The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1905-12-01

'GO on, SUiu Ellds LOT ne nuu DduSCus
This country" he continued, lis I'M
settled. The people of the estate are
ON the brink of n revolt. You know
what the Russian peasant Is. 1t will be
no Partisan uprislng-half noise. half
laughter. We cannot hope to hold his
old place against them; we cannot get
away from It; we cannot send for help.
because we have no n to send Prln-
cess. this Is no time for half conf
denees. / know-for | know these peo-
pie better eyer than Paul knows them
Il am convinced, that this Is not the
outcome of their own brains. They
are being urged on by some one. There
is some one at their backs. This is 10
revolt of the peasants, organized by
the peasants. Princess. you must tell
me all you known
Il" she stammered-"T know moth
ing!'
And then suddenly she burst into
tears and buried her face in a tiny,
useless handkerchief. 1t was so unlike
her and so sudden that Steinmetz was
startled.
He laid his great hand s%oothingly on
her shoulder.
81 know" he said q~uietly-'I know
more han you think. / am no saint,
princess, myself. !, too, have had my
difficulties. | have had my temptations,
and | have not always resisted. God
knows 1t is difficult for men to do al
ways the right thing. 1t is a thousand
times more difficult for women When
we spoke together In Petersburg and I
offered you my poor friendship i was
not acting In the dark. | knew as
much then as l do now. Princess, I
knew about the Charity leagne papers;
l knew more than any except Stepan
Lanovitch, and it was he who told me-"
He was stroking her shoulder with
the soothing movements that one uses
toward a child in distress. His great
hand, broad and thick, had a certain
sense of quiet comfort and strength In
1t. Eta ceased sobbing and sat with
bowed head, looking through her tears
into the gay wood fire. 1t is probable
that she failed to realize the great char
ity Of the man who was speaking to
her.
SIS that all he knowsY" she was won
dering.
The suggestion that Sydney Bam-
borough was not dead had risen up to
eclipse all ether fear in her mind. In
part her thought reached him.
II know so much,' he said, that 1t
Is safest to tell me more. l offered you
my friendship because 1 think that no
could carry through your diff
unaided. Princess, the admlra-
ton of Claude de Chauxville may be
pleasant, but / venture to think that
my friendship is essential"
Eta raised her head q little. She
was within an ace of handing over to
Karl Steinmetz the rod Of power held
over her by the Frenchman. 8
81 have known De Chauxville twen-
ty-1ve years." he went ON, and Eta
deferred her confession. 1--WE have
never been good friends, 1 admit. l am
no saint, princess, but De Chauxyille
S a villain. Some day you may dis
cover when it Is too late that it would
been for Pauls happiness, for
7our happiness, for every ones good, to
nothing more to do with Claude
lie Chauxyille. 1 want to save you
hat discovery. Will you act upon my
Will you make q stand now?
viii you come to me and tell me all
hat De ChauXville knows about you
hat he could ever use against you?
Will you give yourself into my hands
i've me your battle to fight? You can
do it alone. Only believe in my
friendship, princess. That Is all l ask"
Eta shook her head.
81 think not" she answered in a
'oice too light, too superficial, too hope
essly shallow, for the depth of the mo-
nent. She was thinking only of Sgd
ey scarborough and of that dread Sc
ret. She fought with what arms she
best-the lightest, the quick
st, the most battling.
GAS you WILL" said Steinmetz.