Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-03-03
sATURDAY. .MARcH 3. loo.

too late."
''Too late2 What do YOU meang Have
you dared TO ask her to be your wife9''
Had Karlon held her arm at this mo-
ment. he would have comprehended
many things.
No no, My word has gone forth
to my government: there is a wall be-
hind he, and 1 can not go back. To
stop means worse than death NV
property VIII be cOnfscated and nv
name obliterated, my body rot slowly
in the frozen north Oh. I know my
country; one does not gain her graf
itude by failure must have those
plans. and nowhere could 1 obtain
such perfect ones"
Then YOU win give her up?' There
was broken note.
The count smiled To her It was a
smile scarce less thaa a snarl.
Give her up? Yes. as mother gives
Cd her child. as a liouess her cub.
She has refused me. but nevertheless
she shall be my Wife Oh. 7 am we'll
versed in human natere. She loves
her father and I know what sacrifices
she would make 10 save his honor.
Tonight" But his lips suddenly
closed.
well. tonight? why do you not
go on?' Mrs. Chadwick was pale.
Her gloved hands were clenched A
spasm Of some sort seemed TO hold her
in its shaking grasp
Nothing. nothingl In heavens
name. why have you stirred me sog''
he cried.
"supposiug after all. loved your"
He reiterated. Madam. your su
positions are becomine intolerable
impossible"
Nothing is impossible Supposi
] loved YOU as violently and passio
ately as YOU love This girlg"
Madam, hastily and with gentle
ness. 90 not say anything which may
Sause me TO blush for you. say Moth
lag you may rosret tomorrow"
i am woman OF circumspection.
My suppositions are merely argument
alive. DO you realize Count. that I
could force YOU to marry me?"
karlou's astonishmcnt could not
be equaled. Force me To marry you?"
Is the thought SO distastefuI. then?'
You are mad to-nirht."
Not SO. ln whatever manner YOU
have succeeded i'm this country. your
debt OF gratitude is owing TO me. I
do not recall this fact as a reproach:
] make the statement TO bear me on in
what / have TO submit TO your dis
corning intelligence. / doubt IL there
Is another woman. here or abroad.
who knows you So well as Your
personal honor is beyond impeach-
ment but Russia is making vast efforts
90 speckle IL. She will succeed. Yes.
] could force you TO marry me With
word I could tumble your house of
cards. am a worldly woman and not
without wit and address. possess
every one of your letters. most of all
have treasured the extravacant ones.
To some you have signed your name.
II you have kept mine you viii OBJ
serve that my given name might mean
any one OF a thousand women who are
named Grace Shall YOU marry me?
Shall / tumble your house OF cards?
/ could so TO Col. Annesley and say to
him that IL he delivers these plans TO
you. l shall denoUnce him TO the secret
service officers. l might cause his ut
ter financial ruin. but his name would
descend TO his daughter untarnished."
you would not darel" the count
interrupted
What? And you know me so we'll?
/ have not given you my word 70 re-
veal nothing. You confided in my rare
quality of silence; you confded in me
because you had proved me. Man is
not infallible. even when he is named
Karlon-" She lifted from a vase her
flowers, from which she shook the
water. Laws have been passed or an
nulled; laws have died at the executive
desk. Who told you that this was TO
be. OF that. long before IL came TO
pass? In all the successful intrigues
OF Russia in this country. whom have
T AFHN