The Central Nevadan. [volume] (Battle Mountain, Nev.) 1885-1907, 1903-05-14

words from you are more than sufi
cient compensation for it"
"A poor one, | fear. Your eolone
Is your enemy. then7 And where
fore?'
He paused a moment.
why, at first I scarcely know. W.
IRE n~ntagonlstic. | suppose"
"Bnt is 1t usual for officers of hi:
high grade to show such malice to theil
soldiersr
"Most unusual. In this service espe
eially so, although officers rising from
the ranks themselves are more apt t.
contract prejudlces and i'll feeling
against as they are to feel f~ayoritisn
to their men than when they enter the
regiment In a superior grade at once
Since l am here, madame. let me thank
you. In the army's name, for your In
finite goodness in acting SO muni1cent'
ly on my slight hint. Your generosity
has made many happy hearts in the
hospital"
Generosity Oh, do not call 1t by
any such namel What did 1t cost me
We are terribly selfish here. I am In
debted to you that for once you made
me remember those who suffered"
She spoke with a certain impulse of
caiidor and of self accusation that
broke with great sweetness the some
what careless coldness of her general
manner 1t was like a CLEAN of light
that showed all the depth and the
warmth that in truth lay beneath that
further the ice of distance that severed
the grande dame from the cavalry sol
der. He wholly forgot their respee-
tive stations. He only remembered that
for the first time for so many years he
had the charm of nye with a wo-
man Of high breeding, of inexpressible
beauty and of keen and delicate intui-
ton. He wholly forgot how time pass
ed. and she did not seek to remind him.
Indeed she but little noted is herself.
At last the conversation turned back
to his chief.
you seem to be aware of some mo-
tive for your commandments dislikef"
she asked him. TEL me to what you
attribute lt?"
He obeyed and told to her the story
of the emir and Of the Pearl of the Des-
ert. and venetia Corona listened. as
she had listened to him throughout.
with an interest that she rarely vouch-
safed to the recitals and the witticisms
of her own circle.
This barbarian is your chief?" she
said as the tale closed. 'His enmity
Is your honor. l can well credit that
he viii never pardon your having
stood between him and his crime. But
! have not heard n thing. What ar
gufnent did you use to obtain her re-
iease?"
swered her. while his voice sank low.
Il will trust you with it. 1t will not
pass elsewhere. l told him enough of
-of my own past life to show him
that ! knew what his had been and
that | knew. moreover. though they
were dead to me now, men In that
greater world Of Europe who would
believe my statement IL I wrote them
this outrage on the emlr and would
avenge 1t for the reputation Of the en-
pire. and unless he released the emir's
wife | swore to him that l would so
write. though he had me shot on the
morrow. and he knew l should keep
my word"
She was silent some moments. look
ing on him with a musing gaze in
which some pity and more honor for
him were blended.
You told him your past. VIII you
confess it to me?'
IL cannot. madame"
And wby:"
because am dead. because in your
presence 1t becomes more bitter to me
to remember that l ever lived"
You speak strangely. Cannot your
life have n resurrection"
"Never. madame. For a brief hour
you have given 1t one-in dreams. 1t
will have no other. As l am now so
l desire 10 live and die"
You voluntarily condemn yourself
to this?"
Il have voluntarily chosen II. | am
well sure that the silence ! entreat will
be kept by you?"
"Assurcdly. unless by your wish 1t
be broken Yeti await my brothers
arrival here. He is a soldier himself.
! shall hope that he will persuade you
to think differently of your future.
AT nny rate both his and my W in
fluerce will always be exerfed for you,
IL you will avail yourself of it"
You do me much honor. madame.
All | will ever ask of you Is to return
those coins TO my colonel ard TO forget
that yoUr sentleness has made me dis.
regard for one merciful half hour the
susserance On which alone q trooper can
present himself here"
He swept the ground with his cap as
though 1t were the plnmed hat of a
marshal and backed slowly from he.
presence. as he had many a time long
before backed out OF a throneroom.
AS he went his eyes caught the ar
mics of the ivory chessmen. They
stood under the glass and had not been
broken by her lapdog.
Miladi. left alone there In her luxuri-
u morning room. sat awhile lost In
fharrht ITa oftracfad har. No fntar.