The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1905-05-25

II F
time they met again.. Eta was now
almost defiant. She was on her met.
tie. She was SO near to loving Paul
that a hatred of him welled up within
her breast whenever he repealed her
advances with uncompromising reti-
cence.
They did not know-perhaps she
hardly knew herself that the opening
Of the side door depended upon her
humor.
In the afternoon Eta and Maggie
sat- as was their wont, in the morn
Ing room looking out over the cliff. OF
late their intercourse had been slightly
| strained. They had never had much in
common, although circumstances had
| thrown their lives together.
At dusk Steinmetz went out. He had
an appointment with the starosta.
Paul was sitting in his own room,
making a pretense of work, about 5
o'clock, when Steinmetz came hurried
~ to him.
"A new development" he said short
". "Come to my room.''
Steinmetz's large room was lighted
only by lamp standing on the table.
All the light was thrown on the desk
by large green shade, leaving the
rest of the room in semidarkness.
At the far end of the room a man
was standing in an expectant attitude
There was something furtiye about
this intruder, and at the same time IA
Will RI
through the gloom.
Then the man came hurriedly for
ward.
"Ah, Pavlo, Pavlo!' he said in a
deep, hollow voice. II could not expect
you to know me''
He threw his arms around him and
embrace him after the simple manner
of Russia. Then he held him at arms
length.
"Stepanv' said Paul. mo, l did not
know you"
Stepan Lanovitch was still holding
him at arms length, examining him
with the large faint blue eyes which
so often 60 with an exaggerated phi
lanthropy.
"Old," he muttered, "old! Ali, my
poor Pavlo! I heard in Kiev-you
know how we outlaws hear such things
that you were in trouble, so I came
to you"
Steinmetz in the background raised
his patient eyebrows.
"There are two men in the world
went on the voluble Lanovitch, "who
can manage the moujiks Of Tver-you
and I, so came. will help you,
Pavlo. will stand by you. Together
we can assuredly quell this revolt"
Paul nodded and allowed himself to
be embraced a second time. He had
long known Stepan Lanovitch of Thors
as one Of the many who go about the
world doing good with their eyes shut.
For the moment he had absolutely no
use for this well meaning blunderer.
"How did you get here?" asked Paul,
who was always businesslike.
Il brought pack on my back and
sold cotton. I made myself known to
the starosta, and he communicated
with good Karl here"
did you learn anything in the vii
lager" asked Paul.
mo, they suspected me. They would
not talk. But I understand them, Paw
10, these poor simple fools. A pebble
in the stream would turn the current
of their convictions. Tell them who is
the Moscow doctor. 1t is your only
chance"
Steinmetz grunted acquiescence and
walked YEARLY to the window. This
was only an old and futile argument
Of his own.
"And make it impossible for me to
live another day among them,'' said
Paul. "Do you think st. Petersburg
would countenance prince who works
among his moujiks?"
Stepan Lanovitch's pale blue eyes
looked troubled. Steinmetz shrugged
his shoulders.
"They have brought it on them
Selves he said.
"As much as lamb brings the knife
upon itself by growing up replied
Paul.
Lanovitch shook his white head with
tolerant little smile. He loved these
poor helpless peasants with love as
large as and thousand times less
practical than PauPs.
In the meantime Paul was thinking
in his clear, direct way. It was this
mans habit in life and in thought to
walk straight past the side issues.
1T is like you, Stepan," he said at
length, ito come to us at this time. We
feel it, and we recognize the generosity
Of it, for Steinmetz and I know the
danger you are running in coming back
to this country. But we cannot let you
do it, No, do not protest. It is quite
out Of the question. We might quell
the revolt; no doubt we should've
two of us together. But what would
happen afterward? You would be sent
back to Siberia, and should probably
follow you for harbor1ng an escaped
convict.
"Also," went on Paul, with that de-