The Iola register., 1902-07-25

/. & ' -
"Let the messenger be chosen at once"
that you were in search Of me. In
Stavropol you disappeared, and | fear
ed that you had been murdered by
some avenger Of Ladislov. 1t was al
most by guesswork founded upon the
vaCuest rumor, that ! came to believe
you had been taken to Gredskov."
Darrelrs voice was not free from n
tremor of emotion as he rejoined:
How did you know anything of my
fate? The mere fact that you were
sufficiently interested to make single
inquiry repays me hundred times for
all have suffered"
II had agents In Stavropol," said We
ra, coloring. upon other matters. Hav-
ing heard that you had travelled in that
direction with Ivan Getchikoff, my
agents thought you worth an inquiry.
They learned that you had been ar
rested upon your arrival, but neither
they, working secretly, nor the Ameri-
Nhh NOhohis BlOA'Slii6 bpNhlgY Nphu
gain any knowledge of what had hap
pened to you afterward. 1t was given
out that you had been Immediately re-
leased and had left the city. Your bag
gage was obtained by the consul, who
received also packet forwarded to
you in his care from Paris, by Mr.. Cor
don doubtless. These things were in
Nha g,tAs,tlf- hav,1g
"Three weeks agow cried Darrell,
rising slowly. Have you had word so
late"
Veras cheeks were burning.
ave have still our agents in Stavro-
pol" she said, land occasional commu-
nicatlon is possible. They have thought
1t worth while TO report TO me in re-
gard to your affairs"
"Then nothing else in the world mat
ters in the least" he said. 81 do not
magnify your interest in me, but
She checked him with look that
was both intense and smiling.
you couldn't" said she almost in n
whisper, and at that he laid his hand
upon hers, which was palm upward on
n pile Of military reports.
"Vera"- he began, but suddenly
there was a clash of guns and sabcrs
in the hall.
The princess raped upon the table
with the scabbard of her sword. a
much bejeweled weapon that had lain
across a chair beside her. At the sum
mons an orderly appeared with the
rigid haste of a toy monkey on a
stick. Vera pointed to the door COM
munlcating with the hall, and pres
entity the orderly announced two off,
GERS, who were admitted.
They came with reports that concern
ed the practical details OF war, and
Darrell heard them with divided at
tentlon, working meanwhile upon his
maps. One OF them spoke mostly of
cannon, and Nera's questions showed
a surprising comprehension of the sub
ject Slngularly enough, Vera when
speaking of ordnance ceased to seem
a play soldier What she had TO say
about the capacity of certain light bat
terics whose disposition seemed TO be
q subject of some question struck Oar
rell as apt and accurate beyond criti-
cism. Darrell had followed the char
lot Of war in many quarters OF the
globe and indeed had ofIicered troops,
white, black and yellow, in the whirl
OF various emergencies, for which rea-
son this Circassian campaign had ap-
pealed to him as grim and awful
joke. But somehow when Vera talked
of artillery the thing seemed serious.
Perhaps 1t was the surprise that n
woman should know anything what
ever about the subject
Your excellency," he said when the
officers had withdrawn, and then, II
beg your pardon; am uncertain what
form of address you prefer"
"Under the present circumstances, >"
she replied, glancing around the empty
room, Il prefer the style which you
used just as these annoying people
came with their reports"
"Vera." lie cried, "T'-
"That is it," she said, "but in public
'excellency,' 'highness' or anything that
suggests itself. am indifferent. And
now the maps, the maps! You are
slow, SIR"
And Darrell, under the compulsion Of
her glance, fell to work earnestly.