The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1905-09-19
VARIA IVANOVNA'S
..VENGEANCE
tOriginal.l


work of hunting down certain persons
suspected by II. |. NJ. He had just
followed one of his masters bitterest
enemies to Paris, secured his arrest
and, by permission of the French gov
ernment, was on the morrow TO take
him to Russia.
a gentleman ana lady entered the
Fcafe and glanced at the occupants, and
The woman. who was veiied, seeing La
kitch. though he did moi notice her, said
something to her companion, and they
took seats directly opposite the Rus
sian When for the first time he looked
at her his eyes rested upon her curl
ously.
Il will trouble you. m'sieu. TO cease
your insulting stare" said the w0m
ans companion.
The Russian apologiZed. but the 9th
er grew more and more violent till it
was evident that he was intending to
force quarrel His insults came so
thick that there was but one recourse
for I.ukitcll-Ee tossed his card ut the
man and turned his back. Meanwhile
the lady had retired TO distance, and
her escort. having produced his own
card Joined her.
Day was daWning and the bells of
Paris at Il distance were striking the
hour of t when two carriages, soon
followed by third, drew up in a road
in the envirOns and a party from each
passed to an open space beside u
stream The man who the night be-
fore had forced the quarrel advanced
TO Lukitch and said:
Permit me. m'Sieu, TO apologize for
my insulting language last night, or,
rather. to explain it. Early in the
evening lady asked me to escort her
in round of visits to the restaurants
in a search for some one she wished to
find. When she saw you she asked
me to take the course l did, promising
that the affair should be taken off my
hands. M'sieu, | have the honor to
present your real antagonist"
\ figure. smaller than the others
present, who had been standing back.
| advanced. threw aside q cloak and re-
! vealed that she was woman. She
| was dressed i'll tight fitting costume.
with short skirt, such as girls wear
| in gymnasium. The moment Lukitch
/ saw her he started.
| "Naria" he exclaimed.
"Varia Iyanovna. ut your service.
! Alcksci Lukitch."
What does this mean" he asked
in 4 tone Chat Indicated he knew il
meant Il good deal TO him.
THAT the day of vengeance has
cone"
The others Of both parties drew near,
/ intent on this strange turn III the af-
/ fair. The woman continued:
You are = faithful servant of you'
master. Alellsei Lukitch. He rewards
Won for your service to him: it is my
part to punish YOU for your treachery
! to me. You made love W III. AlekSei.
so well that YOU won my heart. You
/ had fine revolutionary sentiments, 50
! fine that they won my confidence and
revealed our purposes to You. DO
vou see these shrurken cheeks. these
prematurcly white hairs: Well, these
come from prison life in Siberia, where
Won sent re. It was during those BIT
ter days in that dark wintry country
that conceived this purpose. and
every day. except when / took part in
II hunger strike in which we were try
ing to end our Suffcrings by death.
renewed my vow Of vengeance. That
! vengeance was to have been murder.
| have changed ii to death il an hon
| orablc way in the eyes of the world.
| On guard
The woman spoke as though not for
a moment did she doubt the issue of
the combat TO her enemy her words
seemed prophetic. The hand i'll which
he held his sword trembled.
Then he saw throng of wretched
creatures. emaciated, starved. covered
with prison filth. white from tie shad-
ow in which they lived. gathering
about him and their champion. Their
eyes gliStenel as those OF wolves hun
CRY for his blood He heard the wind
roaring through the Siberian forest
now and again laden with the Shrieks
OF some prisoner craZed by suffering.
Above This wall came family the
words "On guard spoken sharply by
his second to call him to himself Ii
failed u rouse him. Those boxing Oh
wondered. His condition Was SO pitt
ful. he seemed such easy prey, that
both parties looked TO see the woman
throw down her sword ana give iiE