The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1905-03-30

mo, Paul; no, no! 1 couldn't do
that" cried Eta with a ring of hor-
ror in her voice, strangely out Of keep
| ing with her peaceful and luxurious
surroundings
"Why not?' asked the man who had
| never known fear.
ooh. I should be afraid l couldn't.
| ] hate Russiaw
| But you don't know it,
| NO." answered Eta, turning away
and busying herself with her long silk
en- train; "no, of course not-only Pc
tersburg, mean. But 1 have heard
what it is. So cold and dismal and
miserable! I feel the cold so horribly.
I wanted to go to the Riviera this win
ter. I really think, Paul, you are ask
Ing me too much"
Il am only asking proof that you
care. for me-
Eta gave a little laugh, nervous
laugh with no mirth in it.
"a proof! But that is so bourgeois
and unnecessary. Haven't you proof
enough, since am your wife?''
Paul looked at her without any sign
of yielding. His attitude, his whole
being, was expressive Of that immova-
bility of purpose which had hitherto
been concealed from her by his quiet
manner. Steinmetz knew Of the men
tai barrier within this Anglo Russian
soul, against which prayer and argu-
ment were alike unavailing.
Eta looked at him. The color WAS
N0mjnO fn 10,s 20 So
There was something unsteady in her
eyes something suggestive that for
the first time in her life she was
daunted by a man. 1t was not Paups
speech, but his silence, that alarmed
her. She felt that trivial arguments.
small feminine reasons, were without
weight
''Now that you are married." she
said, Il do not think you have any
right to risk your life and your posi-
ton for 4 fad.'
II have done it with impunity for
the last two or three years. he an
sWered. with ordinary precaution
the risk is small. I have begun the
thing now; must go on with it,"
"Then the Ch-Charity league is for
| gotten?" she said.
"No," answered her husband QUIETLY
1T will not be forgotten until we have
found out who sold us to the govern
ment"
Etta's lips moved in a singular way.
She drew them in and held them with
her teeth For a moment her beauti-
ful face wore a hunted expression of
fear
''What will you gain by that?" she
asked evenly.
II? Oh, nothing. I do not care one
way or the other. But there are some
people who want the man-very much"
| Eta drew in long, deep breath.
II will go to 0sterno with you, if you
dke,' she SAID: ''only - only I must
have Maggie with me-"
YES, if you like" answered Paul in
some surprise.
Maggie is such a splendid compan-
ion," she said. ''She is so easy to
please. I think she would come if you
asked her, Paul."
IF you want her I shall ask her, of
course, but it may hinder us little.
l thought you might be able to help
us-Wlth the women, you know"
There was a queer little smile on Et-
ta's face, a smile, one might have
thought, OF contempt.
Yes, of COURSE" she said. 1T is so
nice to be able to do good with ones
money"
1T is not a bad place." he said-"a
very fine castle, one of the finest in
EUROPE Before I came away I gave
orders for your rooms to be done I'D.
l should like everything to be nice for
you"
Il know you would, dear,'' she an
sWered, glancing at the clock. The
carriage was ordered for a quarter
past 10. "But suppose she went on,
"that, socially speaking, we shall be
rather isolated"
''The nearest neighbours said Paul
quietly, ''are the Lanovitches'
"Whow
'"The Lanovitches. Do you know
them?
"Of course not" answered Eta
sharply. "But I seem to know the
name. Were there any in st. Peters,
burg?'
The same people," answered Paul
Count Stepan Lanovitch."
Eta was looking at her husband
with her bright smile. It was little
too bright, perhaps. Her eyes had a
CLEAN in them. She was conscious of
being beautifully dressed, conscious of
her own matchless beauty, almost
dauntless, like a very strong man
armed.
"Well, 1 think l am a model wife,
she said, ''to give in meekly to your
tyranny, to go and bury myself in the
heart Of Russia in the middle OF win
ter. By the way, we must buy some
furs; that will be rather exciting. But
you must not expect me to be very in
innate with your Russian friends. l
am not quite sure that like Russians"
she went toward him, laying her two
| hands gently on his broad hraast ond