New-York tribune., 1906-05-20

march with her battery inquired the Prince.
She smiled dOubtfuly, gently shaking her
head. Perhaps But when we get TO Slavna.
IL will be different there.
He looked at her gravelv for a few moments,
making perhaps last quick calculation under
going perhaps last short struggle. But the
Red Star glOwed against the pallOr of her face.
her eyes were cleaning beacOns-
Neither the guns, nor the men, nor Slavna
no, nor the crown, when that time comes
without yOui" he said
She rose slowly, tremblingly from her chair
and stretched out her hands in an instructive
protest Monseigneurl" Then she clasped
her hands, setting her eyes on his and whisper
ing again vet lower: "Monseigneurl"
Marie Zerkovitch says fate sent you to
Kravonia. l think she's right Fate did
my fate. | think it's fated that we 70 be
together to the end SOphy.
\ step Creaked on the old stairs Marie
Zerkovitch was coming down from her room
on the floor above The door of the dining
room stood open, but neither OF chem heard
the step; they were engroSsed, and the sound
passed unheeded.
Standing there with hands still clasped, and
eyes still bound to his she spoke agair-and
Marie Zerkovitch stood by the door and heard
the quick vet clear words herself fascinated
unable to move or speak. I've meant nothing
of it. | have thought nothing of 1t. | seem TO
have done nothing toward 1t 1t has Just
come to me-" Her tone took on a touch of
entreatv whether it was TO him or to some
she might have TO render account
Yet it is welcome:' he asked quietly.
She was long IN answering. He waited
without ImpatISlCe, IN a confidence devoid OF
truth and to give it TO him in gravest, fullest
words 1T IS life, moaSe;gneur she said
d" / can't see life without it now"
He he'd out his hands and slowly she laid
less could have been enough from You TO me
| and from me TO YOU he said gently. IN
less we live it together, 1 think 1t can be no
life for now"
The chain which had held Marie Zerkovitch
mOtOneSS suddenly snapped She rushed
into the room and, fOrgetful of everything IN
her agitation, seized the Prince by the arm
What do YOU means: she cried. . W hat do
you mean' Are YOU madc
He was fond of little Marie. He looked
down at her now with an affectionate indul-
gent smile. Come you've heard what | said,
l ppose-though 1t wasn't meant for your
ears, you know. Well then. l mean Just what
/ | said Marie
But what do YOU mean by II she per-
sisted in a feverish, almost childish excite
ment She turned on Sophy too. And what
do you mean by it, Sophy.' she cried
| SOphy passed a hand across her brow. A
| slow smile relieved the enchanted tension of
her face, she seemed to smile IN a whimsical
/ surprise at herself. Her answer TO Marie came
/ vague and almost dreamy. II thought OF
nothing, dear Marie, she said; then with
/ sudden low InuTTlur OF QcliSnJeu laughter Slc
/ laid her hands in the Princes again. She had
thought OF nothing but Of that life together
and their love.
Shell share my life Marie and, when the
time comes, my throne the Prince said softly:
he tried TO persuade and soothe her with his
/ gentle tones.
Marie Zerkovitch would not have it. Pos
sesSed by her old fear, her old foreboding, she
flung away the arm she held with angry
| gesture. Its RUM" she cried. ' Ruin
ruinl' Her voice rang out through the Old
room and seemed to fill all the Castle of Pras-
| lok with its dirgeful note
| No." said he firmly. Ruin viii not come
through me nor through her. 1t may be that
ruin what YOU call ruin-will come. 1t may
be that l shall lose my life or my throne" He
smiled a little Such changes and chances
come as nothing new to a Stefanovitch. have
| clever and bold men against me. Let them
| try We will try too. But rum VIII not be by
her fault nor through this. And If 1t We're.
/ don't | owe her my life already' Should |
refuse to risk for her the life she has given'"
| He dropped his voice 10 homelier, more
| familiar tones and ended with a half laugh
/ Come, little friend, YOU mustn't try 10
frighten Sergius Stefanovitch. Its better the