The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1905-05-25
CHAPTER XXXVII.

CHAPTER XXXVII.
IN AUL went out and inspected the
- harness by the light of a stable
lantern held in the mittened
= hand of yemschick. He had
reasons Of his own for absenting him
self while Catrina babe her mother
farewell He was rather afraid of these
women.
Presently the door opened and Ca
trina came quickly out, followed by a
servant carrying small hand bag.
Paul could not see Catrina's face. She
Without word the girl took her seat
in the sleigh, and the servant prepared
the bearskin rugs. Paul gathered up
the reins and took his place beside her.
A few moments were required to draw
up the rugs and fasten them with
straps; then Paul gave the word, and
the horses leaped forward
AS they sped down the avenue Catri-
ma turned and looked her last on Thors
For nearly half an hour they drove in
silence. Only the whistle of the iron
bound runners on the powdery snow,
the creak of the warming leather on
the horses, the regular breathing of
the team, broke the stiffness of the for
est. Paul hoped against hope that
Catrina was asleep. She sat by his
side, her arm touching his sleeve, her
weight thrown against him at such
times as the sleigh bumped over a fall
en- tree or some inequality of the
ground.
Paul." said the woman at his side
quite suddenly, breaking the silence of
the great forest where they had grown
to life and sorrow almost side by side
eyes,
II want to know how this all came
about 1t is not my fathers doing.
There is something quick and practi-
cal and wise which suggests you and
Herr Steinmetz. I suspect that you
have done this-you and he-for our
happiness
"No," answered Paul. ut was mere
accident. Your father heard of our
trouble in Kiev. You know him-al-
ways impulsive and reckless. He never
u.s.
Catrina smiled wanly.
"But it is for our happiness, is it not.
Paul? You know that it is. That is
why you have done it. I have not had
time yet to realize what I am doing,
all that is going to happen. But if it
is your doing I think shall be con.
tent to abide by the result
1T is not my DOING" replied Paul,
who did not like her wistful tone. s1t
is the outcome of circumstances. Cir
cumstances have been ruling us all
lately We seem to have no time to
consider, but only to do that which
seems best for the moment
"And it is best that should go to
America with my father?" Her voice
was composed and quiet. In the dim
light he could not see her white lips;
indeed he never looked.
ut seems SO to me, undoubtedly" he
said "In doing this, so far as we can
see at present, it seems certain that
you are saving your father from Sibe-
ria"
Catrina nodded. LAS you put it."
she said, lit is clearly my duty There
is sort Of consolation in that, how
ever painful it may be at the time. l
suppose it is consolatory to look back
and think that at all events one did
ones duty"
II don't know" answered Paul sim
ply. II suppose so.''
"Would father have gone alone? she
asked, with a very human thrill of
hope in her voice.
''No," answered Paul steadily; IT
think not. But you can ask him.
They had never been so distant as
they were at this moment so cold,
such mere acquaintance. And they
had played together in one nursery.
"Of course, If that is the case,' said
the girl, my duty is quite clear"
Paul did not answer at once.
II am sure of it, he said.
And there the question ended Ca
trina Lanovitch, who had never been
ruled by those about her, shaped her
whole life unquestioningly upon an
opinion.
They did not speak for some time,
and then it was the girl who broke the
silence.
II have confession to make and a
favor to ask she said bluntly.
Paul's attitude denoted attention, but
he said nothing.
1T is about the Baron de Chaux-
ville." she said.
"Ahv'
II am a coward she went on. ST
did not know it before. It is rather .
humiliating. I have been trying for
some weeks to tell you something, but