The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-03-13
([liltllll
PRINCESS
"Oh, yes, he has so much admir-
alton for you, perhaps he will listen
to you"
CHAPTER XII.
PLEDGED TO THE CAUSE.

cal beauty fascinated; he had, be
sides, ready wit, brilliant and
caustic, without any bitterness: he
loved the good and the beautiful:
he was tender toward the weak
and generouA
He was q skeptic, as are 30 many
In Russia; he had cast to the
winds every prejudice of society;
he had satisfied his every caprice
his every passion; his father ador
ed him, and ruined him; and when
at Is years of age, he married
Nadege, he was a thoroughly blase
man.
When Wanda sent up her card
he was stretched out upon an i'm
mense bears skin that he had
thrown down upon the floor. The
beast itself had been killed by the
count in the forests Of Finland. He
was reading, and seemed com.
pletely absorbed in his book.
When he read Wanda's name on
the card he shudder, first flushing
deeply and then growing deadly
pale.
do l disturb you" Wanda
asked.
ooh, no, MOI" he replied, weakly.
They said no more; their voices
failed them; they could hardly see
one another.
Wanda was the first to recover
her self-possession.
"You were reading"
Yes, q book Of which am
passionately fond" answered Lit.
zanoff.
you are always passionately
fond of something"
II am crazy about something;
but excuse me, do sit down"
: He pushed chair towards her,
but he himself dared not approach
her.
Wanda sat down. He took a seat
far away from her, upon q Turkish
divan.
"Will you allow me to ask you
what you are reading with such en-
thusiasm ?" =
Some time ago one Of my
friends, Andrew Padlewsky,
brought 1t to me and recommended
me to read II. l never thought
about 1t until this morning. when
accidentally I came across 1t.
have read It, scarcely stopping to
take breath. l am already on the
second volume; and upon my word
l am almost a socialist; at least
that would give me something to
do"
you, a socialism,
Eyes, one scamp the more in the
society"
How siightingly you speak Of
those poor fellows!"
II only speak OF them as every.
body else does. But what delights
me in this book is It's analysis Of
which we are so proud. and which
in fact is nothing but q filthy
sewer"
Bravo! Is that really your opin-
ion?"
ut is, indeed! Yesterday was
ashamed of myself. Nadege has
told you everything. hasn't she?"
Yes
Well do not Judge me too Sc.
verely. ! have been terribly mis-.
understood; but this book shows
me that the fact of there being 30
many misunderstood natures is due
to the utterly disorganised and
stupid state OF society. 1t makes
me blush to be a Russian! Every.
where thieving, injustice, cheating,
lying--the whole social system
must be rebuilt from Its very foun.
dations."
Wanda gazed at him In admira.
ton.
THAT Is what think" she said.
why" said Litzanoff, ARE you
a nihilist?"
eyes. dear friend. I am"
Are you an associate OF any Sc.
cret society,""
There IL none; but I am In the
very thick of the conspiracy"
rs there q conspiracy" ex'
claimed tSepane, and I not In It =!
Wanda, will you enroll me, and
take me as the most ardent of your
disciples, the most fearless of your
apostles? Tell me, will your"
"And, n It IL necessary, will you
sacrifice your life? VIII you run
the risk of being exiled?"
Everything, everything! A new
existence opens before me. My
empty. weary life will have some
aim. All, II you did but know what
q real service you are doing mel"
"And ] hope I am doing some.
thing for Nadege. too. Promise me,
won't you, to love her as she de.
serves to be loved@
Eyes. as a tender. charming
child"
she loves you so dearly, and
you are not good to her."
Wanda Petrowna, tell me what
the nihilists think about love and
marriage"
Does not your book teach you
that?"
my book says: Every true feel.
ing Is lawful. but every union not
based upon perfect sincerity lie de.
grading"
well. n you did not love her
why did you marry herr"
Litxanof looked down, over
whelmed with shame.
Ito be continued.)