Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1903-02-28

signal, and fire at once! In the
counts eye, mike the otter's.0
eyes, excellency."
Certainly the poor princess had
struggled conscientiously to resist
the ardent applications of Alexis
Petrovitch. But he was twenty
five, and she was only twenty.
The grave caresses of her hus-
band suggested to the princess what
the infinite joys Of young love might
be, with its divine intoxication, its
ardent embraces. Never yet had
she given her lips unasked to her
husband. Must she always submit
to his almost paternal kisses? And
what promises she read in the eyesS
of Alexis! I
The princess did not stop to AMI
alyze either her preferences or herr
aversions. She loved Alexis. ThatL
was enough. Love at twenty has
spark of divinity in it. It does not
even care to understand itself
One day Alexis swore to the prin-S
cess that he would only put his lips
to the hem of her gown; but, carried
on by the torrent of his youthful
love, he kissed her passionately. She
fled to her favorite blue saloon,
which she never allowed any one to
enter. There she permitted the
count to join her.
After that they sat there when
ever they were alone together.
So it was that, seated on divan
opposite the long window, the prin-
cess saw kneeling before her him
who was not yet her lover, but to
whom she felt already that she en-
tirely belonged.
"Ah, my life, how I love youp
he was saying.
His arms were about her. Draw
ing her closer to him, he sought her
lips. She was uneasy and made as
if she would release herself, when,
suddenly conquered by the convul-
sion which rent her heart, she closed
her eyes, and her lips met his.
Yam Barsouck watched. Before
those two young creatures rapt in
an ecstasy Of love he smiled.
This love, what was it? A pit
into which man led woman, and she
ran to it blindly, careless of her
fate
Yam understood this love. No
one could initiate as he could the
moaning love lamentations of the;
otter to his mate. How many had
he shot, to save them from their
"doom, as he expressed it.
Meanwhile, his eyes fixed on the:
count, Yam silently leveled his car h
bine. i,
Infamed by the long, voluptuousI
embrace and moved by the strength
Of his passion, Alexis arose. LittleE
by little. he pressed closer against
him the slight form lying SO unre-
sistingly in his arms. With his i'm
patient fingers he tore aside the silk
folds of her gown.
But the priIcess stood erect. The
adorable modesty of her gesture,
the look of amazement in her eyes,
accompanied by SO much love, so
much fear, reminded Alexis of his
promise. Falling once more upon
his knees, respectfully, reVerently,
he laid his lips to the hem of her
gown.
Barsouck saw all, even the look of
mad passion with which the prin-
cess thanked Alexis, unconsciously
promising to repay him hundred
fold for tlR sacrifice she now inn
posed on, him.
A veil was suddenly torn away
from the soul of the brute. His
savage nature was electrified by the
ray of understanding which pene-
trated his very heart. It was a new
ldea exquisite, elevating-that of
modesty.
Now he understood pure love.
AS Alexis rose from his knees the
prince entered. Certain of satiating
his hatred, gloating over the horror
nto which his unexpected entrance
had thrown them, the prince adj
7anced deliberately toward the low
srs, who stood trembling before
hin. He went cautiously, like
creeping under the petals
If a flower.
Alexis threw himself in front of
he princess. But quickly disengag-
ng herself the woman boldly con-
'essed all. Then, with a superb au-
lacity, she stood staring in her hus-
oand's face.
Old Horostienko was beside him
elf with rage. Grasping the hand
which was to serve as a sig
lal to Barsouck, he threw it with
he force of blow in his wifa's