his way out of the city, but he viii at
least make the trial by the man gate
md not by any secret way. lie may
he a man rs selfish as you think him,
hut Il Is sure that his selfshncss now
fights upon the side of our cause"
"Eor what rewards" asked Darrell,
with tremor of cold fear.
'Even myself she replied my