Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1908-12-24
CHAPTER XIV.
A Belated Telegram.

VINEYARD Mistley watched her IN
silence. He almost expected some
hysterical display, or perhaps a vain
onslaught upon himself The color
slowly left her face, and her level
red lips were pressed together pain
fully.
"Now, do not 60 and upset your
self" he said, masterfully, as he
picked up the cup she had cast from
her. LET us be business like and
quiet. Do you feel better now? Is
there anything l can do for you?"
She looked at him in vague amaze
ment. Then, pressing back her hair
with both hands, she said:
II cannot understand you English
men. Do you know who I am?"
"Oh, yes, mademoiselle, he re-
piled; II know who you are"
He stopped and picked up the re-
volver which had so lately been
pointed at him, and Marie Bakovitch
watched in silence while he dexter
ously removed the five remaining
cartridges and threw them into the
stream, much to the astonishment of
Adonis. Then he politely handed
her the firearm.
II have a favor to ask of you,
| mademoiselle, he said, "and then If
you feel restored, will leave you"
"Of me?" The poor girl was pite-
ously pale, but showed no signs Of
womanly tearfulness or emotion.
YES" he replied. stepping nearer.
will you tell me whether you were
sent by your Government or not?"
II was not"
And yet" said Mistley, watching
her face closely, your Government
knew of your purpose. They placed
every facility Ii your reach; they en-
couraged you as much as they dared
| -"
She WINGED as he emphasized the
last word. She sat twining and in
tertwining her ungloved fingers, but
never spoke,
They" he said, found them
selves outwitted by simple straight
forwardness, which, because it was
not their mode of acting, was not ex-
pected by them. What they failed
to do by telling lies, breaking treat
les, and ignoring the commonest
points Of honor, they attempted to
accomplish by foul means. calling in
| the aid of a woman-of a lady,
mademoiselle, whose hands should
never have been solled by such dirty
| work. | shall never cease to regret
that this occurred, and need hardly
| tell you that the matter will rest be-
tween ourselves, with the exception
! of Colonel Wright, who must be in
| formed of it, not as a personal mat
ter, but as question Of policy. To
yourself personally I bear not the
| slightest malice; but oblige me by
! telling the man who signed your
passport, who gave orders to the spy
Marloff to watch me and report TO
you, who, in fact, did his best to
make you murderess-tell him that
henceforth l work no longer from a
sense of duty to my country, but
from feelings of the fercest hatred
toward himself and his despicable
agents. All! you need not look
frightened. In England we say what
we mean, and are not afraid OF
treacherous ears being ever on the
qui vive to report every compromis-
ing word uttered in confidence"
He was reused at last, and the
| gray eyes, hitherto so calm and rest
full, flashed as only gray eyes can.
The girl rose and faced him brave
ly; although of singularly febrile
! and nervous temperament, she felt
at that moment no bodily fear.
''It is for my country that strive,
and not for any man. she said, in a
low, concentrated tone. which was
/ wonderfully musical. II, too, am a
patriot, I, too. love my home. and
! count my life as nothing beside my
! country's good. You have power.
and you are man whose words are
listened to; but for me it is differ
ent matter. am powerless, and can
never hope to raise myself to posi-
tiou Of power. My life is of no value
to Russia; but by losing 1t I could
make 1t of value, If, by that sacri-
fee, could remove from her path
an enemy as implacable, as infuen-
tial as yourself"
Perceiving that VINEYARD Mistley
had no intention of being dragged
into an argument, and was indeed
preparing to leave her, Marie sudden.
ly changed her manner.