The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1906-07-18
The Nihilist KikarnsE.
ny L. B. KINDER.

convicted him and the Judge passed the
sentence OF death.
During the weeks stay Of execution
granted the prisoner IN order that he
might settle his affairs. Sonia scarcely
gave him a thought As a woman she
might shrink al thought Of his death
on the gallows, but as acting governor
of f<ikamsk, she regarded him dispas-
sionately
The evening of the sixth day, as she
sat alone In her boudoir, she had COM
pietely forgotten that Lupinski was to
be hanged at sunrise, when a serving
woman entered to say that a youna
woman craved audience on a matter Of
life and death.
The slender figure that followed the
servant let fail a heavy shawl and adj
vanced. She was still In her teens and
pretty with a wholesome country beau-
ty, although her usually red cheeks
we're pale and tear-stained. Her brown
eyes told as plainly Of hard days
Journey as her mud-stained skirt and
muddy shoes
What is it, my child7" demanded
Sonia, dismissing the attendant with
nod.
They are going to hang Ivan. my
sweetheart" cried the girl. 'iie is la.
noeent. Noble princess, save hint"
His manner"
Ivan LupinslSi He"
"IIe assaulted the governor Of his
province with intent to kill" said
Sonia sternly.
"There is some mistake. lie could
not"
He received fair trial There IS
no doubt OF hts guilt"
Mercy, gentle princess, and spare
his lifel"
CAS- woman forgive him his cow
ardly attack upon my life But as tbs
czar's representative al Kimamsk !
must enforce his laws"
Tomorrow at SUNRISE" muttered
the girl, turning away: "he will"
She stumbled and fell half-faintind
towards the princess. who supported
her to the couch.
you poor thing! You are all worn
out she said, sympathetically
Il have been walking since mid
night" the other answered. attempting
to rise
There. there" said Sonia. Lie still
and rest for few minutes"
She rang for her woman, who
brought a glass of wine, which she
made her patient sip. Then. ordering
| more wood thrown on the FIRE, Sonia
dismissed the servant and from her
favorile chair watched the girl, who
vainly struggled to keep awake.
AS the wood caught and blazed up
the princess turned ont the lamp. for
she loved the glow of an open fire
The pet angora cat, which had vanished
at the girls entrance, reappeared and
rubbed itself against Sonia's chair; and
at length sought her favorite place on
the hearth, where she orouched, blink,
ing at her mistress.
The latter's heart was filled with pity
for the sleeper In vain she tried ID
think OF some way OF alleviating the
Others grief Pardon Lupinski. she
conscientiously could not Moreover
had hot Providence saved this young
woman from an unhappy marriage with
a desperado! Nevertheless Sonia was
certain that the girl would be heart
broken. Again she looked with pity
at the figure on the couch. motionlesg
save for her breathing and the even
throbbing OF the artery at her throat.
The wood was consumed and the
light grew dim. The dropping OF a
half-burned chunk with it's accompany
ing fare aroused Sonia Looking up.
she was startled by the greenish ra-
dinnce Of two orbs that blazed with
the intensity of lamps Sonia smiled
at her fright and looked curiously al
the cat, whose eyes did not wayer fox
second lnstinctively thinking Of q
mouse, she drew her skirts closely
about her Following the direction OF
her pets gaze. she discovered to her
amazement that the green eyes were
, iutently fixed upou the pulse IN tho
sleeping girls throat AS Sonia looked
the cat balanced and sprah-'
Screaming, the girl started from the
couch and supporting herself on her
elbow, stared wildly about, as II awake
ened from a nightmare.
Your lover is saved" cried tie prin-
cess, ioyously. i have found the
guilty one"
Then sounding the bell for the can.
tain of the guard. she gave the order
Set free the prisoner, Lupinski. ana
bring him here. He Is innocent"
Copyright 1906. BY Daily Story Pub. Coz
a =. =.