The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-11-26

sphynx7'
Yes he replied. and this sphynx
"1?' said she turning slowly on
him her indefinable look. DO you
know that I am f1attered by it? she
changing the expression of her eyes,
Paul Petrovitch suffered much
while the Princess R loved him:
but when she began to grow cold to
he almost lost his mind. He was in
despair, and felt consumed by jeal-
ousy; he did not leave her a moment
OF peace but followed her everywhere.
abroad The image of this wo-
man, this tncomprehensible image. al
most senseless, but truly magical, was
too deeply imprinted on his soul.
One evening when he was din
ing at the club Paul Petrovitch learned
that the Princess r. had lust died
in Paris in state bordering on mad
ness. Not long after he received
ring he had given to the Princess
She had traced a cross upon the
, sphynx and had left the message for
Paul Petrovitch that the cross was the
key to the enigma
This picture, lightly sketched in, is
OF Madame Odintsof':
"Arcadf turned and perceived a tall
lady in black dress standing at the
uoof u the nan. Inc distinction Of
naked arms fell gracefully over her
slim waist; light stems of fuchsia
hung from her brilliant hair over her
beautiful shoulders; her limpid eyes
above which rose a white and slightly
convex forehead, were tranquil and
intelligent rather than pensive. An
almost imperceptible smile played
and friendly expression enIivened her
whole face. She was full twenty
nine. Her nose was perhaps a
little large, like the noses of nearly all
was absolutely alabaster. The
folds of her dress fell differently on
her than on the women by whom she
was surrounded, with more symmetry
and breadth, and all her movements
were at once full of nobility and
naturalnesS. She was not much
liked in the government; her marriage
had excited much talk. There circu-
These rumors were not unknown to
her; but they went in at one ear and
out at the other. She had a great
freedom of mind, and did not lack
frmness.
g. The emotions that Madame
Odintsof could experience were not
distinctly painted on her face. She
always preserved the same expression.
and intelligent eyes were always at
tentive, but her attention never grew
animated. Having no preju-
dices. nor even any strong beliefs, she
recoiled before nothing and hardly
advanced. She saw many things
clearly, many things interested her,
and nothing could content her. 1 do
not even know whether she desired an
once curious and Indifferent; her
doubts were never effaced so as to
leave no traces and never became
strong enough tot trouble her. If she
I,nI ioh IND
perhaps she would have thrown her
self into the melee and learned to
know passions. But her existence was
calm, although she sometimes felt
without agitation. Too seductive
images sometimes rose involuntarily
before her eyes; but when the image
had disappeared she fell into her
habitual Quietude and regretted moth |
ing. Often in the morning on
coming warm and langufd out of her
perfumed bath she had dreamed on
the vanities of life, on it's sadness, on
ness animated her heart; she felt
noble aspirations awake in her; but a
half-open window has let a light
breath of wind into the room and
Anna Odintsof has shivered and COM |
planned; she has even had trouble in
keeping down a movement of anger, |
and only asked one thing at that mo-
ment: that this ugly wind would stop
blowing. Like all women to whom /
it has not been given to love, she con-
stantly desired something without
knowing exactly what she desired. |
The fact is, that she desired nothing, |
though she thought she wanted the i
whole world. She had hardly been |
able to endure her husband. She had |
married from calculation; d.
there had remained to her a secret |
aversion to all men in general, whom |
she imagined to herself as careless |
in person, heavy, indolent, perpetually |
disguised and without energy.
&C. What do want? said Mad !
anne Odintsof, and she sighed. I feel
very weary; 1 am old, I seem to have /
lived a very long time. Yes, am old,
she repeated. -. Il have already /
behind me SO many recollections!