The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1907-11-16

tlOn. Mcasteur. be mercifull"
The facts!" insisted.
First of all, though 1t may weary
you. wish to tell you little of my
self. My parents were of that most
unhappy race, the Macedonian Chris
tians. Ny father was -ich for tina;
country; we were happy. But when, !
was q child I was awakened one night
BY the crash of musketry and the
glare of flames. The Turkish butchers
had attacked our vilayet. saw my
sister snatched from her mothers
arms and stabbed before my eyes. A
blow felled my mother. My father
was thrown to earth, manacled and
trodden upon. / was taken captive.
my fate would have been even
more horrible had not been the cap
tive Of Turkish officer who was kind
to me and adopted me. But he was
one Of that hated race, and secretly
tolerated his kindness only to be re
venged. In some way he offended the
Sultan; my protector was banished.
We lived in Paris.
AT last the hour of my vengeance
came. He had an enemy, one of his
own race. l betrayed him. He died
violent death, and that night, think,
was happy.
Il found myself rich; he had left me
>verything. was beautiful and well
lucated; life Of pleasure lay be-
fore me. Well, I have drunk deep Of
the cup Of pleasure. But that might
be happy? No. II have banqueted
with princes, it was to learn their
secrets. have fiattered and cajoled
enemies that / might betray them.
Sometimes have betrayed my friends.
In short. l am consecrated to my
country. For her have made myself
an adventures. II l could not direct
! ly further her cause, there were Sc
crets to be bought and sold at price.
The money purchased bread and arms.
have schemed, intrigued, betrayed.
tempted-always to bring Macedonia
one step nearer her freedom"
Madame de WARMER" 1 interrupted.
with a brutal directness. "at any other
time these personal "reminiscences
might be interesting enough. but
now"
You are adamant," she cried de-
spairingIy. 1T is impossible, it seems,
to awaken your sympathy. Then
must appeal to your intelligence.
You must understand something Of
the pol,tica1 situation ("
II know enough OF that already.
Once more must beg you to come to
the episode of Sir Mortimer Brett"
How can you know anything Of the
complexities of the Balkan situation? p
she demanded. at once startled and
surprised.
] Suffice It that l know this: Prince
Ferdinand of Bulgaria will invade
Turkish Macedonia, and free that ter
r1tory from the Turkish yoke, II his
army is financed by Kuhn, banker
Iof New York City but Macedonian
lby birth. This banker makes one
| stipulation: Bulgaria must have Eng
Hands promise of her moral support;
England must promise Bulgaria fres
field. Sir Mortimer Brett was to have
gained that promise from England
You made Sir Mortimer the victim o.
your intrigues. How, and to what ex
Itent-tnat is what I wish to know"
Il was sent to Sofia to accomplish
that. 1t seemed a hopeless task. Fol-
lbs years he had resisted every en-
treaty and bride. He had the absolutt
confidence OF the British Foreign OF
fee. But it was necessary to win hin
over at any cost We had secret in
formation to the effect that II he ad
vised England's interference she woult
interfere.
"You are impatient; shall no
weary you by telling of my efforts
Sir Mortimer was a cold man and ex
tremely difficult of approach. Fo
some time l despaired OF influencing
him. But / learned at last that be
meath his calm exterior was ACTUALLY
heart that throbbed-for the suffeI
ings of Macedonia"
RI How did you learn this?" de
manded. curiously. as she paused.
You will despise me the more whel
: tell you," she replied hesitaingly
and her face was scarlet. stole III
diary. 1t seems atrocious to you tina
r should so have repaid his kindness
but l have told you that to play tn
spy, to be the high priestess Of cur
4 ming, has been my lot. This diary n
vealed to me Sir Mortimer's true char
: acter.
II have said that he was extremel
D reserved, virtue that all diplomatist
4 must possess. He was never to b
? tric>ed or excited into a rash state
ment. Every word he spoke with tn
/ precision of an automaton. becaus
J ovorv snoken word was weighed"