The Washington herald., 1909-03-14

drink tea and let discuss this matter AMIGA
bly,"
Mr. Featherstoue sank back into his chair. and.
advancing the girl held the dagger for his
inspection, turning fl slowly the amplight
Il seemed II the red jewels which were the
serpents eyes gIitered with living II the sin
uOus folds OF its body writhed and twisted in
ecstasy Of malevolence: as if the long. cleaning
tongue quivered with malice. Indeed with dig
hculty that Feathersone could his from tne
thing, and ne that the girl was gazing upon S.
too, II fascinated. she began speaking IN tie
slow. colorless voice Of one hypnOtize5-
In this dagger" she said. placing it the table
but stil keeping her upon IT, is contained the
entire secret Of my conduct Two years ago. Monsieur
FeatherstoHe. my fathers from the japanese
war he brought this knife home with him. II had
been given him by a japanese prisoner whose life
he had saved from the fury OF his soldiers. The
knife. the japanese told my father. had been
heirloom in his family from immemoral Antiquity in
the head OF the snake he averred. dwelt mysteri-
Gus and malevolent demon; and such the potency
OF this terrible spirit that whoever graspeJ the
weapon by the handle Immediately possessed %
an Unsuitable desire 10 XIII
OF course my father disbeIieved in the super
natural powers OF the weapon, yet am sure he
not without certain superstitious half creduiity
for he would never grasp it by the handle. always
kept IL IN locked glass cabinet, only exhibited
his friends lying there The shelf. What
CURED the old story. Of a wOman's curiosity
Mine spelled perdton for The sight OF that
sinister weapon there IN the fascinated and
desire the terrible powers attached i-
haunted that day when was left alone In
the house in possession OF the keys I opened the
took the knife; grasped II firmly BY the
handle: and from the moment when my fingers tight
ened about the hilt I been possessed OF al
most uncomfortable desire XIII Even
now az the present moment. Monsieur Featherstone
though viii confess that never in my life has any
one favOrably impressed me you. it is with the
utmost Jin1cul1y I can repress the impulse 10
thrust this blade into your body.
The rest Of my tale IS short Monsieur Feath-
From that fatal moment 10 this have had
freedom from this dreadful de1eai- Fearing that
would murder some OF those nearest and dearest 10
1 fed from my fathers house Moscow There
feeling the strange desire grow stronger
termined suicide. but the thought
Ing my life away utterly was so abhorrent me
that IN The hope OF putting my death 20 some good
/ decided 20 oher myself and ay mur5erous
mania the anarchists This 1 did and
signed 70 the task upon which you ms me engaged
Tomorrow this demon Of destruction which possesses
viii slake its sauguine thirst Have a care. Non
sieur Feataerstone, that you do not provoke him
strike prematUrelyr'
But my dear madam CALCULATED Featherstone.
you cannot mean assert that this dagger has Of
itself over YOU Certainly il is possible
that mere"
He broke or in sudden access Of horror for
the girl had moved step forward. gazing all the
while the object the table with eyes whose
distended pupils had now suddenly contracted 20 Tiny
gIittering points; II by some irresiztibls
force. her arm had slowly extended; by almost i'm
perceptble degrees her tense twitchlug fingers had
approached the knife huL Now she was about 10
when. with a swift bound. NJ. Festherstone
snatched IL almost from out her grasp
For an instant then Featherstone stood notion
less. facing her Then suddenly he became
that there had insiliousy rapidly crept his
body evil and alien soui that some Giaholic
had forced aside his viii usurped the com
rnaad OF his limbs he felt ais fingers tighten about
the knife hIt convulsive, galvsnic grasp;
let mist swept across his vision; and compelled by
spirit other than his own he leaped forward wi-h
strangled CRY. lungng savagely The white throat
Of the girl before him By a hairs breadth she
the thrust the blade striking heavily against
brick wall behind her snapped of short al the hIt:
the instant that the dagger broke in his grasp
Featherstone felt the demon which had possessed him
vanish Ike evil dream.
Horror stricken az what he had done. he turned
IN the utmost agitation toward the girl To his
amazement she did not retreat from him.
there in her face the least evidence OF fear anger
resentment but on the contrary an expression 50
joyous and peaceful 10 approach beatitUde-
"Ahr she exclaimed raptur0usIy. cIaspinE her
hands, 1T IS broken, IT IS broken I an f-ee-I am
saved All. dear Monsieur Featherstone- how can
Thank me- exclaimed that gentleman. and Z
within inch Of killing youi Rather let me on
my Blended knees crave your pardon for my mad
ness
An. no" came the gentle response. why should
there be need Of my pardon for done by
other than yourself too have been under the dom
nation of that demon Of the knife Monsieur Feather
stone and understand You have destroyed What
IS there FOR 10 do but 10 thank yOu1'
Dearest Of ladies'" returned Featherstone-
your kindness overwhelms To think that
have 10 Kill you as an anarchist. How hor-
rible It isr'
For little time neither spoke The girl wrung
her hands il agitation the man stood close
TO her. scowlins pensively- " Do you know" he OBJ
served last half himself IL seems that have
not for minute Of this evening been bored7 Can
Il. O. Il be possible that have encountered a
person whose society really divers me?~ He paused
moment. then turned to the girl and. gazing upon
her with eyes expressive or the utmost admiration
and tenderness. addressed her
Dear madam" said he. 4 can see but one ching
TO be done AS Paul Arnetskoi you have sworn 10
commit this asssssination. as the anarchist have
sworn kill you AS my wife you VIII be another
person-Mrs Featherstone, in fact. Dear you must
marry me"
She drew herself up haughtly- Monsieur Feather
stone she replied 4 have every reason 10 be CRATE
ful you owe you my freedom. perhaps my life
itself Yet I would rather die than marry one whom
I did not love"
An. you break my heart-" Mr.. Featherstone ex-
claimed with a look Of anguish II adore you. Not
this evening have been bored without you lie
will be unthinkable"
But. my dear Monsieur Featherstone.- she r1ur-
INJURED. o. I did not say that would not-narry you
Mo- two days later the newspapers Of Mr. Feather
stones native city announced HIS marriage TO Rus
sian princess. TO whom. they averreJ. had for A
long time been sedulousy attentive The same Jour