The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-02-26
CHAPTER XI.
Recruit.

When Wanda entered her
friends room she found her look
ing utterly disconsolate, stretched
upon a lounge, covered with furs,
but shivering all over.
Nadege Litzanoff, at the age of
20, was an exquisite type of Rus
hair shaded a brow as white as
ivory; and her dark blue eyes
were. almost black. Her cheeks,
generally suffused with rose-pink,
were today white and spotted with
red; and her lovely mouth looked
drawn and hard. Her despair was
so great that she had forgotten all
the little coquettish elegances of
dress; and yet her figure, simply
wrapped in a morning gym of
blue cashmere, was eXquisitely
graceful.
at is so long since saw you'll"
she said. your presence does
me good, for you are so strong"
"You are just a spoiled child"
replied Wanda. "Your life has
always been a bed of roses, and
the first thorn that you feel gives
you a mortal wound"
ooh, Wanda! there is no trou-
BILE like mine. If I had his love
1 could endure anything without
a word-cold, hunger
"And hard work."
eyes; I would work In the
mines if thought that would win
back his love-"
"How little you know of the
hard life of the common people!"
How long have you suffered
this way?" asked Wanda.
For several months. My happi-
ness lasted but a little while. l do
not think he ever really loved me,
although I gave my whole soul to
him. Sometimes he would press
me to his heart, with tender, low
ling words! And then suddenly he
would relapse into perfect indif-
ference. l always thought there
must be some woman between us,
some woman whom he could not
forget. After three months, he
was away a great deal; he said he
went to the club, and as he came
home very late, he had a separate
room fitted up for himself in the
north wing of the house. This
broke my heart, and l complained
of it."
"You were wrong there" said
Wanda. "a woman should never
lower herself to complain"
IT cannot do as you would, !"
continued Nadege; II cried, and
there was a scene. Then three
days ago, when Patti and Nicolini
were singing at the theater,
went. Everyone in society was
there, and l thought that I would
possibly see him there, In com
pany with the person who had
taken him away from me. Sure
enough, at the end of the second
act he appeared with quite a
pretty woman; by the way, she
looked like you, but she was not
as handsome"
"Ah!" said Wanda, with dis
tended nostrils.
eyes, she had your eyes, but
they were not as beautiful as
YOURS"
"Have you been able to find out
W nO SIG WAS
Eyes, told my father, and he
went to the police; and 1 found
out that she was a Pole, very
handsome. Stepane. met her ac-
ciClentally, and fell In love with
her. He has given her superb
house, carriages and horses, and
flor three weeks he has never
lauitted her side, even receiving his
friends at this woman's and CIV
ing entertainments. However
large his fortune may be, 1t won't
take long to lose it in this way. !"
"Well, what did you dor"
| at wrote him such touching
letter that he came to see me,
fell at my feet and wept bitterly.
But when I asked him why he
did not come back to me he said:
If l only could DO you really
love this creature?' cried. No!
1 hate her!' he answered. then
what is the meaning OF your con-
Iduct?' Don't ask me-. he said;
1T is madness; am as unhappy as
lyou are This morning he has
not left the house. What is he do
lingf I do not ever dare ask;
do not dare cross the threshold
Iof his room. Look at me! Is not
my Indebtedness compiete?"
| Wanda, hearing Nadege's sobs,
sat down by her and drawing her
friends head toward her she
lsoothed her as one soothes
child to dispel its sorrows.
Listen to me, Nadege," said
IyUanda ssy fna hava lavad thou Or