Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1905-04-13
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II know nothing Of the Sort" re-
piled Eta. "Of course 1 know that all
that you say about position Is mere
irony. Paul thinks there is no one in
the world like YOU"
.Steinmetz glanced sharply down at
her. He had never considered the pos
sibility hat she might love Paul. Was
this, after all, jealousy? He had at
tributed it to vanity.
s~.And I have NJ doubt he is right"
she went on. Suddenly; she gave a lit
tie laugh. Don't you understands?
she. said. II want to. be friends"
She did not look at him, but sat with
pouting lips holding out her hand.
HE took it in his great, warm, soft
grasp, held it for a moment and re-
linquished it.
II don't want you to address all your
conversation to Maggie and to ignore
me. Do you think Maggie so very pref
ty?"
There was a twist beneath the gray
mustache as he answered: "1s that all
the friendship you desire? Does it ex-
TEND no further than a passing wish to
be.irst in petty rivalries of daily exist
ence2 l am afraid, my dear princess,
that my friendship is q heavier matter,
a.clumsier thing, than that"
"a big thing not easily moved" she
suggested, looking up, with her daunt-
less smile.
RE shrugged his great shoulders.
s:1t may be. Who knows? I hope it
1s,"he answered.
'The worst Of those things is that
they are sometimes in the way" said
Etta ~refectively, without looking at
him.
"And yet the life that is only a con-
gomeraton Of trifes is a poor life to
look back upon"
meaning miner" she asked.
"Your life has not been trifing," he
said gravely.
She looked up at him and then for
some moments kept silence while she
idly opened and shut her fan.
"Do you eve feel an u~naccountable
sensation of dread" she asked, with a
weary little laugh, "a sort Of forebod-
ing with nothing definite to forebode?"
"Unaccountable-no," replied Stein
metz. "But, then, I am a German-and
stout, which may make a difference. I
have no nerves."
He looked into the fire through his
Benevolent gold trimmed spectacles.
lis it nerves, or is it Petersburg" she
asked abruptly. II think it is Peters
burg. hate Petersburg"
why Petersburg more than Moscow
or Mini or-Tver?
She drew in a long, slow breath,
looking him up and down the while
from the corners Of her eyes.
II do not know" she replied collect
eddy. 81 think it is damp. These
houses are built on reclaimed land, I
believe. This was all marsh. was it
not?"
He did not answer her question, and
somehow she seemed to expect no re-
ply. He stood blinking down into the
fire, while she watched him furtively
from the corners of her eyes, her lips
parched and open, her face quite
white.
A few moments before she had pro-
tested that she desired his friendship.
She knew now that she could not brave
his enmity. And the one word "Tver"
had lone it all, the mere mention Of
a town, obscure and squalid, on the
upper waters of the mighty Volga in
mid-Russia!
During those few moments she sud
denly came face to face with her po-
sition. What had she to offer this
man? She looked him up and down
stout, placid and impenetrable. Here
was no common adventurer seeking
place, no coxcomb seeking ladies' ia
tvors, no pauper to be bought with gold.
She had no mea Of ascertaining how
much he knew, how much he suspect
ed. She could never hope to find out
whether his knowledge and his sus.
picions were his alone or had beer i'm
parted to others.
She breathed hard, living through
years of anxiety in a few moments OF
time, and she could only realize that
she was helpless, bound hand and foot
in this mans power.
It was he who spoke first.
"My dear lady," he said, IF you are
content to take my friendship as it is
It is yours. But l warn you it is NO
SNOWY drawing room article. There
will be I'D compliments, no pretty
speeches, no little gifts Of flowers and
such trunapery amenities. 1t will all
be very solid and middle aged, like my
SELF"
"You think" returned the lady, "that
I am fit for nothing better than pretty
speeches and compliments and floral
oferings|
II d." he said quietly.
"And yet you offer me your friend
ship?"
He bowed in acquiescence.
"Why?" she asked.
For Paul's sake, my dear lady"
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