Washington State journal. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1907-1911, 1907-12-19

nAO inquired IOr monsieur at the Ch0val
| Blanc, and had afterward discerned him
from the road. Would monsieur please
to sign for the letter?
I'VE must sign in ink" said Fraser,
who was always willing to display his
knowledge, even of trifes. I've stoylo-
graphic pen, Mr.. Dobroski."
Excuse me-" said the old man, bow
ing round when he had received the pack
age from the postman. He broke the seals
leisurely, walking to one side as he did 80.
Angela !" he cried, suddenly, come
here" The girl moved quickly to his
side, and saw at a glance that he was
strangely disturbed His face was white.
and his eyes. ordinarily SO calm and
mournful. glittered with an unusual light
1T is with you," he said, in voice as
disordered as his looks. that I must
share this SO sacred joy. Let us be alone,
little sweetheart. Come with me-" He
took her BY the hand and hurried her
from the garden to the salon. followed by
tho curious and wondering glances of the
others. Here" he said-''here! After
these thirty-three years. Look! Ny
wife, little sweetheart, my boys"
Angela was alarmed and wonder
stricken. his manner was 20 changed and
wild. His lean brown hand trembled a.
he held out to her something in q bind
ing Of faded golden filigree. Angela, open
Ing it, saw two miniatures within. In
one, two handsome lads Of twenty q
thereabouts were standing with their arms
about each others waist. The other de-
picted woman in the prime Of youth.
and dressed In the national costume of
Poland. Angela had scarcely glanced at
1t when Dobroski took it and her hand
together, and kissed the picture twice or
thrice.
"Here!" he said, with hysteric tremu-
lousness. AFTER these thirty yearsw
Try to be calm, dear" urged Angela,
with hand upon his shoulder.
Yes, yes" he answered. II will be
calm. Look. l am calm already"
These are your wife and your boys7"
she said, surveying the miniatures. Eyes.
The boys are very like you"
Mr.. Athanos Zeno, with 4 small secre-
taire under his arm. walked into the
room. bowed, and. establishing himself At
little table At the far end Of the cham
Der. began to make busy arrangements
fer writing, setting down bis inkstaud
with brisk tap on the table, and smooth
ing out his blsttinS paper with flourish.
Angela had never seen Mr.. Zeno before,
and Dobroski scarcely saw him now, but
the girl was conscious Of an interior de-
mand fer privacy, and with q hand laid
gently on the old mans arm she moved
toward the open doorway which comnuni-
nal 40 b kA l.
yielded to the pressure, and made . step
or two with downward eyes, his lsan
brown fingers trsmulously tearing at the
package, which still contained . some
what bulky inelssure Of papers. Tho o.
velope gave way. and he dropped some OF
its contents on the floor. Angela fell
upon one knee and, gathering up the
fallen papers, handed them to him.
The sudden grasp with which he tore
them from her fingers. the look he bent
upon them, the quick, gasping "Ha Z"
that broke from him. SO startled her that
she knelt there. still looking up at him
in fear and wonder. The quick, gaspinx
exclamation be had made had much Of
the sound with which hungry wild beast
receives his daily rations. and for a mere
instant his teeth were barred with q look
altogether savage and carnivorous.
This singular transport lasted but 1
moment, but he stood for q second or
two staring intently at the paper in his
hand, whilst Angela rose slowly, and laid
her hand upsn his arm again. Then she
saw that the object which had 90 excited
him was the photograph of q man Of
nearly his own ags-the face a quarter
life size, OF thereabouts-the photograph
very clearly and finely printed-and the
subject noticeable by . lofty dome Of
bald forehead, and the eyes Of Q very
lynx.
Once more Dsbrsski obeyed the slisht
pressure Of her hand. and they entered
the larger salem together. Angela closed
tho door, and the old man sat down upon
the broad sill Of one Of the windows,
still axedly regarding the photograph. BY
and By he offered It, without raising his
eyes, to Angela, and began to turn ever
the papers. Most Of them were printed,
and one was in Russian, and another In
German type. Scattered among then BY
their fall were the leaves of lengthy let
ter, and having sorted these leaves from
the others. and arranged them In the or
der in which they we're numbered. he be-
gan to read.
The letter was written In French, and
he made one or two exclamations in the
same language as he read, "Ah the good
Bremner! 1t was be-" being alone dis
tinguishable. Angela, with knitted fingers
and down-turned palms, stood before him
at little distance. She had laid down
the photograph and the miniatures on the
window sill beside Dobroski. and divided
her serious and inquiring regard between
them and him. He SKINNED the letter
rapidly as II In search Of something until
he reached the final page. This he read
slowly and deliberately. breaking off snce
to drop the letter in both hands between
his knees with an odd cackling laugh,
which, whatever else it may have ex-
pressed, was absolutely devoid of mirth.
After this be read on quietly to the end,
folded the letter and the printed papers
together, restored them to the torn en-
velope, and buttoned up the package in
the breast pocket Of his military looking
frock coat.
This was stolen" he said, taking up
the miniatures, and holding the case
clasped gently between the palms Of both
hands, when my house was sacked by q
| clerical mob in Vienna more than thirty
years ago. And now a dear old friend
one Of the few dear old friends---fnds It
by chance in a shop window In Berlin.
know how poor he is-Job was never
pooref-yet he contriyes to buy it, and to