The San Angelo press. (San Angelo, Tex.) 1897-1907, 1903-03-18

lNere! very well. hcmemDCf tRe
signal. and fire at once! In the
counts eye, Yann--like the ottcr's."
"Nes, cXcellency."
Certainly the poor princess had
struggled conScicntiously to resist
the ardent supplications Of Alexis
Petrovitch. But he was twenty
five, and she was only twenty
The grave carosscs 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 vet had
she given her lips unaskcd to her
husband. Must she always submit
to his almost patcrnal kisses: And
what promises she read in the eyes
of Alexis!
The princess did not stop to an
alyze either her preferences or her
aversions. She loved Alexis. That
was enough. Love at twenty has a
spark of divinity in it. 1t does not
even care to understand itself.
~ One day Alexis swore to the prin-
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 passionatciy. She
fed to her favoritc 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 Il diyan
opposite the long window, the prin-
cess saw kncelng before her him
who was not yet her lover, but to
whom she felt already that she en-
tirely belonged.
"Ah, my life, how | love youw
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? \ 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 leyeled his car
bine.
InAamed by the long, yoluptuous
embrace and moved by the strength
of his passion, Alexis arose. Little
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 princess 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 a hundred
fold for the sacrifice she now i'm
/ 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. 1t was a new
idea-eXquisite, elcyating-that Of
woman's modcsty.
Now he understood pure love.
AS Alexis rose from his knees the
prince entered. Certain Of satiating
his hatred, gloating over the horror
into which his unexpected entrance
had thrown them, the prince add
vanced deliberately toward the low
ers, who stood trembling before
him. He went cautiously, like a
caterpillar creeping under the petals
of flower.
Alexis threw himself in front of
the princess. But quickly disengag-
ing herself the woman boldly con-
fessed all. Then, with a superb au-
dacity, she stood staring in her hus-
bands face.
Old llorostienko was beside him
self with rage. Grasping the hand
kerchief which was to serve as a sig
nal to Barsouck, he threw it with
the force of a blow in his wife's
face.
Surprised to see the count still
erect. he turned toward the Winuoy