The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-03-20
CHAPTER XVIII.
THE rail-.

ne BALL.
Prince Kryloff's hall, to celebrate
Wanda's coming of age. was royal
in its magnificence. Every one In
society was there, including ali Of
Wanda's adorers.
She saluted each in her usual
friendly way; but when she per
ceived Litzanoff. hardly able tc
stand, gazing at her with despair
ing eyes, she went straight up to
him and said:
you here? How imprudent!
"YOu promised to come to me;
you did not come. would not
wait any longer
This folly will put back your re.
covery."
We'll, what II 1t does?"
Stackelberg, Watching them, read
in Litzanoif's eyes his consuming
love. and In ~Manda's suppressed
pity her suppressed tenderness.
Stackelberg loved Wanda as well
as such a nature could love, and a
bitter jealousy awoke in his heart.
At midnight the ball was at its
height when General Trepoff was
announced. Wanda received him,
and taking him by the arm, led him
to her father.
We'll, general" she said gayly,
do you sec any suspicious persons
present? Have YOU discovered any
of these wicked and dangerous nj
hilists?"
Just then they we're passing
through small drawing room In
which several Cs the guests were
engaged in an animated discussion.
They werc Padlcwsky. Raymond
Chabert ALEXIS Veren,ne, Horace
de Prieu, Litzanoff, and Vassili
Stackelberg.
Litzanoff was speaking.
Russian society," he said, us
rotton to the core. Beneath it's ele-
CANT manners and refined tastes
there Turk savage selflshness and
brutal passions.
Then, perceiving a cold sneering
smile upon Stackelberg's face, he
went on more excitedly:
rs It among civilized nations
that such men as Trepoff are al
lowed to fog political prisoners?
At that very moment, General
Trepon stood at the entrance of
the room.
1T was not Trepoff who fiogged
Bogoluboff," answered the general;
ut was the chief of police, who was
Obliged to force his authority to be
respected"
Litzanoff did not recognize Ire
poff. He turned around, and saw
Wanda leaning upon this gentle.
mans arm. Seized with jealousy,
in the most insulting manner he
said:
THAT does not alter the fact.
maintain that any nation In
which Trepoff, whatever his rank
may be, can with impunity out
rage the respect due to humanity.
Is not entitled to be called q civil
lied nation!"
"Stepane, you are speaking to
General Trepoff himself" broke In
Wanda, who was as white as q
sheet.
Litzanoff stared at Wanda. She,
leaning on TrepOff's arm!--could
1t be possible! But, carried away
by the fever that burned in his
veins, by his vanity. by a sort of
bravado, he bowed to the general.
and In the bitterest tone con-
tinued:
81 ask General TrepofY himself II
there Is any law here in Russia
which would compel this man to
take of his hat? ! maintain that
the chief of police was not right.
But In Russia justice has two
weights and two measures; she
does not touch the rich and great |;
she only fogs the weak. And still
the car calls himself liberal"
Wanda. in despair, tried to
draw Trepoff away. 81 beg you,
general" she said, do not nay
any attention to this crazy young
fellow"
The chief of police was trem.
bling with rage; but he controlled
his temper. and even smiled as he
answered Wanda:
Here. at least, is one of your
nihilists."
"Oh. no! Tomorrow you will be
surprised to hear him argue on
the other side of the question. He
doesn't know what he Ia talking
about. I assure you he has some
thing the matter with his brain"
IL think that Is what ails all the
nihilists. But they are dangerous
and that Is why we lock them up. y
Wanda looked at him with her
lovely, beseeching eyes.
Ito he continued.l