The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1907-08-17

cial cap in general salute, stated that he
had. letter for Monsieur Dobroski. He
had inquired for monsieur at the Cheval
Blanc, and had afterward discerned him
from the road. Would monsieur please
to sign for the letter?
'Ye must sign in ink" said Fraser,
who was always willing to display his
knowledge, even of trihes. I've a 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 so.
Angela" he cried, suddenly, come
here" The girl moved quickly to his
side, and saw at 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 l 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
the 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 SO changed and
wild. His lean brown hand trembled as
he held out to her a something in a bind
ing of faded golden filigree. Angela, open
ing it, saw two miniatures within. In
one, two handsome lads of twenty or
whereabouts were standing with their arms
about each others waist. The other de-
picted a woman in the prime of youth,
and dressed in the national costume of
Poland. Angela had scarcely glanced at
it 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 years -
TRY to be calm, DEAR" urged Angela,
with hand upon his shoulder.
Yes, yes," he answered. II will be
calm. Look. am calm already"
These are your wife and your boys?'
she said, surveying the miniatures. YES.
The boys are very like you"
Mr.. Athanos Zeno, with 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
for writing, setting down his inkstand
with brisk tap on the table, and smooth
ing out his blotting 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 for privacy, and with a hand laid
gently on the old mans arm she moved
toward the open doorway which commune
Gated with the larger salon. Dobrosk
yielded to the pressure, and made a steI
or two with downward eyes, his lear
brown fingers TREMENDOUSLY tearing at tht
package, which still contained a some
what bulky Enclosure of papers. The en-
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 =
that broke from him, so startled her thai
she knelt there, still looking up at hin
in fear and wonder. The quick, gaspin,
exclamation he had made had much o.
the sound with which hungry wild heas
receives his daily rations, and for mer,
instant his teeth were barred with lool
altogether savage and carnivorous.
This singular transport lasted but /,
moment, but he stood for q second o.
two staring intently at the paper In hi
hand, whilst Angela rose slowly, and lai,
her hand upon his arm again. Then sh
saw that the object which had so excite,
him was the photograph of a man o
nearly his own age-the face a quartz
life size, or thereabouts-the photograph
very clearly and finely printed-and tn
subject noticeable by lofty dome o
bald forehead, and the eyes Of yer.
lynx.
Once more Dobroski obeyed the sigh
pressure Of her hand, and they entere
the larger salon together. Angela close
the door, and the old man sat down upo
the broad sill of one of the windows
still fxedly regarding the photograph. B.
and by he offered 1t, without raising hi
eyes, to Angela, and began to turn owe
the papers. Most of them were printed
and one was in Russian, and another i
German type. Scattered among them b
their fall were the leaves of lengthy lei
ter, and having sorted these leaves fror
the others, and arranged them In the Oh
der in which they were numbered, he b.
gan to read.
The letter was written In French, an
he made one or two ordinations in til
same language as he read, "Ah the goo
Bremner 1t was he," being alone di.
tinguishable. Angela, with knitted finger
and down-turned palms, stood before hir
at little distance. she had laid dow
the photograph and the miniatures on tn
window sill beside Dobroski, and divide
her serious and inquiring regard betwee
them and him. He SKINNED the lette
rapidly as If in search of something unit
he reached the final page. This he rea
slowly and deliberately, breaking off ono
to drop the letter in both hands betwee
his knees with an odd cackling laugl
which, whatever else 1t may have e,
pressed, was absolutely devoid Of mirtl
After this he read on quietly to. the enc
folded the letter and the printed paper
, together, restored them to the torn Ell
velope, and buttoned up the package
the breast pocket Of his military lookin
, frock coat.
"This was stolen" he said, taking u
the miniatures, and holding the cas-