Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-12-12

Z IAhLS poroNysm Of nee and
~ pain over he threw himself
ssTsi into a chair and buried his
- face 90 his hands He did NOT
even look up as NWar. his cynical
glance fixed on him. walked out. clos
ing the door softly behind him. His de-
parture seemed Co clear the atmos-
phere OF Cts oppressive burden OF evil
however. and H8r jumped 90 his feet
He made 81 fcw turns up and down the
studio and then changed his velvet
studio jacket Tor "a grcatcoat aud
plunged out 90 doors into the storm.
A brisk walls through the snow and
gathering darkness revived him. and
be turned back to the studio with
clearer brain His old servant Helm
rich. met him at the door
Monsieur the gentleman has re-
turned and is dressing" the old man
said in an awestruck whisper Il
think he is the devil" he added vim
dictivoly
Heinrich had been terrified when
Mil'ar returning to the studio in Karl's
absence. had taken possession with the
utmost GOODNESS OF Karrs guest cham
her and proceeded to change % the
evening clothes which had been sent 90
him there From the tailors Unwilling
90 meet the man again. Karl hurried
into his own room and locked the door
He did not emerge again until long
after Mllar had completed his dress
ing and had left the studio
Kari tried desperately 20 drive
nrrfrf ~
the terrible dame Of passion which
had grown from the tiny. buried spark
OF boy love that lurked in his heart
under the sinister suggestion OF Mlnar.
tortured him lie could hardly keep
himself from rushing of 20 Olga's
house in advance OF the ball 10 beg
her not 20 proceed with her design OF
bringing him and Elsa together. TO tell
her that he loved her and that IN an
the world there lived no other woman
for him. Desperately at last he re-
membered his promise 90 see Mimi
and he hui ID out and made his way
afOOt to The tattered little building In
which she lived. hoping there to find
forgetfulness. But go where he
would the h..Lnting black eyes. the
cynical slIile. that even. persistent
voice. the irsidious suggestions OF Nil
lar. the uevil followed him and would
not be shaken of.
In a state OF mind even more des-
perate than that OF Karl. Olga went
home with Herman Their journey
was as silent as their carriage was 81
lent Herman was absorbed In con
temptation OF the information Miilar
had given him regarding business af-
fairs in Russia, in which he was heav-
hy interested. Olga was torn by con
hicting emotions. The man had reused
in her the dormant love for Karl
which she believed buried forever. She
could not deny to herself now, as she
had denied for six years. that she
loved him. She knew now that during
those six years II had been to Karl.
not 20 Herman. that she had turned
for sympathy, for understanding. and
the knowledge maddened her
Deep In her heart Olga exalted duty
before every other virtue. and the duty
OF a loyal wife before every other
duty. She could feel now the crum-
bling away OF all her principles. her
convictions, the ideals she bad cher
ished. She had believed for six years
that she had given to Herman every
bit OF her love and loyalty. and now
she was forced TO the self confession
that she had lived a lie even to her.
self. She loved Karl
But away from MiIIar's influence.
she resolved that she would yet bat
tie with and overcome the terrible I'M
pulses be had aroused. She would 20
ahead with the ball She would bring
Kari and Elsa together. She would
make the artist love the beautiful, &C
complished girl whom she herself had
selected for his bride. She would
make him happy; make them both hap
py, even IL 1t meant that she must