The indicator., 1904-12-24

their tranquility and hinted of high
spirit and perhaps the wild ambitions
OF her warrior ancestors held in leash
BY a will OF nne steel
There WAS more than n hint of boy
ishness In the little countess. Her
speech was free and frank and gay,
her manner MS guiltless OF coquetry as
lads. am from the tips of her rid
ing boots, which she always wore in
her visits 10 her hospital to her little
boyish mannerisms, owen detected the
difference between her and other
young Poll h women he had met
This Individuality captivated him
The love o adventure which flashed in
her eyes md an answering chord In
his own b. ast, He imagined her fet-
tered by itmily and tradition. Into
what might she not develop If lie could
free herr
One day she came In hurriedly. and,
looking around furtively, she said
Can you speak GermanT'
"Yes"
well, my brother, who is under the
suspicion Of the Russian police. is here
from his estate near wilma. and he
wishes to see you. Unfortunately lie
does not speak English. so you must
use German. but be careful to stop in
stantly If DR.. Polinski enters, as have
my suspicious that 1t WIS lie who be-
trnyed my brother to the Russians.
You know" she added hurriedly. that
even ! am in danger for erecting this
hospital and my little school. for we
Poles are not allowed by Russian law
either TO tench or dispense charity in
the Polish tongue, nor" more bitterly,
"to sing our national hymn in public
nor to buy land. nor to be elected to
office. My brother was elected mayor
of Wilma three years ago. but he was
not allowed to accept, and they put a
Russian jew, who had once been his
overseer in that office"
"Do you mean to tell me- said
Owen, with flashing eyes, that the
very doctor who attends me and who
is in your employ is u spy?"
I'VE do not know. because he has
only recently come among us. We
only suspect. His father was Pole,
his mother Russian. 1t Is easy for
him to permit either sympathy to sway
him. All, these mixed marriagesr"
The young girl sighed. and as Owen
maintal ed a sympathetic silence she
continued:
MY mothers favorite sister, the
beauty Of her family. who was said to
be the most beautiful woman in War
saw, married Russian. Prince Vladi-
mir Ermolof. who is now a councillor
and member Of the cars household.
My aunt was also u dame dhonneur
and Is very great friend to the elder
czarina. She has given her children
Russian names. and we doubt If they
have even been permitted to learn the
Polish language. This has SO grieved
my mother that all communication be-
tween them ceased long ago. and all
my aunts gifts have been returned to
her. Sometimes | regret this, for my
aunt Elena is so very powerful that
she might have done our unhappy ma
ton much yood If we could have con-
tinued our influence over her"
How fortunate!' said Owen. Yet
with all that intensity Of feeling be-
tween your nation and Russia you do
most fertile part of your estate belongs
to Prince korolenko."
The young girl drew herself up and
struck at her skirt with her riding
whip
You are just and an honest man."
she said proudly You could not lie
and we never questioned your decision.
| admire honesty above every other
quality in man, SO that shall never
recover fro II the shame of your being
half killed by our stupid peasants for
your homes decision"
"Oh, please. please began Owen
but the Co ntess Elena went on:
BESIDES, 1t is Prince Korolenko who
should feel iggrieved. and not the Sysz-
kewiczes, or this land has been his for
hundreds NJ years, and for all these
years my theirs have reaped the bene-
At of its fertility, while his were de-
prived of tLeir righteous Inheritance"
81 never knew such sense OF JUS
tce in woman before" said Owen
slowly
To his surprise the young girl colored
hotly, and her lips parted in a glad
smile at his tone.
"Trulyw she cried. "Will 1 bear
comparison with your American
friends. who have so much freedom 10
do as they like and are not thwarted in
their best desires by terror of an un-
Just law?'
You will bear comparison with any
one in the world" cried the young man,
with sudden passion,
mo, no. she cried hurriedly. Her
glance wavered beneath his. and she
spoke rapidly to recover herself. My
brother Is waiting. He is in disguise.
He looks like my oldest brother. ex-
cept that he wears no beard, so he is
wearing false beard to appear like
Alexis Even | was deceived. He will
remain but moment, AS he only
wishes to express his regret Mt your
81 will not have it.' cried owen. II
will not be apologized to by all your
amply recompensed for Il few bruises
by the bliss OF knowing you. Why do
you never sit here, as your mother
doesf"
81 am always busy elsewherel Well.
l will sit here. but we must not talk "
Elena seated herself and began to
Groom Polish song under her breath,
I N T5T 7T