Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1909-01-29

-
N lain over. lie threw Himself
-sgs into n chair and buried lis
..------...i face in lis hands. He id not
even look up IL Miliar. his cynical
glance GNo1 "n hiln. walked ont. clos
ing the door softly behind him. His de-
narture Scciu"j IL clear the atmoS-
phCrc If It's oppressive burden If evil
however. and Kari jumped 70 his feet
He made Few turns VI ana down the
studio and then changed his velvet
studio Jacket for grcatcoat and
plunged out Of doors into the storm.
4 brisk walk through the snow and
gathering darkness revived him, and
he turned back to the studio with a
clearer brain. His Old servant, Helm
rich. met him at the door.
monsieur, the gentleman has re-
turned and Is dressing" the old man
said in an awestruck whisper. Il
think he is the devil" he added vim
dictively.
Heinrich had been terrified when
Millar. returning to the studio in Karrs
absence, had taken possession with the
utmost GOODNESS of Karl's guest cham
Der and proceeded TO change TO the
evening clothes which had been sent to
him there from the tailor's. Unwilling
to meet the man again. Karl hurried
He did not emerge again until long
after Millar had completed his dress
ing and had left the studio.
Karl tried desperately to drive
thoughts OF Olga from his mind. But
the terrible flame Of passion which
had grown from the tiny. buried spark
of boy love that lurked in his heart,
under the sinister suggestion Of Millar,
tortured him. He could hardly keep
himself from rushing OF to Olga's
house in advance Of the ball to beg
her not to proceed with her design of
bringing him and Elsa together, to tell
her that he loved her and that in all
the world there lived no other woman
for him. Desperately Mt last he re-
membered his promise to see Mimi
and he hurried out and made his way
afoot to the tattered little building In
which she lived. hoping there to find
forgetfulness. But so where he
would the haunting black eyes. the
cynical smile. that even, persistent
voice, the insidiOus suggestions of Mil
lar, the devil. followed him and would
not be shaken off.
In a state Of mind even more des-
perate than that Of Karl, Olga went
home with Herman. Their journey
was as silent as their carriage was ST.
lent Herman was absorbed in con-
temptation Of the information Millar
had given him regarding business AZ
fairs in Russia, in which he was heav-
lily Interested. Olga was torn by con-
fiicting emotions. The man had reused
in her the dormant love for Karl
which she believed buried forever She
could not deny to herself now, as she
had denied for six years. that she
loved him. She knew now that during
those six years it had been to Karl.
not to Herman. that she had turned
for sympathy, for understanding. and
the knowledge maddened her.
Deep In her heart Olga exalted duty
before every other virtue. and the duty
of a loyal wife before every other
duty. She could feel now the crum-
bling away Of all her principles. her
convictions. the ideals she had cher.
1shed. She had believed for six years
that she had given to Herman every
bit Of her love and loyalty, and now
hn 20 hn to-,
that she had lived a lie even to her
self. She loved Karl.
But, away from Mils4r's influence
the resolved that she would yet bat.
tie with and overcome the terrible i'm.
pulses he had aroused. She would 60
ahead with the ball. She would bring
Karl and Elsa together. She would
make the artist love the beautiful. nc.
complished girl whom she herself had
selected for his bride. She would
make him happy: make them both hap
py, even II 1t meant that she must
crush out her own hopes Of happiness
In doing so.
THAT Is very remarkable man, that
friend of karls," Herman said after
they had driven some time In silence.
Eyes. He Is very disagreeable." Olgs
replied
"Oh, l don't think sou Herman pro
tested. ITO me he seemed very agree
able. Where does he come from? He
seems to have been everywhere and Il
know everybody"
And everything" assented Olga
YEARLY. Il cannot tell you anything
about him. Karl met him a year ago
at Monte Carlo"
II am glad you persuaded him t.
come tonight" Herman said. ''He /.
going o give me information that viii
be of great value to me-"
Olga was on the point Of telling Her
man all about the terrible sermon thu
stranger had preached to them, Of hi
wicked insinuations and of her terrible
dread. but she checked herself. Her
man seemed fatuously delighted by
Millar, end she could not bring herself
to talk to him now. They continued
the ride in silence until home wa.
reached.
Herman and Olga occupied one o
the finest residences in Park lane.
had been built by a wealthy noble
man and completed with princely dis
regard for expenditure. 1t stood II
the center of a considerable park, sur
rounded by trees and gardens.
Preparations were already going for
ward for the ball when Herman ant
Olga reached home Decorators wer
putting the finishing touches on tn
magnificent ballroom. Florists wer
banking ferns and ported plants aloni
the stairs and halls. All was bustl
and preparation. Herman delighted.
went forward and examined every de
tail Of the work. Olga. who ordinaril.
would have taken the same keen inter
est in the preparations. turned wearil.
away and went to her own room. Sh
dined alone under the plea Of a head
ache and did not again appear unit
the guests began to arrive In the even
ing.