Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1908-11-21


her face with her hands, while dry.
fearless sobs shook her body Millar
looked al her unmoved, and az Helm
rich entered with the tea tray he turn
ed cooliy to the old servant
PUT that tea here" he said, indi
eating table near Olga And the
brandy Thank you. You may GO"
He poured himself cup Of tea ard
began to sip It, looking the while at
the terrified woman before him.
II was the moment of Millars com
plete triumph, and he gloated over Olga
as she sat there. her trembling hands
covering her face, much as large cat
gloats over mouse helpless beneath
his paws. He lied deliberately about
the letter, WHICH even then reposed in
the inside pocket of his immaculate
frock coat But he reserved that for
a final coup He knew that Olga be-
lieving Karl was in possession of the
letter. would yield to the inevitable;
that she would again confess her love,
even TO Karl himself. and that only a
miracle of resolution and faith and
strength could save the two young peo-
pie from the abyss of dishonor and
unhappiness into which he was about
to plunge them.
He slipped his tea In silence. Sew
eral moments elapsed before Olga was
able to control herself. Then she
asked, without looking at Mlllar, aud
her voice was dry with pain:
"Did-did Karl read the letter.
4 "Oh. yes" Millar said. with another
sip of tea
20 God. too later she cried
Mlllar arose and stood behind Olga's
chair. leaning over her and speaking in
a soft. low voice.
"After he read the letter he buried
his face In his pillow and wept," he
said
"IIe wept?"
.Yes; he wept with joy. do not
like men who weep
Olga did not heed mis- fippancy. She
looked up at him imploringly
81 did not want him to get that let
ter" she said Il came to ask him TO
give 1t back to me unopened, ! am
too late"
ut is not you who are too late. 1t
was who was too early" Millar said
deprecatingly.
'.Oh, is this life really a serious mat
ter Olga exclaimed. when every
thing can depend upon ones getting
here few moments before or a rev
minutes after O'clock"
THAT is it exactly Millar said
1--WE should not take it so seriously
Olga looked thoughtfully away from
him and said to herself softly:
.He wept,"
From joy" Millar repeated after
her, In the same soft voice.
II am afraid to speak to him. and
yet must" Olga cried, starting up
81 would like to go far. far away, hut
cannot Something seems to hold
me here. cannot. cannot go. What
will become OF me?"
You will be very happy and will
make Karl very happy" Milar said.
Heinrich entered and took the tea
things.
m. Karl will be down in a mo
ment." he said.
Olga clasped her hands tragically
and turned an imploring face on Mil,
lar, who started for the studio door.
"Goodby." he said; Il will leave you
to speak to Karl alone"
"PIease don't CO." Olga implored.
81 can hardly remain under the cir
cumstances," he said.
He knew that to further his design
Karl and Olga should meet quite alone.
He would see to 1t that even old Helm
rich did not interrupt them until Olga
had repeated her confession OF love
and the hoax of the letter had been
revealed. Then he would reappear,
with the letter. and they might read it
together.
Olga knew that her own frail femi
nine heart would give way If she were
left alone to meet Karl. Evil as she
believed Millar to be, yet she dreaded
his going now.
Il an afraid to be alone With him, "
she said Won't you please stay7"
"But If stay how could you speak
&c Karl about the letter." Mlllar asked
"And you must say something about
IL, you know. would only be In the
way
Olga weakened and began to pace
the floor again.
We'll, shall be quite frank with
him" she said. II shall be honest
shall ask him for the last time
Karrs voice was heard In his own
room calling to Heinrich.
HE ia coming" Millar said. 81 will
leave you"
Please don't go very far away
Olga implored.
II shall be here" Millar said, going
to small anteroom adjoining the stu
do If you need me. call"
He stepped within the other room
and closed the door softly. Olga stood
her hands gripping the back of he
chair, waiting.