Gilpin observer., 1905-08-31
CHAPTER VII.
IIda Barosky,


There appeared for a moment a
young girl, bearing violin and bow
1T was only for moment-between
the two servants, Azof and Hanajka.
With quick gesture she threw
aside the servants, and with flashing
eyes and head erect she advanced to
the center of the room.
"Who is responsible for this out
rage-this insult? Who is master
here?" she demanded, in quick, impas-
stoned tones, while her face indicated
the terrible excitement which pos
sessed her.
Paul Nazimoff advanced quickly.
"Stop, girl! You forget yourself and
who you are. You were commanded
here by me-Paul, Count Nazimon-"
"Who and what is Paul, Count Ma
zimoff, that he should command me?"
was the imperious answer. "Am Il
your servant. your serf. your child,
or your debtor? am free-born
Russian, no slave, and I shall not
obey you!"
Count Nazimoff, by his command
had thrown down the gage of battle,
and Ida Barosky-for it was the
exile's daughter-had taken 1t up. Two
strong natures were in conflict. On
the one hand stood Paul Nazimoff,
rich, powerful, noble, accustomed all
his life to command and to be obeyed,
and now Inundated, IL beaten, in the
presence of all his guests.
On the other. the young girl. proud,
naughty and unbending, her woman's
pride stung to the quick by being
thrust like serf into the midst of
the brilliant throng, and commanded
to play, as q master commands
slave. 1t was not hard to see that
hers was a nature that never would
yield to force, not even il resistance
meant the loss Of life itself.
How was the battle to end?
II shall not obey you'll"
The words that ended the young
girls speech kept ringing in the ears
of Paul Nazimof. 81 shall not obey
you!"
No such words had ever been ad-
dressed to him before. Could he be.
lieve the evidence of his own senses?
Surely everybody in st. Petersburg
knew that he. of all the great mobiles
in the capital, was the one whose
autocratic ways were best known. All
his guests knew it-and yet here. an
unknown girl an humble musician,
dared to stand before him, under his
own roof, and to fling in his face the
bold defiance, 81 shall not obey you."
Paul Nazimoff's face, flushed be-
fore, now turned to a CHASTITY white,
and his eyes seemed to turn to Goals
of fire. He no longer shouted. He
appeared calm, but 1t was the calm
ness of the tiger about to spring on
his unsuspecting victim.
"And I swear"-the words came
slowly, with a Kissing sound, from be-
tween the lips-"and I swear you
shall obey me. You forget who / am.
I am Paul, Count Nazimoff."
"And l swear shall not obey you.
I am Ida Barosky. the daughter OF an
exile. and shall not play God Save
the Carl"
No one spoke.
The strain was fearfully intense.
Paul Nazimoff shook for a moment
as the tree shakes when it feels the
first blast of the hurricane! The storm
was now beyond control. He forgot
himself. his guests, his position, man.
hood, nobility-all-every With
an oath he snatched the whip from
the hands of Hanajka and raising II
advanced a step toward the girl.
Father
Count NaZimoff!"
The two expressions rang out as one
the first by Alexis, the other by
Cobb.
Alexis was first-he seized the up
lifted hand. Father. you must mott"
Must not! must not!" shouted
Nazimoff. He fairly thundered now.
Rage had dethroned Reason. Stand
back!" he shouted. stand back, for