The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-03-23
(llil[lESl
PRINCESS


versus from petersburg.
Gen. Kousmine obtained Ma
dege's pardon. Verenine, who had
not been neglected, gave her news
of her husband. Litzanoff refused
to see her. She determined to re-
turn to Petersburg, and Verenine
accompanied her. This was the
beginning of an acquaintance
which in the end made two hearts
happy.
AS soon as Stackelberg got to
Petersburg he drew up a sensa-
tfonal account of the nihilist
movement in southern Russia, par
ticularly in the Ukraine.
This report procured the author
much praise, and he received the
|eight-pointed star of the Order of
|St. Andrew.
But in spite of all this, Stacked
berg was terribly depressed. One
recollection haunted him day and
might. Wanda's image was con-
stantly before him. To divert his
mind there was no dissipation In
which he could not be found. He
passed his evenings, and even
his nights, in the fashionable club
houses of Petersburg, where his
coachman often would have to
wait for him the whole night long.
This man had frequently of late
met two other coachmen, who al
ways had an unlimited supply of
vodka with them.
AS might be foreseen. one night
Prince Stackelberg's driver was
dead drunk; and one of the two
istrange coachmen carefully took
off his coat, dressed himself in 1t,
and mounted the box of the
princes coupe. ~
1t was 1 o'clock in the morning
before Vassili left the club, and
he threw himself into his carriage.
AS soon as the carriage door was
shut a second man mounted the
box with the coachman.
They had arrived at lonely
part of the city; 1t looked like a
deserted stone quarry. The horses
were suddenly stopped.
The door of the carriage was
thrown open, and. Staekelberg
saw, instead of his own coaehman,
two strange faces.
What is the meaning Of this
nonsense?" he asked, in a voice
|tremulous with rage.
ut means" answered one of the
men, that the Revolutionary COM
mittee has determined to revenge
upon your noble person the out
RACES that you have poured cut
upon the socialists-the death of
our friends whom you sentenced
at Kieff, and above all, the muir
der of Wanda Kryloff.
IAN ambush! an ambush!'
cried Stackelberg, strafning his
eyes to see where he was.
In the pale light he saw human
figures like shadows rising out of
the stone quarry, and quickly ad-
vancing towards his coupe. At the
same moment strong arms seized
him, in spite of his resistance, the
people of the shadows flogged him
with whips.
Terrified, enraged, dreading
death, he nevertheless spoke not
one word, uttered no complaint:
but he strove to see the faces of
his enemies so that he might have
his revenge.
At last they allowed him to get
into his carriage again. AS he was
about to step in, he saw two men
lalready seated inside. He drew
back; but powerful hand pushed
him in and a voice whispered In
ibis ear, while he felt the cold
touch of a pistol on his temple.
| Speak one word, make one
movement, and you are dead!"
AS they drove off, Stackelbere
recognized Litzanoff. The other
man he did not know. 1t was
Koroleff.
do you recognize me. wretch?''
asked Stepane.
Stackelberg trembled from head
to foot.
When they reached the gates of
the city, Wanda had been avenged.
Koroleff and Litzanoff jumped out
of the carriage, and left the horses
to find their way to their stable
alone.
sons, who are all drawn from real
life, mentioned In these pages.
Prince Kryloff is hopelessly In
sane.
/ Koroleff and Litzanoff are In
Petersburg, having escaped with
Jour other friends from Siberia by
clever ruse. They are the i'm
[placable executors of the revolu-
tionary committee. Vengeance Is
Stepane's one idea.
Raymond has not returned to
France. He has taken Wanda's
mother for his own.
Michael remains the most intel
!ligent member of the party. Un-
fortunately his advice and Padlew-
sky's for moderation is not always
needed; but he remains unmoved
land calm, seeing clearly that prog
ress, to be lasting, must be slow.
/ THE END.
L.