The Washington times., 1905-02-12
CHAPTER K.
Love, Honor, and Obey.

The princess paused and lowered her
head until it almost toucssed me.
I waited, wondering how it could be
that the Car still lived. for with death
SO near, within a few inches Of his face,
what could have saved him?
ITush," she whispered THE end is
not yet-not quite yet. You pulled the
trigger. but the charge in the pistol did
not explode. That is what you thought
when you leaped back and raised the
hammer for another trial. But 1t was
even worse than that, for there was no
charge to explode; the pistol was not
loaded. Your poor mind. SO ovkrbur-
dened, had forgotten the most neees-
sary thing of ali. and you had not pre-
pared your weapon for the work it had
TO do.
You discovered your error too late,
but the Gear had discovered 1t also.
He was bigger and stronger than
you. and with a bound he was upon
you lie seized the pistol and tore it
from your grasp, and then, while he
held you, bending backward-for you
were still weak and he always was
giant-he brought it down again and
a gain upon your unprotected head, un-
! til your brains were battered out and
| spattered themselves upon the floor, the
| walls, and even upon the ceilnig Of the
room.
And then. when you were quite dead.
| killed by the hand Of the Czar himself,
| he. covered for once in his life with real
| blood that he had. shed in person and
not by deputy, staggered to the door.
| called for assistance and tainted
Again she left me, this time crossing
! the room and throwing herself upon q
couch. where she cried softly. like one
who has an uncurable sorrow, which
must at times break out in tears. After
all, tears are the safety valves of nerv-
Gus expansion, and there are times when
| they save the heart and brain from
! bursting.
| 1 knew that, and l left her alone to
cry it out" at least for the moment;
| but 1 knew that she had not yet told
me quite all; that there must be a
sequel TO all this, and I was soon to
| hear 1t.
Presently the sobbing of the princess
| ceased, and after watching her for a
| time, left my seat and vent to her.
| princess" I said In low tone
She raised her head from the pillow
! and looked at me, and 1 have never
seen such a combination of emotions
expressed in one glance as there was in
| her eyes al that instant
There is more2' I asked
you why I am q Nihilist. and that is
i what I began this story for Yvonne
| was my most intimate friend. L loved
her as / would have 1oved-no, better
than 1 would have loved sister. Her
brother, Stdnislaus, was my betrotheG.
We were to have been married within
the year when Yvonne was taken away.
Now you know ALL and she turned
her head away again.
NO; not all yet" l said. What be-
came of the officer who made all the
trouble?'
"IIe returned" she replied. without
gain raising her eyes
Where is he now, princess?'
! He is here
Here? In st retersburg?"
Yes"
do you know him? Do you see him ??
| Yes, frequently. He was here last
night.
VIII You tell me his name?"
No"
Shall ] tell 1t to your
Shall you tell 1t TO me! Do you NEAR
to say that you know II?
Il can guess 1t,
"Well?"
HE Is a Nihilist. He has just return
ed TO the city. All these years he ha:
been absent, and had Stanislaus waited
for his coming he would have been alive
now. The man you mean is Capt. AieXi;
Durnief."
You knew it? You knew it?" sh,
: cried Tell me how you knew it"
Il Guessed 1t only just now. / guessed
It from the expression of your eyes
when you greeted him last night, tina
is. coupling the expression with the re
cital of today and with one or two hint!
OF his character that | CLEANED from
him He is the man?''
Yes He-is-the-man!
And you receive him here?'
II cannot help IT. My hands are tied.
How are they tied?''
You have already said.
yes? Howl"
He is q Nfhilist. He does not know
| that I am aware Of all that he did ii
/ the matter He has been told that
do not know all And''-here she leape'
to her feet and confronted me like n
3 enraeed queen-'he has the effronter,
to pretend that he is in love with m
and to pretend that I can love him
Bah!''