Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-07-19
"a smau matter 70 mep,

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, did it pass into XII
ziar's custodyT
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"
81 commend your prudence" said
Darrell
Vera looked at him steadily and with
n scarcely perceptible smile.
Prince Kilziar is a hasty man." she
said. when he had you in his power,
his natural impulse-natural as n Ii
ger's-was to put you out OF the way.
Your methods differ from his. You are
the coolest blooded man ever met.
and he is one OF the most fiery. But
which Is the more unjust?"
DarrelPs face flushed painfully, vet
he 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 Kllziar
an injury" he rejoined. "That he tried
to take my life is as small matter to
me az 1t is to you. ~
"a small matter to merr 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, l think the wrath OF your spirit
would have been satisfied. But now
that he has failed and you are safe he
remains merely Kllziar. Circassia's
best soldier and at heart q good pa
| triot."
"A bad man cannot be a good pa
| triot" answered Darrell. "He cannot
be good anything, except perhaps a
I 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
| 1t may affect the cause. Yet you are
insane to suppose that Kilziar's alb
| surd love for me is in any way a
menace"
Il had not that In mind" answered
| Darrell earnestly. 1T is the conduct
Of this war that makes me shudder
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 ware" she asked. "Have
we not met with success?"
''Yera," he said, what Is the object
Of this struggleY
''To free my country"
els it free? Have you driven the
Russians out of it?"
''We SHALL" she cried, "and in the
meantime
ain 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? l viii grant that you might
eonceivably succeed. Even so, you
tould not have dreamed OF going fur
ther, and you certainly could not hav,
expected to hold the place indefinitely
without anything that could be called
line OF communications, without pos
sibflity OF reinforcement, With only
the resources Of the city itself to de
pend upon. A successful retreat Womb
have been your best expectation
"Why not terms2" demanded Vera
rising. "De you think our successe
wonld have won rs no consideration
'sNot on Russian SOIL" answered Oar
rel. EVERY success you win outsId