Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1908-02-18

Suddenly she came close to Sergius
and, looking up into his strong face,
and dark, handsome eyes, so full Of
tenderness for her, she said:
"Sergius, l am your promised wife.
Do you love me?
"You know, Vera" he said simply,
"but why do you ask?"
"WhyY she said passionately, why?
Because you must prove your love for
me. You must show that you love me
better than all else. You must allow
my brother to escaped"
"vera!' he cried.
"You must allow my brother to es-
cape" she said again.
But Vera, you cannot ask it of me,
my honor, my duty-you know love
you. but / cannot forfeit my word for
any one"
You must allow my brother to es
cape"
II will not" he answered.
Then, Sergius, you have lost youa
wife,"
You cannot mean that, Vera"
81 mean it. You must choose" she
replied.
He gazed at her long and earnestly,
as IL trying to read her very soul. But
| her gray eyes were steady and not for
one moment did she waver. He held
out his arms appealingly, but she did
not answer him. He turned slowly
| and opened the door.
"Come and search" he commanded.
| After they had hunted and failed to
| find Orloff, Sergius ordered them to
start On the trail Immediately. He lin
gered at the door and said slowly, at
is my duty, Vera. Good night"
'Good-by," she corrected.
IT was a month afterwsrd. Orloff
| Stevanowitch had never been found.
Vera had received word from him and
he was safe on his way to America.
The girl was very lonely, but there was
jubilancy In her very manner and her
eyes were joyous and happy. Orion
had escaped and soon Sergius would
come. Why had he not come before
All, she had known that he would do II
for her.
One evening at sunset she saw man
coming toward her hut. 1t was Ser
gius. She ran to meet him. love and
| Joy in her manner. He caught her
hands. and gazing into her eyes. said !:
"Ah. Vera, you do love me. do you
not? You have welcomed me backl
You have retracted your words?"
"Of course" she said. and led him
into the house.
'@Then let US forget that night, Vera.
1t Is stamped on my brain In letters
of fire, but your love will wash II
away. We shall forget. shall we not?'
and he drew her toward hilu.
AS you wis.,, Sersius," she replied
"but I knew gou would do 1t for me.
1 knew you you'd let him escape"
LET him escape" he cried. but
Vera, 1 did not.'
You did not7" she repeated, dazed.
ly.
''No. On, now I see. You thought
and he stopped. all JOY dying from
his face. The girl turned from him.
Vera. l understand You misunder.
stood. But you must know the truth
It was an accident. did my duty tc
the best of my ability. We searched
and searched, but he escaped. where
do not know. l am sorry that you dc
not understand. Women cannot under
stand Men have a code OF honor and
duty which they must follow. and II
they break this law they must pay tbs
forfeit. and the forfeit Is this: thai
they are no longer worthy to love G
pure and honorable woman Our love
honor are linked together and trus
love is LOGS when honor is severed from
II. But you are a woman. You can
not understand. / win leave you
Good-hy.''
At this Vera turned: "StEy. Ser
gus" she cried. Il do understand
Women, too. have their code OF honor
once promised to be your wife. on
code demands that we never break ou
word. And /. Sergius. am a faithful
follower OF this lawi"-Wayerley Ma
axine,
: When man makes a win be has |