Gilpin observer., 1905-08-31
! DARKEST RUS STA
ny II. GRATTAN DONNELLY.
Copyright 1896 by I Smith, rights

Sne never moved. Tnere was no
sign Of fear, whatever she may have
felt. She looked defiance.
"Take hold Of her arms and COM
pei the bow to cross the strings!"
fairly screamed Nazimoff, as he again
raised the whip.
The servants obeyed.
Paul Nazimoff held the whip up
lifted. 1T Is the last time" he
yelled. What will save you now?"
''This will" The answer of Ida
Barosky, shrill and clear as trumpet
sound, rang out. as with quick mo-
tion she raised the violin far above
her head, and, before any one could
prevent, dashed the instrument into a
thousand pieces at the feet of Ma,
zimoff!
He was baffied-beaten.
There was a gasp as he made mo-
tion with the whip. Cobb and Alexis
sprang forward to avert the blow. but
it was needless. The whip fell from
his hands and he fell forward. The
strain had been too much, and the
next moment he was unconscious.
With quick motion Alexis sprang
to the side of the girl. "Quick, come
with me-" he said in low voice, as
he grasped her by the arm. In all
the confusion Cobb seemed to keep
his mind. Get her away" he urged
Alexis, and at the same moment he
supported the stricken count to low
couch where several physicians among
the guests attended him. A moment
consultation and they decided that It
was nothing serious. Paul Nazimoff
was suffering from the effects of a
shock and overtaxed nerves. 1t was
all right. A few hours rest and he
would be quite himself again.
With a word of apology to the
guests for TIE unhappy affair that had
brought the festivities to such an un-
pleasant termination, Alexis bid good
night to such as remained. Cobb he
asked not to leave him.
Alexis Nazimoff. Immediately after
the departure Of the last of the guests
retired to his own room, accompanied
by General Cobb. He was laboring
under intense emotion, ana it was
some minutes before he became suffi-
ciently composed to trust himself to
speak. When he became somewhat
calmer he turned to the American,
and putting out his hand as IL to ask
for friendship and sympathy, said, in a
voice that stili indicated the intensity
of his feelings: Cobb, my tate was
decided tonight"
Cobb was about to answer, when,
with movement. Alexis stopped him,
and in an impassioned strain broke
out: You do not know-you do not
know that she who stood before my
father to-night-she whom he would
have degraded by the lash-is the
woman l love-the only woman who
will ever be my wife,"
To say that Cobb was astounded
mildly expresses it.
He sat amazed and expectant. not
knowing what to say. Alexis went on:
Three years ago l first met her,
when she was pupil at the Conser-
vatory. She had appeared before a
brilliant assemblege, and won the ad-
miration of all by her wondrous beauty
and her genius. | sought and obtained
an introduction to her through the
Baroness Won Rhineberg. loved her
madly, passionately. devotedly-I
loved her then as l love her now. l
offered her my name, | asked her to
become my wife"
a different avowal. and in his mind
had framed a reply to Alexis. But
he was not prepared for his.
Ida refused" continued Alexis,
unless I could gain my fathers con-
sent. My marriage with her. she
urged, would be blow to my fondest
hopes of military DISTINCTION; would
ostracise me in st. Petersburg. and
would ALLEVIATE the affections of my
father. All this was true, but cared
nothing for it. l begged. implored
her to listen to me-to give her con-
sent offered to resign my commits
sion IN the army, to leave Russia with
her. to make, in short. any sacrifice
but all in vain. My father heard
of my love for her and we had a
stormy scene, which ended in my
leaving the mouse. l went directly to
see Ilda-she was gone! In vain /
sought her everywhere; she had dis
appeared as II she were no longer on
earth. A week later l received per-
emptory orders to proceed to the
frontier and join the Don Cossacks
for campaign in Turkestan. and a
short time after my arrival in Asia
received a note from my father that
n marriage had been arranged be-
tween Olga Karsicheff and myself. the
ceremony to take place on my re-
turn to st. Petersburg. Broken-heart.
ed at the loss of Ida. made no objec-
tion, and you know the rest. never
saw Ida Barosky from the time I
left st. Petersburg until tonight. Now
all my love has returned with tenfold
CT Ufh Il hok .,