Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-11-16
eyes, and putting her lips very CLOSE

e.
not even to save my father, and God
knows how much I love him. Did not
they say that you were very happy
with Mr.. Gessner? There would have
been no more happiness If had told
them"
"And that Is what kept you silent,
Lofs?"
She would not answer him. but hid
question which surprised him greatly.
do you know way the police wished
to arrest me, Alb dear?"
How could know that, Lois %
1T was the Count who told them to
do SO. He is only deceiving you, dear.
He does not want to release my father
and will never do SO. II were in
prison too, he thinks thatMr. Gessner
would be quite safe. Do not trust
the Count If you would help US. My
people understand him and they will
punish him some day. He has done a
great wrong to many in Warsaw. and
he deserves to be punished. You must
remember this. dear, whea he
promises my fathers freedom. He Is
not telling you the truth-he is only
asking you to punish me?"
but, Lois, what have you done,
what charge can they bring against a
little schoolgirl"
Il am my fathers daughter" she
said proudly, that is why they would
punssh me. Oh, you don't know, dear
Even the little children are criminals
in Warsaw. My father escaped from
saghalen and have no right to live
In Russia. When he sent me to school
here. / did not come under my own
name, they called me Lois Werner and
believed was German Then my
people heard that Count Sergius wish
ed to have me arrested, and they took
me away from the school and brought
me here. Herr Petermann is one of
my fathers Oldest friends. He has
saved great many WAC would be in
prison but for his kindness. We can
trust Herr Petermann, dear-he will
never betray u.s."
Alban understood, but ne had no
answer ready for her. All that she
had told him filled him with unut-
terable contempt toward the men he
had but lately considered as MS
patrons and friends. The polished,
courtly Sergius, his master Richard
Gessner-to what duplicity had they
not stopped, nay, to what treachery?
For they had sent him to Russia. not
to befriend this child, but to put the
ultimate shame of Russian prison
upon her-the cell, the lash, the I'M
namable infamy. AS in flash ne
detected the whole conspiracy and
laid 1t bare. He, Alban Kennedy, had
been chosen as their instrument-he
had been sent to Poland to condemn
this little friend of the dreadful years
to the living death In Russian pri-
son. The blood raced In his veins at
the thought Perhaps for the first
time In his life he knew the meaning
of the word anger.
Lois" he exclaimed presently, eff
MT, Gessner does not set your father
free, myself will tell your people.
This Is the message l am going to
send to him today. Count Sergius will
not lie to me again--I shall tell him
SO when return"
she cried, closing her write arms about
his neck as though to protect him al
ready from enemies: ooh, my dear
you do not know the Russian people
you do not know what 1t means to
stand against the police here and have
them for your enemies. Mr.. Gessner
is their friend The Government
would do a great deal to serve him
my father says so. If Count Sergiua
| heard that you had met me, we should
both be in prison this night-ah, dear
| God. what a prison, what suffering
and have seen 1t myself, the women
covering from the lash, the men beat
en- SO that they cut the flesh from theil
faces. That's what happens to those
who so against the Government, dea,
Alb-but not to you because you love
me-"
She chung to MIN Historically, fol
this long vigil had tried her nerves
and the shadow of discovery lay upor
her always. 1t had been one surprise
to her to find Alban in Warsaw, FOL
the Revolutionary Committee in Lon
don had informed her friends by cable
on the very day that Count Sergius
had left She knew exactly how hi
had come, where he had stopped. anc
| when to seek him out But now tina
| his arms were about ller, she dreaded
| new separation and was almos
afraid to release his hand from hers.
you will not leave me, Alban," she
saba new dignity coming to hel
suddenly as though some lesson no
of the school, but of life. had laugh
1t to her-"you will take me to Lon
don with you-yes, yes. dear, as you
servant. That is what my friend.
wish, they have thought it all out.
am to go as your servant and you mus
get transport for me-for Louis Wei
ner. and then if you call me by M
own name no one will know. Their,
we can see Mr.. Gessner together an,
speak of my father. will promis,
him that his secret shall never b.
known. He will trust me. Alban, be
cause | promise him."
Alban stopped and kissed her upol
the lips.
No ne said, the work must b
done here in Russia, Lois. am calle
to do it and go now. Let me fin
you at the same time tomorrow an
will tell you what have done. Co
bless you. Lois. 1t is happiness to b
with you again"
Their lips met, their arms unclaspe
reluctantly. A single tap upon tn
. panel of the cabin brought that merr