Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1905-06-01
AT last the evening came to an end.

~~oooS AoN ouAS WV SouSc. 0SCAA-
metz had performed on the piano with
a marvellous touch. At last Eta rose
to go to bed, with a little sharp sigh
of great suspense. 1t was coming.
She went up to her room, bidding
Maggie good night in the passage. In
a mechanical way she allowed the deft
handed maid to array her in a dress
ing gown-soft, silken, a dainty tri-
umph In its way. Then, almost impa-
tently, she sent the maid away when
her hair was only half released. She
would brush it herself. She was tired.
No, she wanted nothing more.
h sat down by the fire, brush in
hand. She could hardly breathe. 1t
was coming.
She heard Paul come to his dressing
room. She heard his deep, quiet voice
reply to some question Of his valet.
Then the word Good night" in the
same quiet voice. The valet had gone.
There was only the door now between
her and-what? Her fingers were at
the throat Of her dressing gown. The
soft lace seemed to choke her.
Then Paul knocked at the door. 1t
was coming. She opened her lips, but
at first could make no sound.
"Come in" she said at length
hoarsely.
She wondered whether he would kill
her. She wondered whether she was
in love with her husband. She had
begun wondering that lately. She was
wondering it when he came in. He
had changed his dress coat for a silk
faced jacket, in which he was in the
habit Of working with Steinmetz in
the quiet room after the household had
gone to bed.
She looked up. She dropped the
brush and ran toward him with a great
rustic Of her flowing silks.
"Oh, Paul. what is it?" she cried.
She stopped short, not daring to
touch him, before his cold, set face.
"Have you seen any one?" she whis-
pered.
"Only De Chauxville," he answered,
"this afternoon"
Indeed, Paul." she protested hastily,
ut was nothing. A message from Ca
trina Lanovitch. 1t was only the usual
visit of an acquaintance. 1t would
have been very strange If he had not
called. Do you think I could care for
a man like that?"
Il never did think so until now," re-
turned Paul steadily. "Your excuses
accuse you. You may care for him.
I do not know; I-do-not-care."
She turned slowly and went back to
her chair. Mechanically she took up
the brush and shook back her beautiful
hair.
"You mean you do not care for me-"
she said.
II do not think" said Paul j%udicially,
chat you can have cared very much
whether I loved you or not. When you
married me you knew that l was the
promoter of the Charity league; 1 al
most told you. 1 told you so much
that, with your knowledge, you must
have been aware of the fact that 1 was
heavily interested in the undertaking
which you betrayed. You married
me without certain proof Of your hus-
bands death, such was your haste to
call yourself q princess. And now l
find, On your own confession, that you
have a %clandestine understanding with
a man who tried to murder me only a
week ago. Is it not rather absurd to
talk Of caring?"
He stood looking down at her, cold
or1 tar,.;h1o ~ %ho -,hs%o Ioo+ re b;o
suppressed northern anger.
The little clock on the mantelpiece,
in a terrible hurry, licked with all it's
might. Time was speeding. Every
moment was against her. And she
could think of nothing to say, simply
because those things that she would
have said to others would carry no
weight with this man.
II suppose" she said without looking
at him, that you will not believe me
when l tell you that I hate the man. l
knew nothing of what you refer to as
happening last week.-Mrs. attempt to
murder you, I mean. You are a prince
and all powerful in your W province.
Can you not throw him into prison and
keep him there? Such things are done
in Russia. He is more dangerous than
you think. Please do it. Please
Paul looked at her with hard, unre-
sponsive eyes. Lives depended On his
answer.
II did not come here to discuss
Claude de Chauxville." he said, "but
you and our future"
Eta drew herself up as one under
the lash and waited with set teeth.
II PROPOSE" he said in a final voice
which made it no proposition at all,
that you go home to England at once
with your cousin. This country is not
safe for you. The house in London
will be at your disposal. I will make a
suitable settlement on you, sufficient to
live in accordance with your title and
position. I must ask you to remember
that the name you bear has hitherto
been an unsullied one We have been
proud Of our princesses up to now. In
case Of any trouble reaching you from
outside sources connected with this
country l should like you to remember