The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1905-03-30
come in YOU may STAY outside"

| come IN you may stay outside.
AS they walked down the struggling
village street the Moscow doctor told
| the starosta in no measured terms, as
| was his wont, wherein lay the heart Of
| the sickness. Here, as in Osterno, dirt
and neglect were at the base Of all the
| trouble.
| The starosta prudently remained out
side the first house to which he intro
duced the visitors. Paul went fearless
" in, while Steinmetz stood in the door
way, holding open the door.
AS he was standing there he perceiv-
ed a Pickering light approaching him.
The light was evidently that of an Or
| binary hand lantern, and from the
swinging motion it was easy to divine
that it was being carried by some one
who was walking quickly.
"Who is this?" asked Steinmetz.
'It is likely to be the Countess Ca
trina, excellency.'
"Does she visit the cottages?' asked
Steinmetz sharply.
| "She does, God be with her! She has
no fear. She is an angel Without her
we SnOulO all De Qe1Q.
"She won't visit this if can help it,
| muttered Steinmetz.
The light flickered along the road
| toward them. In the course of few
minutes it fell on the stricken cottage,
on the starosta standing in the road.
on Steinmetz in the doorway.
"Herr Steinmetz, is that you?" asked
voice deep and musical in the dark
ness.
"At your command" answered Stein-
metz, without moving
Catrina came up to him. She was
clad in a long dark cloak, a dark hat
and wore no gloves. She brought with
her 4 clean aromatic odor of disin-
fectants. She carried the lantern her.
self, while behind her walked a man
servant in livery, with large basket
in either hand.
ut is good of you," she said, ITO
come to us in our need, also to per-
suade the good doctor to come with
you. May go in?''
She looked up at him, expecting him
to step aside and allow her to pass into
the cottage, but Steinmetz stood quite
still, looking down at her with his
pleasant smile. He did not move.
II think not. This Moscow man is
eccentric. He likes to do good sub
rosa. He prefers to be alone.''
Catrina tried to look into the cot
tage, but Karl Steinmetz, as we know,
was fat and filled up the whole door
way.
There was a little pause. From the
interior of the cottage came the muir
INJURED gratitude of the peasants, bro
ken at times by a vail Of agony-the
wall of man. 1t is not a pleasant
sound to hear. Catrina heard it, and it
twisted her plain, strong face in sud-
den spasm Of sympathy
Again she made an impatient little
movement
Let me go in,' she urged. II may
be able to help"
At this moment Steinmetz was
pushed aside from within, and hulk
Ing young man staggered out into the
road, propelled from behind with con-
siderable yigor After him came a
shower of clothes and bedding.
"Pahw exclaimed Steinmetz, splut-
tering. "Himmel! What filth! Be care
full, Catrina!"
But Catrina had slipped past him.
In an instant he had caught her by the
wrist.
Come back!' he cried "You must
not go in there!''
She was just over the threshold.
"You have some reason for keeping
me out" she returned, wriggling in his
strong grasp. II will will!'
With a twist she wrenched herself
free and went into the dimly lighted
room.
Almost Immediately she gave a
hooking laugh.
Paul" she said.
For moment there was silence in
the howell, broken only by the wall of
the dying man in the. corner. Paul and
Catrina faced each other, she white
eSad suddenly GREATNESS, he half frown-
ing. But he did not meet her eyes.
Paul. she said again. what did
you 90 this for? Why are you here?
OA' why aAc JOu III ILLS WreCcle0
place?'
Because you sent for me,' he an
sWered quietly. "Come, let US 90 out.
have finished here That man will
die. There is nothing more to be done
for him. You must not stay in here"
Steinmetz fingered behind to give
some last instructions, leaving Paul
and Catrina to walk on down the mar
row street alone
| How long have you been doing
this?' asked Catrina suddenly. She
did not look toward him, but straight
in front of her.
For some years now,'' he replied
simply.
He fingered. He was waiting for
Steinmetz, who always rose to such
emergencies, who understood secrets
and how to secure them when they
seemed already lost.
Catrina walked on in silence. She
| was not looking at tho rootfor fro,,,