Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1903-07-30
CHAPTER xv.-tCOntlnuedJ

Mltutu rev Wttkb OF tue NiVsN VI s~e
season very beautiful Frenehwoman
came 20 London, and was received al
once into the best society. Her story was
a strange one. and one that excited
great deal Of interest. She had been
married at fifteen TO a Russian prince,
many years older than herself, and OF
character. At first he had loved
her passlonately; then, as he found II
impossible to overcome her coldness ana
Indifference, he had come to dislike ana
treat her with harahness. lie had taken
her away 20 Russia very young, very
friendless, aud intensely unhappy. There
he had neglected her She had two ctlii'
aud all her love seemed
bound up In them. Then they died; the
cold OF Russia killed them, and she al
most died OF the grief.
The physician at St. Petersburg insist
ed that she should return AZ once to
Paris. at Is the only way TO save her
ilfe," he said 10 her husband. 80 after
three years weary absence, she return
ed TO her birthplace, and there. after
time, she recovered. At the French
court she was greatly admired and sought
for. A young man OF high rank con
celved wild passion for her. lie was
10 handsome. 80 distinguished, no one be-
lIeyed she could resist the devotion he
constantly and so openly offered her. II
could scarcely be affirmed that she was
utterly unmoved by his passion, but all
the world said that she never gave him
any undue encouragement. Still, Prince
Zelkoif became jealous. One evening the
princess dropped her bouquet: Monsieur
de LIgny picked II up, bowed over 1t, aud
returned Il TO her Prince Zelikon chose
TO imagine the accident was prearranged,
aud that De Ligny had taken the oppor'
tunIty OF concealIng note among the
flowers. He snatched the bouquet yio-
lently from his wlfe's hands. In her sur
prise she made some resistance; he grasp
ed her arm aud pressed the shnrp-pointed
diamond bracelet unintentionaliy into the
flesh. A little jet OF blood spurted forth.
The enraged DE Ligny beheld 1t, and In
A moment Prince Zelikotf lay stunned and
bleeding on the ground. A crowd closed
round them at once: with some difficulty
the angry men were separated, but, OF
course, only blood could wipe out such
stain. A meeting was arranged; the sec
onds made the customary formal at
tempts at a reconciliation without sue
cess.
Valerie de Zelikoff knew well enough
what the end OF such quarrel must nat
urally be. She knew her husbands fierce,
indomitable temper, and she guessed the
rage that had filled DE Ligny's heart al
seeing her treated with violence and in
dignity. Her heart was tOrR-in very
truth she cared more for the handsome
accomplished man who loved her so des
perately, than for her dissolute, gray
haired, Indifferent husban But her re
ligion had taught her faithfully the duty
OF sacrificing everything to right.
The morning OF the duel arrived, no on'
Nas on the ground but the seconds,
! doctor and his assistant. The doetol
stood near De Ligny. Prince LeliSof
was known as a deadly shot. one, Two
three, two flashes, two reports. wilt
shrek, and fall. And yet neither o
the duelists was harmed or scathed. A
the moment OF firing the doctors assist
ant had flung himself in front of tn
prince, had turned up the hand whic
held his pistol, and received De Ligny'
shot through his shoulder, De LgnI
the seconds, and the doctor rushed tC
ward him; the prince had already raise
his head, and recognized Valerie de Eel
koff. his wife. The doctor explained II
He was an old friend Of the family; sh
had gone to him and besought him to a
low her TO be present at the duel, urt
ing that she believed herself able to pr'
vent 1t, and after much hesitation he ha
yielded. The wound was not II seriou
one; many woman would have pee
glad to purchase the reputation for her,
ism that came undesred to Valerie q
Zelikoff at so small price Of pain,
The action was thoroughly French, an
as such intensely appreciated by a
Paris. 1t was crown Of glory to h
husband, and fiattered his vanity to d
gree that made him love her again as
the olden days. Great as the triumT
was to Zelikoff, was the defeat to |
Ligny, His amour propre could n
recover from such a terrible blow;
had been prepared to risk his life to
well-known deadly shot to avenge an
suit on the woman he loved, and she hi
received his bullet In her own tend
/ flesh to save the husband who had
grossly wronged her. He went away u
iii the affair had blown over, and then |
turned to Paris with very young, IA
wife, who had been taken from a conve
TO marry him. She adored him; he W
cold and Indifferent to her; nay, he
most hated her, when, six months lat
Q Prince Zelikoff died Of a fever, and t
J. beautiful Valerie was left widow
twenty-five. She passed year in sec
sion. then she again went into socie
and, as has been said, came to Lond
A few weeks before the close of the So
son. She was staying in the house
Lady Dora Amnesty, Mr.. Hastings COZ
In, and her greatest friend.
Mr.. Hastings saw a great deal of
beautiful Frenchwoman, and admin
n her exceedingly. She was not like a
Frenchwoman he had met before-s
did not talk much, or gesticulate, or SCI
to desire admiration. She was pale, lar
eyed, essentially spirituelle. The ch
fascination she possessed for him was
low, musical tone OF her voice.
81 wish you would come more often
NJ us, Errol," his cousin said; I'VE see
NJ little of you. | am so anxious that \
NJ dame Zelikoff's visit to us should bt
pleasant one, and she always seems b
pier, brighter, when you are there"
NJ "You do me too much honor"
NJ Hastings said, mockingly.
M ut is no empty compliment, inde
Errol," returned Lady Dora. Il am 8
she likes you much better than any