Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-02-13

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, 1 am your promised wife.
Do you love me?
you know, Vera" he said simply,
'but why do you ask?"
"Why?' 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 escape"
"vera,' he cried.
"You must allow my brother to es-
CAPE" she said again.
But Vera, you cannot ask 1t Of me,
my honor, my duty-you know I love
you, but l cannot forfeit my word for
any one"
You must allow my brother to es
| cape"
Il will not" he answered.
Then, Sergius, you have lost your
| WIFE"
You cannot mean that, Vera"
Il mean it. You must choose" she
replied.
He gazed at her long and earnestly,
as If 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.
1t was a month afterward 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. Orloff
| 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 back
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 him.
Gas you wish, Sergius." she replied
"but l knew you would do 1t for me.
1 knew you would let him escape"
Let him escaped" he cried, but
Vera, l did not! :"
"You did not?" she repeated, dazed-
".
mo. On, now I see. You thought
and he stopped, all joy dying from
his face The girl turned from him.
Vera, I understand. You misunder-
stood. But you must know the truth.
| 1t was an accident 1 did my duty to
the best of my ability. We searched
and searched, but he escaped, where /
do not know. 1 am sorry that you dc
not understand. Women cannot under
stand Men have a code of honor and
duty which they must follow, and Il
| they break this law they must pay the
| forfeit, and the forfeit is this: that
| they are no longer worthy to love a
pure and honorable woman. Our love
honor are linked together and true
love is lost when honor is severed from
| it. But you are woman. You can
not understand 1 will leave you.
Good-by."
At this Vera turned: ''Stay, Ser
gus she cried, Il do understand
Women, too, have their code of honor
I once promised to be your wife Our
code demands that we never break our
| word. And 1, Sergius, am a faithful
follower of this law .'-Waverley Mag
| aZine.
When a man makes a will he has q
right to be self-willed.