The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1903-10-03

- s @ANsteh stOoA with the Haper
she had given him still in his hand
looking, as he felt, terribly ae;tated
The memory Of those few montha he
! had passed In Russia as an attacha to
the British Embassy returned q him
he Remembered the Ambassadors BAN
&C which he first met Olga DobroulofP
He had fallen In love with the snr.
passingly beautiful girl at first sight
or, at least, he believed it was love at
that time.
introduced to her faher-her only
living relatiYe-the young Englishman
eventually became the recipient Of
Paul Dobroulofrs views concerning his
country; but It was not until Austen
had strongly expressed his own opinion
regarding the Russian system of gov
eminent, with all its attendant evils.
that Olga's father boldly avowed him
self Nihilist Austen applauded the
aims OF the society, and was at length
induced to become one of the brother
hood, taking the oath to aid them in
their secret war against tyranny.
shortly after this the death of a
near relative called him home, and
he had been in England but little
time when the conviction grew upon
MIN that his love for Olga, which he
had thought So all-pervading. was
dead. He wrote to her to this effect
but received no reply. Perhaps his
letter had niscarried. Having no de-
sire to return to Russia. he had re-
signed his post there, and, possessing
a small competency, devoted himself to
literature with fair success. Indeed.
only two days previous to Olga Do.
broulofrs visit play Of his had been
produced and well received by the
critics.
The silence Of the room was broken
only by the ticking Of the clock and
the sobs of the kneeIing woman. The
latter grew fainter after a while, and
Austen was thinking he might ap-
proach and offer some words of COM
fort when, with a quick movement, o.
ga rose to her feet. Her eyes were
swollen with weeping, but the express
sion of her face, was calm.
Il accept my fate" she said, "and
will not trouble you again. You re-
fuse to execute the orders Of the Mill
list chiefs?"
Undoubtedly. I will not commit
murder"
Ivan Bronski is traitor-a dog I'M
at to breathe Gods pure air. 1t ia
not murder to take the life Of such as
he. He revealed a plot which would
have struck q gigantic blow for Rus
sian freedom, and betrayed my father,
who is sentenced to living death In
the Siberian mines-he and his fellow
martyrs. By good fortune succeeded
in escaping arrest. 1t was known that
Bronski had ned to England. He had
merited death, and the lot fell to you
among our brothers in this country to
wreak vengeance upon the traitor. l
begged to be allowed to carry the de-
cision Of the chiefs to you, but on my
arrival in London none of our fratern-
ity could tell me where to find Cecil
Austen. By chance was present at
the flrst performance Of your play, rec,
ognized you when you were called be-
fore the curtain, and followed you to
this place.
Il have kept your identity a secret
from our friends, because my instinct
told me it would be for your good
Your reputation of me is not unex-
pected, Cecil. Your six years silence
could only mean that you were tired
to hear the truth from your own lips,
And you still refuse to be true to your
oath as Nihilistf'
II am no longer a Nihilist, however
much l may sympathize with the Nj
hilistic aims. To ask me to commit
murder Is revolving"
1.-THE chiefs punish with death those
who do as you are doing"
II have no fear Of them"
She said nothing for some minutes
but, looking steadily at him, extended
her hand.
II am afraid my coming has brought
cloud over your triumph and happi
ness. l am sorry, Cecil. Goodbye"
He pressed her hand. She, turning
moved towards the door. Austen fol
lowed.
"Olga," he said, burning desire ris
ing in his heart to speak kindly words
to this woman whose love he was
bound to reject. She interrupted him
Say nothing to me except a last
goodbye"
With head erect she passed out OF
to the staircase, and in moment wal
gone from his sight. Austen waited
until her footsteps died away and ther
slowly, thoughtfully, returned to his
room.
The first thing his eyes rested OF
was the order of the Nihilist chiefs
that he, Cecil Austen, should take thu
life of Ivan Bronski, the traitor. L
was lying on the floor with the photo
graph of Dora Penheld, the girl h
loved. With a shudder he cast the OBJ
l QVn xrrhn