The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1905-05-18

durable fool. If he is geing to be a
dangerous fool as well, I should almost
be inclined to let him go to the devil in
his own way"
II dare say, but you are not in my
position
mo, that is true, Pavlo. They were
| not my fathers serfs. Generations of
my ancestors have not saved genera
tons Of their ancestors from starva-
ton. My fathers before me have not
toiled and shaved and legislated for
them. have not learned medicine
that might doctor them.''
IF agree to make bolt for Peters
burg tomorrow, will you Gomez" re-
torted Paul.
No. answered the stout man.
II thought not. Your cynicism is on
~ a matter of words, Steinmetz, and
not of deeds. There is no question Of
either of US leaving Osterno. We must
stay and fight it right out here.''
"That is so,'' answered Steinmetz,
with the Teutonic stolidity of manner
which sometimes came over him. But
the ladies-what Of them?''
Paul did not answer. They were
passing over the rise of heavy drift.
"This is no place for Miss Delafield,"
added Steinmetz, looking straight in
front of him.
II know thatv' answered Paul sharp
~. Il wish to God she was not here!
he added in a lower tone, and the
words were lost beneath the frozen
mustache
Steinmetz made no answer. They
drove on through the gathering gloom
The sky was of yellow gray, and the
earth reflected the dismal hue of it.
Presently it began to snow, driving in
fine haze from the north. The two
men lapsed into silence.
"Stopv' cried Steinmetz suddenly,
and Paul pulled the horses on to their
launches.
Il thought you were asleep he said.
There was no one in sight. They
were driving along the new road now,
the highway Paul had constructed
from Osterno to Tver. The road itself
was, of course, indistinguishable, but
the telegraph posts marked it's course.
Steinmetz tumbled heavily out Of his
furs and went toward the nearest tele-
graph post. ....
''Where is the wire?'' he shouted.
Paul followed him in the sleigh. To-
gether they peered up into the dark
ness and the falling snow. The posts
We're there, but the wire was gone. A
whole length of it had been removed.
They were cut off from civilization by
40 miles of untrodden snow.
Steinmetz clambered back into the
sleigh and drew up the fur apron. He
gave strange little laugh that had a
ring of boyish excitement in it. This
man had not always been stout and
placid
'That settles one question:" he said
(Which question:" asked Paul.
He was driving as hard as the horses
could lay hoof to ground, taken with a
sudden misgiving and great desire to
reach Osterno before dark.
1.-The question of the ladies' replied
Steinmetz. ut is too late for them to
go now.''
At the castle all seemed to be in Or
der. The groom in his great sheepskin
coat was waiting in the doorway. The
servants threw open the vast doors
and stood respectfully in the warm,
brilliantly lighted hall while their mas
ter passed in.
"Where is the princess?' Steinmetz
asked his valet while he was removing
the evidences Of long day in the open
air.
In her drawing room, excellency."
'Then go and ask her if she will give
me cup Of tea in a few minutes"
A few minutes later Steinmetz, pre-
senting himself at the door of the little
drawing room attached to Etta's suit
of rooms, found the princess in a
matchless tea gown waiting beside a
table laden with silver tea appliances.
you see," she said, with smile, for
she always smiled on men, II have
obeyed your ORDERS
81 begin to think" said Steinmetz,
coming to the point in his bluff way,
that you are sort of beautiful Jo-
nah, a graceful stormy petrol, a fair
Ay
trouble where you go.'
She glanced at his broad face and
read nothing there.
"Go on" she said. "What have 1
been doing now? How you do hate
me, Herr Steinmetzv'
perhaps it is safer than loving you,''
he answered, with his grim humor
"You are horribly grave" she said.
'"The situation" he replied, lis hor-
ribly grave
Eta looked up at him as he stood
before her, and the lamplight, falling
on the perfect oval of her face, showed
| it to be white and drawn.
She sat looking up into his strong,
grave face, and during all that followed
she never moved.
II know you," he said, ITO be cour-
ageous, and must ask you to believe
that I exaggerate nothing in what I
am about to tell you I tell it to you
instead of leaving Paul to do so be-
cal7Sn know hia cornnlo%o Zoo rIocc,oeo