The Grit-advocate., 1905-09-01

felt. She looked defiance.
Take hold of her arms and com
pei the bow to cross the strings!"
fairly screamed Nazimof, as he again
raised the whip.
The servants obeyed.
Paul Nazmoff held the whip up
lifted. 1T is tie last time" he
yelled. What will save you now?"
This Will" The answer of Ida
Barosky, shrill and clear as a trumpet
sound, rang out, as with a quick mo-
tion she raised the violin far above
her head, and, before any one could
thousand pieces at the feet of Ma
Zimoff!
He was baffled-beaten.
There was gasp as he made mo-
ton with tie whip. Cobb and Alexis
sprang forward to avert the blow. but
it was needless. The whip fell from
his hands and he fell forward. The
strain had been too much, and the
next moment he was unconscious.
With quick motion Alexis sprang
to the side of the girl. Quick, come
with me-" he said in low voice. as
he grasped her by the arm. In all
the confusion Cobb seemed to keep
his mind Get her away" he urged
Alexis, and at the same moment he
supported the stricken count to a low
couch where several physicians among
the guests attended him. A moment
consultation and they decided that It
was nothing serious. Paul Nazimoff
was suffering from the effects of a
shock and overtaxed nerves. 1t was
all right. A few hours rest and he
would be quite himself again.
With a word of apology to the
guests for tie unhappy affair that had
brought the festivities to such an un.
pleasant termination, Alexis bid good
night to such as remained. Cobb he
asked not to leave him.
Alexis Nazimoff, Immediately after
the departure of the last Of the guests,
retired to his own room, accompanied
by General Cobb. He was laboring
under intense emotion, and 1t was
some minutes before he became suff1-
ciently composed to trust himself to
speak. When he became somewhat
calmer he turned to the American,
and putting out his hand as If to ask
for friendship and sympathy, said, in a
voice that still indicated the intensity
of his feelings: Cobb my fate was
decided tonight"
Cobb was about to answer, when,
with movement, Alexis stopped him,
and in an impassioned strain broke
out: you do not know-you do not
know that she who stood before my
father to-night-she whom he would
have degraded by the lash-is the
woman l love-the only woman who
will ever be my wife"
To say that Cobb was astounded
mildly expresses it.
He sat amazed and expectant, not
knowing what to say. Alexis went on:
Three years ago l first met her,
when she was pupil at the Conser-
vatory. She had appeared before a
brilliant assemblage, and won the ad-
miration of all by her wondrous beauty
and her genius. sought and obtained
an introduction to her through the
Baroness Won Rhineberg l loved her
madly, passionately, devotedly-I
loved her then as l love her now. I
offered her my name, asked her to
become my wife"
Cobb started. He had anticipated
a different avowal and in his mind
had framed reply to Alexis. But
he was not prepared for his.
"Ilda refused" continued Alexis.
'unless could gain my fathers con.
sent. My marriage with her, she
urged, would be blow to my fondest
hopes of military distinction; would
ostracise me in St. Petersburg, and
would ALLEVIATE the affections of nv
father. All this was true, but cared
nothing for it. begged, implored
her to listen to me-to give her con-
sent | offered to resign my commits
sion in the army, to leave Russia with
her. to make, in short, any sacrifice
but all in vain. My father heard
of my love for her and We had
stormy scene, which ended in my
leaving the house. | went directly to
see Ilda-she was gone! In vain l
sought her everywhere; she had dis
appeared as if she were no longer on
earth. A week later l received per-
emptory orders to proceed to the
frontier and joip the Don Cossacks
for a campaign in Turkestan, and a
short time after my arrival in Asia
| received a note from my father that
a marriage had been arranged be-
tween Olga karsicheff and myself the
ceremony to take place on my re-
turn to St. Petersburg. Broken-heart.
ed at the loss of Ida. made no objec-
ton, and you know the rest. never
saw Ida Barosky from the time l
left ST. Petersburg until tonight. Now
all my love has returned with tenfold
strength, and l swear that no other