The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-03-24
CHAPTER XIII.

she had not long before returned
from a meeting of the secret COM
mittee. At midnight they had con-
vened with delegates from Kieff,
Odessa and Moscow to determine
the fate of q number of enemies OF
the cause.
Bitter had been the denunciation
Of such men as Trepof by the ma
iority of the members and while
Padlewsky had counselled caution
and Wanda had made an eloquent
plea against violence, asking them
to preserve the cause from acts Of
vengeance and barbarity, the vote
was overwhelming and Trepoff and
several traitors to the cause were
sentenced to death.
Wanda was called upon to draw
the lots and select the person to
carry out the sentence on Trepoff.
She placed her hand in the urn and
taking out one of the bits of paper
read the name, Vera Zassoulitch. 7"
Two days after that, on the 23d
OF January, a young girl was walk
ing with Arm step towards the
palace in which the chief of police
daily received his petitioners.
She stood in the ante-chamber
waiting for Trepoff. Vera Zassou-
Itch held revolver In her hand,
concealed by her long fur cloak.
As Trepoff passed in front OF her
she raised her arm, fired, and the
general, severely wounded, fell at
her feet.
And the telegraph carried the
news to the four quarters Of the
R'ote.
Two days later. at grand ball
given In Eia!an by ono Of the
wcalthicst families of the city, the
Arad body Ct ;ouI q nobleman
was found stretched ont at the foot
of the principal stair, ase. He had
betrayed a friend of the cause.
Also at Odessa. the son Of rich
merchant was found stabbed to
.ceath In a lolely street; and upon
his breast was t'rl ed paper, with
this inscription: Killed for de-
Aunciation OF tho socialists"
Prince krylor entered his daugh-
ter's room holding in his hand a
large envelope banded and sealed
with black.
II accused you unjustly the other
day, my dear child" he said. Il
suspected that your mother was in
Russia: but this letter informs me
that"
my mother! Oh, what is the
matter! Let me read it!" and she
snatched the envelope out OF her
fathers hand.
II contained two inclosures--the
one was letter signed Michael
Tederoff; the other was a certifi-
cate of the registry Of the death of
Alexandra. late princess Kryloff."
Wanda fell, stunned and broken
hearted, upon her divan.
Dead! dead" she cried, "and
vas not with her! And you, my ia
Their. have caused all this wretched-
ness! You are truly guilty of her
death!"
The prince frowned. I'm the
presence of DEATH" he said, 81 for
give YOU" and he left the room.
Wanda sat still, repeating over
again the one word: Dead! dead!"
At last she summoned courage to
read Federoffs letter. 1t contained
Q full account OF her mothers ter
sible death.
Az she sat there, crushed by
grief. Katia burst In upon her. and
told her that Raymond Chabert
was waiting to see her. with an
important dispatch.
"Yes.' she said, II suppose 1t is
something about my mother"
"Your mother is not dead!" ex.
claimed Chabert, almost before he
had entered the room. Here Is
letter from the doctor. and one
from the princess Also"
These words produced such a re-
action In Wanda's heart, such a re-
vulsion OF feeling. that she threw
herself, nearly fainting, into Ray.
nond's arms.
This bliss of holding this woman
10 his heart, OF feeling her lovely
lOrm in his arms, intoxicated him
With rapture; he would willingly
have shed his life.blood for that
short moment OF ectasy.
However, Wanda recovered her
self-possession in few seconds.
and then sat down to read two let.
ters.
The one from DIR. Federoff was
addressed to Raymond Chabert. II
Informed him Of the princess con.
sent to her daughters marriage,
and then went on to disclose plan
which she and Federoff had formed
% return to Russia and be near
Der daughter. AS Wanda could not
have entire possession of her moth
sr's fortune during that mothers
lifetime. they had taken advantage
Of a little trip in the mountains OF
she Overland, and Of their guides
A~n.an~ tN hpalA him -, .,u1u. ~