The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1905-04-21

and no one nearu uei oul Aao4'
did moi raise her eyes to his. but looked
vaglely at his collar. Her voice was
short aud rather breathless, as If she
had lust emerged from deep water.
THANK you,' answered Pail simply.
He turned and somewhat naturally
looked at his wife. Catrina's thoughts
! followed his. \ man is at a dlSao-
vantage in the presence Of the woman
who loves him. She usually sees
through him-a marked difference De-
tween masculine and feminine love.
Catrina looked up sharply and caught
his eyes resting on Eta.
"He does not love her-he does not
love her. was the thought that IN
stantly leaped into her brain.
And if she had said it to him be
would have contradicted her hatly n
honestly. and tx vain.
yes" the countess was saying with
lazy volubility. Paul is one OF our
oldest friends. We are n~eishbors III
the country. you know. He has al
ways been in and out of Il house like
one VI tue ldul!. "' t'S
was very fond of him.
rs your husband dead, them" asked
Eta in a low voice. with a strange
haste.
no: he is only in Siberia. You have
perhaps heard of his Misfortune
Count Stepan Lanovitch.'
Eta nodded her head with the deep
est sympathy.
81 feel for you, countess" She said.
"And yet you are SO brave-and made
moiselle," she said. turning to Catrina.
81 hone we shall see more of each other
in Tver."
Catrina bowed jerkily and made no
reply. Eta glanced at her sharply.
Perhaps she saw more than Catrina
knew.
Il suppose" she said to the countess.
with that inclusive manner which
spreads the conversation out. that
Paul and Nile. de L.anovitch were play
mates
The reply lay with either of the Ia
dies. but Catrina turned away.
Yes answered the countess. but
Catrina is only twenty-four, ten years
younger than Paul"
"Indeed..' with a faint, cutting sur
prise.
While the party assembled were thus
exchanging social amenities a past
master in such Joined them
in the person Of Claude de Chauxville.
He smiled his mechanical. heartless
smile upon them all, but when he bow
ed over Etta's hand his face was
grave. He expressed no surprise at see
ing Paul and Eta, though his manner
betokened thai emotion. There was no
sign of this meeting having been a pre-
arranged matter, brought about by
himself through the easy and innocent
instrumentality of the countess.
"And you are going to Tyer. no
doubt:" he said almost at once to Eta.
Yes answered that lady, with a
momentary hunted look in her eyes. It
is strange how an obscure geographical
name may force its way into our lives,
never to be forgotten. 1t seemed to Ell
ia that "Tver' was written large
wheresoever she turned.
"The prince" continued De Chaux.
vile, turning t. Paul, lis a great
sportsman. l am told-a mighty hunt
err"
Paul smiled. I'VE have a few bears
left" he said.
"4ou are fortunate" protested De
Nh J1~r-i11o .J shot o,,a u-hon -oc
younger. I was immensely afraid, and
so was the bear. l have a great desire
to try again"
Eta glanced at Paul, who returned
De C~hauxville's bland gaze with all
the imperturbability of a prince.
The countess cackling voice broke in
at this juncture, as perhaps De Chaux-
vile had intended it to do.
"Then why not come and shoot
ours?" she said. I'VE have quite a
number of them in the forests at
Thors."
"Ah, Nine. la Comtesse,' he answer
ed, with outspread, d%eprecatory hands,
"but that would be taking too great an
advantage of your hospitality and your
well known kindness
He turned to Catrina, who received
him with a half concealed frown. The
countess bridled and looked at her
daughter with obvious maternal mean
ing, as one who was saying. There
you bungled your prince. but I have
procured you a baron"
1.-The abuse of hospitality is the last
refuge of the needy" continued De
ChauNville o%racularly. But my temp.
tation is strong. Shall l yield to it.
mademoiselIe:"
Catrina smiled unwillingly.
81 would rather leave it to your OWL
conscience" she said. But I fail to
see the danger you anticipate"
Then I accept, madame" said De
Chauxville, with the engaging frank.
s Which ever had a false ring in it
Claude de Chauxville had unscrupu
lousy made use of feminine vanity
with all the skill that was his. A little
glance toward Eta as he accepted the
invitation conveyed to her the fac,
that she was the object of his cleye,
little plot, that it was in order to be
near her that he had forced the Count
ess Lanovitch to invite him to Thors
and Eta, with all her shrewdness, was
promptly hoodwinked. De ChauxviII.
! saw by n little flicker nf tho oroI;de