The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-04-06

that his daughter was In prison, ne
thought 1t was all trick, and de-
termined not to leave home. For
two whole days, two precious days,
Koroleff pleaded with him, strug-
Cling with the irresolute fancies of
an unsettled brain.
Verenine obtained, through the
czarovitch, an interview with the
emperor, and upon Verenine's en-
treaty, he promised to order Prin-
cess Kryloffs sentence to be de-
ferred until he himself should look
into the affair.
Litzanoff, In spite of the lamenta-
lions of his faithful steward, Dmtri,
mortgaged his entire property, and
obtained 100000 roubles at an ex-
orbitant rate. Koroleff had said to
him: I'm Russia, you can do any
thing with money" and he thought
that with the amount he might be
able to bride the whole garrison Of
the fort.
Mezentzoff, under the directions
Of the emperor, sent to Stackelberg
the following dispatch:
"By order of the emperor. defer
passing sentence upon Princess
Kryloff. Tomorrow some one will
be sent to supply your place as
chief of police"
This telegram completely upset
Stackelberg. Who had told the en-
peror about this affair? He thought
he had kept 1t perfectly secret. Was
1t true that the socialists had their
spies in the emperor's palace-or.'
indeed, in the Third Section itself?
He was frightened; but still he was
determined not to give up his re-
venge. ~
Ever since Wanda had been in
his power, he had been a prey to re-
morse and hesitation. Now he
wished to save her /. now, to torture
her, SO as to avenge himself for all
she had made him suffer.
When he received this telegram,
and saw that Wanda might escape
him, his rage knew no bounds. He
sat down and wrote:
81 have consulted the registers of
all the prisons in Kieff. Princess
Kryloff is not here"
He sent this telegram of, and
went at once to the fortress.
For three days Wanda had known
her sentence. For three days had
she been in mortal agony. Already
she had been In prison for 10 days.
Ten days of close confinement, of
absolute solitude, within those four
gray walls.
Wanda was strong and brave;
but she was woman, and her
whole being revolted at the idea
of the terrible death in store for
her. To die at 20 years Of age
in all the strength of her life, the
freshness of her youth, the perfec-
tion Of her beauty! At this
thought her whole being shuddered.
As Stackelberg entered her cell,
he remarked great change In her
appearance, and nervous trem-
bling. which shook her from head
to foot. as soon as she saw him.
From this physical weakness, he
argued corresponding moral
weakness. which promised success
to his designs.
For a few moments he did not
speak. Wanda rose when he
came in. Her proud disdainful
look dismayed him.
Well" he asked at last, "have
you thought over your determine
tion7"
yes"
"Have you changed your mind?"
Monsieur de Stackelberg, a con-
viction which It has taken three
years to form cannot be uprooted in
10 days"
"And yet, in the face of death
- one sometimes modifies ones way
Of looking at things. You know
what your sentence is, do you not?'
by your orders, l suppose, they
took good care to read 1t to me-"
~ may as we'll tell you that to.
morrow morning is fixed upon as
the time of your execution"
Wanda grew white. and trembled
but she recovered almost instantly
II am quite prepared" she said
Are you prepared to die?" ex-
claimed Vassili, amazed at such
courage. mo, you shall not die;
will not have 1t. Do you hear me
Wanda? will not allow It. Your
death would drive me mad. I have
never loved anyone but you'll can
never love anyone else. Listen to
me-"
IN. de Stackelbers." she answer
ed, "haughtily. my feelings have
not changed any more than my con
victions have"
do you mean that you still hate
me-"
She made no reply.
Wanda, IL II not rather | who
should hate you? Think of the
manner In which you insulted me!
Think of how YOU treaie mo In tb.