The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1909-10-31
CHAPTER XIX.
Turning the Screw


pU ntioned, she left me no room 10
doubt that 50 far as she was concerned
L was most unweicome visitor
Sls, was a complete contrast IN ap-
pearance TO Volna. slight, WHY
STRAIGHTFORWARD, acid-faeed little WON
ala of about So with pair OF lustrous
dark eyes so OVERWHELMINGLY large
thar the rest of the features, except heF
thin, straight lips, seemed to pass I'M
noticed. She gave me q very frigid
bow. 1--WE LaYe, of course, heard q
you from Volna, Mr.. Anstruther," she
said; her tone implying that what she
had heard was by no means 90 my
credit; and before / could reply she
turned to Ladislas. Has anything
happened that you are hereY'
1t was plain 10 see that he was not at
case with her. Where is Volna?' he
asked.
she is out. You have not brought
Mr. Antsruther to see her?' That he
would be mad TO think of such thing
was her meaning.
Il have decided that she cannot safe
~ remain in the city"
Indeed. Why? or perhaps 1 should
ask this gentleman. You had no such
thought when / saw you last"
Il have had grave news from Peters
burg this morning, Katinka.'
'Oh. are you going TO run away?
'Of course not"
Then how can Volna go?' She was
q past master in the art OF insinuation.
I have induced my friend here to
consent to take her"
Her large eyes opened as if in pro-
found establishment as she looked firsI
at him and then turned them slowly
upon me, and coughed most suggestive
ly. You have done this?" Had she
.uf Ia fhnrrobf in hl11nf words she
could not have expressed more plainly
her conviction that had cOncOcted the
plan for my own ends and that Lads
las must be blind and mad to consent
to it.
Yes: I have. Mr.. Antsruther under
stands precisely the relationship that
exists between Volna and me-"
You mean which should but does
not exist between YOU" she corrected,
significantly.
"Anstruther is my loyal friend, Ka-
tinka."
Have I expressed any doubt on that
point?'
Miss DrakOna is prejudiced against
the English, Robert said Ladislas,
turning 70 me- He flushed with vexa-
ton and appeared anxious to apologize
for my reception.
THAT is surely my cOuntry's misfor-
tune" said !.
THAT is insineere; but being English
YOU, of course, cannot help it," was the
reply, very unpleasantly spoken.
Ladislas very foolishly took this up.
"Anstruthar Is my friend, katinka," he
said warmly.
Il doa't see that that affects the sin
cerity or insincerity of what he says.
Mr.. Anstruther may as wen know that
he has caused a great deal of trouble
IN our family, and that so far as my
brother and myself are concerned, we
do not thank him for it,
My remark just now was merely in |
tended as one of common pOliteness, !
madam" I said. 81 am not glad when |
I find any one prejudiced against my |
countrymen. And / am quite sincere |
in expressing regret II | have caused /
trouble to any one Of your family"
Her large eyes were fixed cOldly upon |
me while I spoke, and at the end she |
paused and saiC-"IRdeed! with a /
most disconcerting effect.
An awkward pause followed, broken /
by the entrance of the brother, to whom 1
she introduced me in these terms: |
This is Mr.. Anstruther Paul, who has /
come with Ladislas TO induce Volna to |
run away from Warsaw at a moment /
when the flight of any one from this
house would be a disgrace to the cause
Of the fraternity
AS might be expected, the intrOdUc-
ton did not please him. 4 am not |
aware that we need the interference OF
any outsiders, sir"
That is the word-interference."
agreed the sister.
1T is nothing of the sort, Katinka,"
declared Ladislas, brusquely. Il have
brought my friend, Paul, to help in get
ting your mother and Volna into some
place of safety until the troubles here
are over. He knows all about the Bre-
menhof ENHANCEMENT and all about
er-Volna and myself. He acts entirely
at my suggestion and on my behalf as
my friend in this matter. You know
that If any violence breaks out, the city
VIII be no safe place for Volna or her
mother-Or any woman"
Il am not going to run away" said
Katinl1a with placid malice. But, of !
course. Volna viii jump at such a I
chance. Until this last deplorabIe af-
fair, she was accustomed to listen to !
our advice" &
I see no necessity for it, Ladislas," &
was PauPs verdict. y
We are of no account, Paul. It is I
not what we think. Of course"
Where is your mother?" asked La
dislas.
The question was answered by the d
entrance OF one OF the sweetest old la
dies have ever sen. Just Volna thir- O
ty-five or forty years older; but Volna
without the spirit and capacity and S
pluclzy resource had seen her show. d
You are Mr.. Anstruther, I am sure" b
she said as she gave me her hand with
a sweet, gracious smile. Il know you
by my Volna's description: and thank o
you from my heart for all you did" s
The brother and sister exchanged d
looks and shrugs. d"
II did no more, madam, than any one A
would have done in similar case" S
You saved my dearest child, sir; and n
4 mothers heart knows how to be
grateful" a
He wishes to do more now, Madame
Drakona; and take you and Volna K
away from the city until these troubles G.
nave blown over" said Ladislas P
An expression of perplexity ciouded
Ter face and she glanced dOubtfuly and m
lervously toward the other two. Il
ion't think 1 understand" she sand, q
weakly. Il should like to go, but =" g
'he stopped. and it struck me she vas
ooking for Katinka's sanction. pl
These things are to settled with y
lut regard to what we Drakonas al
-hink," said Katinka. ''of course I re-
ard II as indecorous. impractioable. M
and oowardly. But my II,
opinion is not even asked" and she =
olded her hands and tapped her fo,t 81
nd assumed the air OF an injured mar
VT.
1T is not my suggestion. madame. | ID
nut that of my friend, Ladislas here" re
said to the old lacy.
II am sure don't know what 10 do. q
Ir,1.- ks.Ta