The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-06-02


Mime Ia Comtesse,' she said, with
her most gracious smile, taking the
limp hand offered to her by the Count
ess Lanovitch.
Catrina stood in the embrasure of
the window, hating her.
Paul. followed on his wifes heels,
scarcely concealing his boredom. He
was not society man. Catrina came
forward and exchanged formal bow
with Eta, who took in her plainness
and the faults Of her dress at one con-
temptuous glance. She smiled with
the perfect pity of good figure for no
figure at all. :. Paul was shaking hands
with the countess. When he took Ca
trina's hand her fingers were icy and
twitched nervously within his grasp.
The countess was already babbling
to Eta in French. The Princess How
ard Alexis always began by informing
Paul's friends that she knew no Rus
sian. For moment Paul and Catrina
Were left, as it were, alone.
81 wish you happiness said Catrina
and no one heard her but Paul. She
did not raise her eyes to his, but looked
vaguely at his collar Her voice was
short and rather breathless, as if she
had just emerged from deep water.
"Thank you," answered Paul simply.
| He turned and somewhat naturally
looked at his wife. Catrina's thoughts
followed his. A man is at disad-
vantage in the presence of the woman
who loves him. She usually sees
through him-a marked difference be-
, tween masculine and feminine love.
Catrina looked up sharply and caught
his eyes resting on Eta.
"He does not love her-he does not
love herr was the thought that in
stantly Ieaped into her brain.
! Aud if she had said it to him h0
would have contradicted her fatty ane
honestly, and in vain.
YES" the countess was saying with
lazy solubility, Paul is one of our
oldest friends. We are neighbors in
| the country, you know. He has al
ways been in and out of our house like
one of the family. My poor husband
was very fond Of him."
''Is your husband dead, then?" asked
haste. Er.
"No; he is only in Siberia. You have
| perhaps heard of his misfortune
Count Stepan Lanovitch."
Eta nodded her head with the deep
est sympathy.
81 feel for you, countess" she said.
"And yet you are so brave-and made
moiselle" she said. turning to Catrina.
81 hope we shall see more of each other
in Tver"
Catrina bowed jerl1ily and made no
reply. Eta glanced at her sharply.
Perhaps she saw more than Catrina
knew re-
81 suppose" she said to the countess.
with that inclusive manner which
| spreads the conversation out. that
Paul and Mile de Lanovitch were play
mates?
The reply lay with either of the la
dies, but Catrina turned away.
YES" answered the countess, "but
Catrina is only twenty-four, ten years
younger than Paul"
Indeed with faint, cutting sur
prise.
While the party assembled We're thus
exchanging social amenities a past
master in such commerce joined them
in the person of Claude de Chauxville.
He smiled his mechanical, heartlesS
smile upon them all, but when he bow
ed over E1a's hand his face was
grave. He expressed no surprise at see-
ing Paul and Eta, though his manner
betokened that emotion. There was no
sign of this meeting having been pre-
arranged matter. brought about by
himself through the easy and innocent
instrumentality of the countess.
And you are going to Tyer, no
doubt?" he said almost at once to Eta.
'Yes," answered that lady, with a
momentary hunted look in her eyes. It
is strange how an obscure geographical
name may force its way into our lives,
never to be forgotten. 1t seemed to Eft
ia that liver was written large
wheresoever she turned
"The prince" continued De Chaux.
vile, turning to Paul. lis q great
sportsman, l am told-a mighty hunt
err"
Paul smiled "We have few bears
left" he said.
you are fortunate" protested De
Chauxville Il shot one when l was
younger / was immensely afraid, and
SO was the bear. / have a great desire
to try again"
Eta glanced at Paul, who returned
De Chauxville'S bland gaze with all
the imperturbability of prince.
The countess cackling voice broke in
at this juncture, as perhaps De Chaux-
vile had intended it to do.
''Then why not come and shoot
ours? she said. 1--WE have quite
number of them in the forests at
Thors."
"Ah, Mime. la Comtesse." he answer
ed, with outspread, depreeatory hands,
''but that would be taking too great an
advantage of your hospitality and your
well known kindness"
He turned to Catrina, who received
him with half concealed frown. The
countess bridled and looked at her
daughter with obvious maternal mean
ing, as one who was saying. There
10