The Washington herald., 1906-11-08


of note the world over. All have told
me the same thing, and I believe It
shall die poor and lonely, IN rags, per-
haps from starvation. Well, that day is
still far of. for am rich, rich. In your
Bank of England a great sum stands 70
my credit In the Bank OF France there
is more Bah, did I land in Florence, In
Berlin. Vienna, Moscow, I can still hold
up my head among the wealthieSt in
habitants Of those cities, You see, I
have striven and done what / might TO
postpone the evil day. Only a world
wide revolution, q political cataclysm Of
unparalleled dimensions could work my
ruin, and until that day arrives. why, I
shall live
Francine felt as though she looked up
on an incarnate fiend. But you are old"
she muttered.
"Old! oh-ay. as the world goes he re-
turned. This is my hundred and third
year Of existence But I am still young
and vigorous; there are few men near my
age who can handle sword. knife, or
pistol as well as I. You have seen me
climb to the lookout assisted by my at
tendants, it Is true, but / almost think
l could just as easily have done without
them However, / am wise; life is sweet,
so I take no chances. but care for my
health as no man I verify believe before
has ever done. Hence, my choice Of this
island for a permanent abode during the
past fifty years. 1t is true that the
place Is the ancient home Of my family,
but that idea influenced me nothing.
settled here because it was inhabited by
a race Of centenarians, poor fisher folk,
who lived miserably. but who lived long
they are all dead now; ] saw to that
Toe 2, old crEse
quarreled with my doings, the hag. and
sought-although twenty years my senior
to escape. and bring about my ruin.
That was two years ago; but she was
ll5 years of age when ms bullet found
her heart"
MY Cod" gasped Francine.
a ripe old age, was il not?" said the
count, willfuIly disregarding the true
reason Of the girls exclamation.
May ! trouble YOU for the salt said
Nine Viyella.
Miss Elliott handed the article TO the
woman. and her fingers touched, as she
thought, the fingers Of her father ;
muTdeFess She gave a violent shudder,
and slipped at her wine to hide her emo
tion, although the draught near choked
her, Then she stsmmered out; why did
you kill the King OF Italy?"
MY dear Miss Elliott. YOU eat moth
ing" said the count Eat. 1 beg Of you.
the food is not poisoned"
Francine tried 10 force herself TO obey.
for she was I'm deadly terror. and the
words were a command; but with every
mOuthful a hysteTical contraction Of the
throat caused her violent pain.
The count resumed: Il arranged the
death Of UmbertO for a cash cOnsidera-
! ton, and 10 satisfy my followers. Ny
people are a stupid class, who ina gine
that by iHstilling into the hearts Of kings
| the constant fear Of death they will at
length cause the abolition Of monarchy.
A mad idea that, which they continue u
entertain only by reason of their pro-
found and impeneTable ignorance. The
lessons Of the past have taught them
nothing At their bidding the lives Of all
reigning monarChs have been variOusly
attempted for three-quarters OF a cen
tury, and many have been slain. IN spite
Of that. no throne has been vacant long,
but they nevertheless persist in their
blind purpose, and In order to retain
their confidence, in order to obtain their
money. 1 am at intervals obliged 10 give
them q victim. Il is true that in the nrst
instance my predecessor in offCe and ]
myself iHsulled this idea into their dull
minds Well, ] suffer now in conse-
G
stantly on strain 20 keep them satisfied. %
Francine remembered at that moment
the ambition and hopes of her lover, and
was curious. SuppOsing, she hesitated
-"sUpposing you were killed. would
nihilism then die out?"
He shook his head. MY people would
not want a leader long; there exists a
man who IS most anxious 10 step into
my shoes"
"Jibaloff," said madame.
The count nodded. YES. Jibaloff. All.
bah, ne would suit them too, for he is
more bloodthirsty than I. He would ar
range for wholesale executions.
But" said FTanCine, what if he too
were killed?"
The count slipped his wine and looked at
her steadily. In that case. my dear
young lady, nihilism. as an institution,
a settled organization, would revert to
the position from which it was rescued
| by Baron Katusoff. the noble Pole. M
! predecessor and teacher, some hundre}
and three years ago. about the time that
I was horn
Francine dlssembled the eagernesa
which instantly possessed her, and OBJ
/ served as TRANQUILITY as she could; Il
suppose it was not a very perfect system
then?"
"Parlons, parlons. Miss Elliott, a
nihillsm Of nihilists. Lodges there were
/ certainly, but their members had no
/ esprit de corps, no cohesion, no organi-
cation. There was no recognized chief
no settled principle of action or leader
ship, very little secrecy. In fact, they
were not dangerous, merely a collection
Of dlscontented bandits, whose move
ments were easily apprehended. and
whose motives were readily frustrated
Alas the world has no idea OF the debt
il owes to KatuScf and me!''
"Jibaloff should be here soon, Observ-
ed madame.
He Will not arrive until tomorrow. OF
I am much mistaken" said the count;
his yacht was only seen off Napoh this
morning"
"Do You think he win bring the treas
ure?"
why else should be come? Depend
upon il. he has had IL with him all along.
In any case, not a step shall ! move
without Il. and he understands that the
division this time is mine. But I do not
fear: he has too much to lose by fail
ing in a jot Of his obligations"
Desire changed color a little at this
How long do you think he will stay,
grandfather" she asked.
A few days Why?'
"Oh. nothing"
You had an object in asking the ques-
ton; tell it me-
Il don't like him."
"Fie on you. Your own fatheri un-
natural child that you are-ha! ha! ha!"
Don't. don't" pleaded the girl, re-
coilIng from his jeering laughter
Poor little girl, the father is unkind 10
/ It, eh? Never mind; come TO its old
! grandfather; he will protect it-ha! ha!
ha.' His mirth was a more shudder-
some thing than his anger. and even
madame shivered slightly to hear him.
/ "JibalOn wants Desire" she remarked
/ The old man few in a passion on in