Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-05-17
"A small matter to mel"

ziar, who had sought the treasure vain
ly. He set my heart on fire with proph'
ecies Of my country's freedom. He told
me that my descent from the most no.
BILE family of Circassia would win the
hearts Of the people and make me a
queen. Yet you must not think that !
was moved by personal ambition"
81 am far from that error" answered
Darrell. "Of the two treasures thus
discovered you at least were pure gold.
As to the other, dfd It pass into Kill
ziars CUSTODY"
Vera shook her head.
81 did not then trust him to that ex-
tent" she said. "A revolutionary COM
mittee was formed, and to that body
revealed the secret. The money has
been disbursed under the warrant of
that committee"
Il commend your prudence" said
Darrell.
Vera looked at him steadily and with
q scarcely perceptible smile.
prince Kilzlar Is hasty man." she
said. when he had you In his power,
his natural impulse-natural as a IT,
ger's-was to put you out Of the way.
Your methods differ from his. You are
the coldest blooded man | ever met,
and he is one Of the most fiery. But
which Is the more unjust"
Darrell's face flushed painfully, yet
be still wore an air of calm. still spoke
as II the conversation dealt with an alb.
stract problem outside the field Of per.
sonal interest.
You are mistaken If you suppose
that am trying TO do Prince Kilziar
an Injury" he rejolned. That he tried
to take my life is as small matter to
me as it is to you. ~
"A small matter to me-" echoed Vera,
her hand closing on the hilt Of the
sword. IF he had succeeded and you
had looked down from the stars after.
ward. think the wrath Of your spirit
would have been satisfied. But now
that he has failed and you are safe he
remains merely Kilziar, Circassia's
best soldier and at heart good pa.
triot."
"A bad man cannot be good pa
triot." answered Darrell. "He cannot
be good anything. except perhaps
good soldier. as this man Is. The trade
requires no conscience. saw kilziar
commit a murder for greed and at
tempt another for mere anger. and that
stamps him indelibly to my eye. But
! for his own personal merits he Is moth
| ing to me. 1t is only because his char
acter affects your personal safety and
the success Of the cause to which you
have devoted yourself that speak of
him."
my personal safety Is not worth
speaking Of" replied Vera. Except as
it may affect the cause. Yet you are
insane to suppose that kilziar's alb
surd love for me is in any way q
menace"
81 had not that in mind" answered
Darrell earnestly. 1T Is the conduct
of this war that makes me shuddel
for you, that forces me to warn you
though | have neither right nor au
thority to do so.'
"And what have you to say of the
conduct Of the war;" she asked. "Have
we not met with success?
Vera" he said, what is the object
of this struggle"
"To free my country"
as it free? Have you driven the
Russians out of it,"
"We SHALL" she cried. land In the
meantime"-
"In the meantime" said Darrell
"you are engaged in an utterly hope
less war of invasion. What was your
hope in this campaign? To take STAY
ropol? will grant that you might
conceivably succeed. Even so. you
could not have dreamed Of going fur
ther, and you certainly could not have
| expected to hold the place indefinitely
without anything that could be called
! q line Of communications, without pos