The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-03-16

4 for the zeal you have displayed
against the socialists"
They walked as far as the en-
trance of the large drawing room.
Wanda drew her hand away from
Vassilis arm, and leaned against
the side of the door.
Several gentlemen were in the
room, discussing the political stu
alton. They were interested and
animated, representing the differ
ent shades of opinion among the
higher classes of Russia. One of
them, a small, elderly man, plead
ed the cause of the people, al
though at the same time praising
the car; another ardently desir-
ed reform, but dreaded revolu-
ton; another maintained that re-
ligion alone, and its adoption by
the masses, could set the country
right.
Wanda walked forward until
she had reached the center of the
room. Her long, red train glided
like a serpent behind her; the
Isteely satin seemed moulded to-
her breast; on her arms great
rubies, set in steel, sent forth
their darting light; upon her
breast ruby lizard held a spray
of scarlet flowers.
She was dazzling, her costume
fairly glittered, but, above all,
shone her great dark eyes.
She stood before them all, and
without shade of fear, she spoke
Gentlemen, l am socialist. /
can hide it no longer. / wish to
overturn this Asiatic government.
am a revolutionist! Down with
THE mobiles! Down with the infam-
GUS secret police, which arrests,
tortures, and exiles every noble
creature in Russia! Away with
he hateful Third Section. of whom
Mr.. Vassili Stackelberg is the fit
representative" i
She waved her hand toward him
with gesture of the most SUI
lperb disdain. II
Nov, Mr.. Stackelberg, you,
who understand the system of ar
rests, why do you not arrest me2
Do you still desire to unite your
fate with miner"
The gentlemen in the room
looked at one another. Stacked
berg could neither speak nor
move; he vaguely understood that
something fearful was taking
lplace.
Prince Kryloff, delighted with
1.-THE success of the entertainment,
just then wandered aimlessly into
the drawing room, and looking
around, suddenly became aware
that there was something wrong.
What have you been saying,
Wanda, to shock our guests?" he
asked.
II have been telling them that
am a socialist; and that you,
Prince Kryloff, have made me
one!-you, who grind the poor
to the earth, who Cypress the
weak, who beat your servants as
If they were dogs. And what
difference is there between you
and them? The lowest of them
is better than you, for he has
never committed the crimes you
have. This very morning you
have been beating the poor wo-
man who asked you for a few
kopecks to buy bread for Iher
children; you trampled one wo-
man under your feet because she
dared to reason with you. There
are laws in Russia, but there are
no judges brave enough to en-
force them. So I will judge you.
I will pronounce sentence upon
|you."
i She crossed the room with I'M
faltering step. and left it unhin-
ldered.
The prince had already passed
Through too much for his strength
THAT day. Wanda's last words
loverpowered him. His face be-
lcame purple, his eyelids twitched
convulsively, his eyeballs rolled
In their sockets like maniac's,
and then glared bofer them with
Ifrightful fixedness. He tottered,
land with a cry of, stop her!
stop her!" he fell to the earth.
To be continued.