The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-04-07

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die with them. He strove to breaR
his bonds. and rush toward her;
but the soldiers held him back.
They were tying Wanda to the
stake. She cast one glance at Ray
mond.
do not shoot! Do not shoot
ne screamed in his agony. "Tha,
is not Vera Perowsky; 1t is Prince
Kryloff's daughter - Princess
Wanda!"
The adjutant hesitated mo-
ment; then, obedient to his orders
he commanded the men to fire.
But not a gun was fired.
Raymond's cries, Wanda's
beauty, the name of Prince Kry
loft, inundated and awed the
men.
Raymond continued crying
aloud: DO not commit the muir.
der!"
Then, turning to the adjutant, he
went on:
Respect the life Of this innocent
girl"
But the adjutant for the second
time gave the order to fire. who
ever will not obey me-" he said
"shall be shot upon the spot"
They raised their guns and fired |;
Wanda's head fell forward on her
breast.
At that moment three men came
upon the grounds. They were the
pprince, Koroleff and a soldier who
showed them the way.
The prince ran forward; but the
adjutant stood in his way. The
prince thrust him rudely aside.
Il am Prince Kryloff, he said
"Where is Vera Perowsky? Where
is she? She Is my daughter, Prin
cess Kryloff!" .t-t.s ~
The officer turned ashy pale, and
pointed to the stake. The prince
ran to the place. The prince recog
nized Katia, and shuddered. Then
he went up to the other body. He
stood there perfectly motionless
looking down at his dead child with
dilated eyes.
Suddenly his heart, contracted
with agony, sent rush of blodo to
his brain: 1t carried with 1t ruin to
his already enfeebled brain. A hor.
rible fit Of laughter seized him ;
burst after burst of this untimely
merriment hcilled the very blood in
the veins of those who heard It.
They tried to lead him away, so as
to go on With the execution; but
insane rage now had full posses.
sion OF him. He rushed upon the
men who tried to hold him, and
with superhuman strength freed
himself.
THE nihilists! The nihilists!" he
howled. II will exterminate them,
every one" They succeeded at last
in tying his hands, but still he
rOared: THE nihilists! the rob-
bers! the assasins! They have muir
dered my child, my beautiful
Wanda"
And now they saw an officer ap-
proach, In comapny with tall. fair
haired young man. 1t was Verinine,
bringing Wanda's pardon, signed
by the emperor with his own hand.
TOO late" said Koroleff.
Verinine cast one look around,
and understood all. He fell upon
a mound of earth, and. hiding his
face In his hands, sobbed aloud.
koroleff went to find Litzanoff in
MS hiding place.
"Well?' said Stepane.
--Koroleff made a gesture of de.
Bpair.
"Dead?" cried Litzanoff.
KOroleff was silent. Litzanos
pressed his hands to his heart; he
staggered back as II he had been
shot; he could not speak. He pant,
ed, gasped for breath.
BE calm" said Koroleff.
"Oh. am very calm" said Ste.
pane, with wan smile. after
all. what Is life? Where is her
body?"
1T has been taken to the fort.
ress."
LET us go there" ''.,t .,..
What would you dor
xiii myself by her side" an
swered Stepane.
What good would that do?" said
Koroleff. III you really loved that
noble woman you should try to i'm
bue yourself with her spirit, even
after her DEATH"
IL lived only through her and
for her. She is dead; / have moth
ing to live for
But before you die you can
avenge her; kill her murderers."
AT these words he arose. "You
are right" said he; ''let us avenge
her"
CHAPTER XIII.
VENGEANCE.
At the moment OF Wandas ex
ecution, Raymond had tainted