Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1905-05-18
CONTINUED
CHATTER ANfH.

L az . N1S1l W IhC N1lldSC l1S
ladies did not see much male
- society. Paul and Steinmetz
usually left the castle Immediately aft
er breakfast and did not return till
nightfall.
IFS there anything wrong?" Maggie
SECOND day.
Steinmetz had just come into the
vast drawing room dressed for dinner,
stout, placid and very clean looking.
They were alone.in the room.
Nothing, my dear. young lady-yet,"
he answered, coming forward and rub
bing his broad palms slowly together.
Because" she said, eff there is you
need not be afraid Of telling me-"
"To have that fear would be to offer
you an insult" replied Steinmetz.
paul and I are Investigating matters;
that is all. The plain truth, my dear
young lady, is that we do not know
ourselves what Is in the wind. We
only know there is something. You
area horsewoman; you know the feel
ingof a FESTIVE horse. One knows that
he is only waiting for an excuse to shy
or to kick or to rear; one feels it thrill
ing in him. Paul and l have that feel
Ing in regard to the peasants. We are
going the round of the outlying vii
lagos steadily and carefully; we are
seeking for the fly on the horses body.
You understand"
eyes, I understand"
She gave a little nod. She had not
lost color, but there was an anxious
look in her eyes.
"Some people would have sent to
liver for the soldiers" Steinmetz went
on, "but Paul is not that sort Of man.
He will not do it yet. You remember
our conversation at the charity ball in
London?"
dyes"
II did not want you to come then. 1
am sorry you have come now"
Maggie laid aside her newspaper,
with a little laugh.
"But, Herr Steinmetz," she said, 81
am not afraid. Please remember that.
4 have absolute faith in you-and in
Paul"
It may not have been entirely by
chance that Claude de Chauxville drove
over to Osterno to pay his respects the
next day and expressed himself desc
hated at hearing that the prince had
gone out with Herr Steinmetz in a
sleigh to a distant corner of the es-
tate.
"My horses must rest" said the
Frenchman, calmly taking off his fur
gloves. perhaps the princess will see
me-"
A few minutes later he was shown
into the morning room.
did I see Mile. Delafeld on snow
shoes in the forest as I came along?"
DE Chauxville asked the servant in
perfect Russian before the man left the
room.
DOUBTLESS, excellency. She went out
When Eta opened the door a minute
later he bowed low without speaking.
There was a suggestion of triumph in
his attitude.
"Well?" said the princess, without
acknowledging his salutation.
De Chauxville raised his eyebrows
with the resigned surprise of a man
to whom no feminine humor is new.
He brought forward a chair.
twill you sit?" he said, with exag-
gerated courtesy. II have much to say
to you. I have the good fortune to find
you alone"
$50 you have informed me-" she re-
piled coldly.
De Chauxville leaned against the
mantelpiece and looked down at her
thoughtfully.
cat the bear hunt the other day l
mad the misfortune towel, to fall out
with the prince. We were not quite at
one on a question Of etiquette. He
Thought that I ought to have fired. l
Did not fire; I was not ready. 1t ap-
pears that the prince considered him
self to be in danger. He was nervous
durried."
"You are not always artistic in your
untruths," interrupted Eta. II know
nothing of the incident to which you
refer, but in lying you should always
endeavor to be consistent. I am sure
Paul was not ervous or furried."
De Chauxville smiled imperturbably.
His end vas gained. Eta obviously
knew nothing Of his attempt to murder
Paul at the bear hunt.
1T was nothing" he went on. "We
did not come to words. But we have
never been much in sympathy. The
coldness is intensified; that is all. So l
took the opportunity Of calling when l
Knew he was away"
GLOW did you know he was away?"
"Ah, madame, I know more than 1
app credited with"
Etta gave a little laugh and shrugged
her shoulders.
"You do not care for Osterno?" sug-
gested De Chauxville.
81 hate it,"
Precisely, and I am here to help you
to get away from Russia once for all.
Ah, you may shake your head. Some
day perhaps I shall succeed in convinc-
ing you that I have only your interests
IA, heart. am here, princess, to make