The daily Alaskan., 1905-02-15
A WOMAN'S REASON
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 koi, two young Russians of the mid dle class, for a whole lifetime. Ur- banief had returned from his medical studies in Paris with light heart, for Katharine was expecting him, and they were to be married soon after his ar rival
 He found domestlcated in the home of Katharine's father Count Aleyie- yech, who had some months previous appeared in the village near by and who had brought a letter of introduc- ton to Tonskoi. For what he came and how long he proposed to stay he gave no information. Dmitri, when he found the young man so intimate with the family of his sweetheart, was trou- bled, but he soon made the discovery that Katharine did not like the count, and this reassured him. Why she did not fancy her fathers guest was pug gle, for the doctor could see plainly that the count seemed to desire her fa- vor. When Dmltri asked Katharine for reason for her prejudice she gave him no better one than that Alexievech was "cross eyed" Dmitri laughed at this feminine reason and thought no more about the matter.
 The morning of the wedding day brought a shock to the community. A dozen persons In the vicinity were ar rested, and the most narrowing fea- ture was that the young doctor, who was to have been married in the even ing, was among them. The prisoners instead of being given trial were hur- ried off to Siberia. Count AleXieyech appeared to be as surprised and indig- nant as any one and volunteered to start at once for St Petersburg, where he claimed to have influence, to pro. cure the doctors release. Dmitri was earnest in his gratitude and begged the count to strain every nerve to free him before 1t should be too late. Kath arine could only cling to her lover, de- spairing of ever seeing him again.
 After her lovers departure she passed a few hours in an agony of despair Then suddenly desperate resolve took possession of her. She dlsuusteI the counts promise. Shortly previous to the wedding day he had left her fa- ther's house and taken rooms in the village. Katharine ordered a drosky and drove to his rooms. Instead ot sending for him to come down she ran upstairs and knocked at his door, She found him walking the floor.
 "Why are you not on the way to St Petersburg?" she asked.
 "I was too late for the 10 o'clock train. There is no other till tomorrow" '"
 "There Is a train on the other road at 4 this afternoon. You have only to drive five miles to it to catch it."
 "Eh? Are you sure? don't believe there is time"
 .There is time. Come. have n drosky below. I will drive you my. self"
 The count began to busy himself with preparation, making a great deal of fuss while doing very little. katha. rlne saw his revolver lying on table.
 You will need this" she said, taking 1t up and thrusting it in a pocket of her dress. Come, we have no time to spare"
 Alexievech, cramming some brushes into bag, accompanied her downstairs. They got into the drosky. Katharine seized the reins and drove away as fast as the horse would carry them.
 As they were passing through a wood Katharine complained that her fingers were numb and asked the count to take the relns. He had no sooner done so than he felt something hard pressed against his neck and heard the click of a pistol.
 "Fiend," said Katharine, "l kEow all. You are one of the chiefs of police and have been ferreting out this plot. You have implicated Dmitri to get him out of the way the better to get me into your clutches. hate you, and ] am going to kill you"
 Katharine! For heavens sake, Of what are you accusing me?'
 Write an order for the release oi Dmitri or fire"
 But I have no authority"
 Write"
 The count who had by this time caught q glance of the girls despcrat, face, took out his notebook, tore ou' a leaf, wrote the order and gave it tc her.
 Drop the reins and get out of the drosky," she said. He Obeyed, ano Katharine, whipping up the horse, was soon out of sight.
 She knew that the route the prison CTS had taken was the one she was on their conductor intending to take then on the train she had proposed to tho count to take. She soon overlook tE, party, produced the order, which wa respected, her lover got into the drosSy and they drove homeward. When ap' preaching the village they saw tLc count ahead of them. He was walking with his head bent down on his breast When they came up to him he looked up as though in a dream. pmiui got out of the drOsky and demanded sats faction for the wrong that had been done him. The count looked at kath arine with q hopeless expression, ask ed her to give Dmitri the revolver and barred his breast. Dmitri turned away, got into the drosky and, without Na .aWNHa Co