Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1905-08-16

[Original.l

| D0uieYardS OF Paris sat AlekSei Lukitch,
a Russian gentleman, twirling his mus
taches. He had good reason for SELF
congratulations High in favor with the
car, be had long been employed in the
work Of hunting down certain persons
suspected by II. |. NJ. He had lust
followed one of his masters bitterest
enemies to Paris, secured his arrest
and, by permission Of the French gov
eminent was on the morrow to take
him to Russia.
A gentleman and lady entered the
cafe and glanced at the occupants, and
the woman, who was yelled, seeing Lu-
kitch, though he did not notice her, said
something to her companion, and they
took seats directly opposite the Rus
sian. When for the first time he looked
at her his eyes rested upon her curl
ously
II will trouble you, msieu, to cease
your insulting stare" said the wom-
ans companion.
The Russian apologiZed, but the 9th
er grew more and more violent till It
was evident that he was intending to
force quarrel. His insults came so
thick that there was but one recourse
for Lukitch--he tossed his card at the
man and turned his back. Meanwhile
the lady had retired to a distance and
her escort, having produced his own
card joined her.
Day was dawning and the bells Of
Paris at a distance were striking the
hour Of 4 when two carriages, soon
followed by a third, drew up in road
in the environs and a party from each
passed to an open space beside a
stream. Tie man who the night be-
fore had forced the quarrel advanced
to Lukitch and said:
Permit me, m'sieu, to apologize for
my insulting language last night, or,
rather, to explain it. Early in the
evening lady asked me to escort her
in round Of visits to the restaurants
in a search for some one she wished to
find When she saw you she asked
me to take the course did, promising
that the affair should be taken off my
hands. M'sieu, l have the honor to
present your real antagonist"
A figure, smaller than the others
present, who had been standing back,
advanced, threw aside cloak and re-
vealed that she was woman. She
was dressed in a tight fitting costume,
with a short skirt, such as girls wear
in a gymnasium. The moment Lukitch
saw her he started.
"Varia!" he exclaimed.
"Varia Ivanovna, at your service,
Aleksei Lukitch."
"What does this meanY he asked
in a tone that indicated he knew it
meant a good deal to him.
"That the day of vengeance has
come"
The others Of both parties drew near,
intent on this strange turn in the af-
fair The woman continued:
"You are a faithful servant Of your
master, Aleksei Lukitch. He rewards
you for your service to him; it is my
part to punish you for your treachery
to me. You made love well, Aleksei,
so we'll that you won my heart You
had fine revolutionary sentiments, SO
fine that they won my confidence and
I revealed our purposes to you. Do
you see these shrunken cheeks, these
prematurely white hairs? WE'LL these
come from prison life in Siberia, where
you sent me- 1t was during those bit
ter DAYS in that dark wintry country
that | conceived this purpose, and
every day, except when / took part in
a hunger strike in which we were try
ing to end our sufferings by death, |
renewed my vow of vengeance. That
vengeance was to have been murder.
| have changed it to death in an hon
orable way in the eyes of the world.
On guardv'
The woman spoke as though not for
moment did she doubt the issue OF
the combat To her enemy her words
seemed prophetic The hand in which
he held his sword trembled.
Then he saw a throng of wretched
creatures, emaciated starved, covered
with prison filth, white from the shad-
ow In which they lived, gathering
about MIN ana IneiE CudluplOH 1HclL
eyes glistened as those of wolves hun
CRY for his blood. He heard the wind
roaring through the Siberian forest,
now and again laden with the shrieks
Of some prisoner crazed by suffering.
Above this wall came family the
words con guardY' spoken sharply by
his second to call him to himself 1t
failed to rouse him. Those looking on
wondered His condition was SO pitt
full, he seemed such easy prey, that
both parties looked to see the woman
throw down her sword and give him
his life. But she, too, saw In memory
the throng of his victims. She saw, too,
the handsome fellow that had won her
heart for the purpose Of betraying her
and those whose secrets she had given
him. Not one look Of womanly pity
| lighted her face, dark with her own
and others revenge.
"On guard" she cried.
"On quardv' shouted the men Of both
parties as matadores strive to anger