Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1910-08-11

had returned a general of brigades.
covered with decorations.
l asked hin why be had not inform
ed me Of his recovery. He replied in
a shamefaced way that. having sent
me the bullet that killed him, he had
felt that to thatehe had not
been killed after all would have put
him in a ridiculous position before me.
He had therefore put off the announce
ment Of his continued existence from
time to time and finally had concluded
to communicate it to me in person. He
hoped that l would not think any the
less of him for not having been killed.
While / could not forbear smiling at
this absurd self abnegation, I confess
l was touched by it. l could not for
bear taking his hand, and when he
bent forward for a kiss l could not
help giving him one.
now had two lovers between whom
it was not easy for me to decide. On
the n hand. there was Gravienieff,
who permitted me to understand that
it was a great condescension on the
part Of his family to consent to min
gle its blood with mine. Indeed, con-
sidering that be came Of the Oldest
stock in Russia and l was noble only
on my mothers side, the match would
be very advantageous to me. On the
other hand was my boy soldier, who
was so anxious to honor me that he
apologized for returning alive after
having sem me as a mark of his de-
votion the bullet that was supposed to
have killed him. Never was a woman
called Upon to decide between such
extremes.
And while l was undecided, or. rath-
er. while | was unable to hurt my
young lover by turning him away for
the man it seemed best for me to mar
ry. my position was a delicate one.
When the count learned that Paul
Nevinsky was his rival he was very
much astonished. Paul had no for
tune. was Il commoner and was in
years and appearance a mere boy.
That such Il man should presume to
compete with him for the favor Of
any woman was a great blow to Ora
vienieff's vanity. That | should con-
slider Paul at all in competition with
a nobleman of his rank and wealth
somewhat diminished the counts good
opinion of me. | believe that on this
account. had he not been too proud to
give in to such an inferior person. he
would have withdrawn his proposal
for my hand.
AS for Paul. when be first learned
that he had u rival in Count Ora
vienieff all hope deserted him. II
would not truly love you" be said.
should | insist upon your bestowing
yourself on me when Il position so
much more exalted than | could give
you is in store for you
could not but contrast the self con-
fdence of the count with the modesty
Of the little general. Nevertheless /
was not so affected by this difference
between the two men as by the fact
that the n considered himself too
good for me. while the other cared
only for the honors he had won that
he might lay them at my feet.
One evening my two lovers happen
ed to call upon me at the same hour.
AS soon as the count saw the general
his brow darkened. | introduced
them. The count bowed stiffly. The
| general returned the salute with more
amiability than might have been x
perted under the circumstances. The
counts forbearance with me for keep
ing him so long in doubt broke down.
II cannot consent" he said haughti-
who. though be has distinguished him
self on the field of battle. belongs to
an entirely different class from my
own. I have offered you my heart and
hand. 1t remains for you to decide
whether you prefer to be the wife of
a noble or the wife of a commoner.
If General Nevinsky can bestow upon
you what l am able to bestow l will
resign you for your own good. If not.
let him cease to come between you
and me-"
Count" I said, II will no longer
keep you in ignorance of my decision.
l fully appreciate the substantial hon.
OiS you are dUle W UeSLOW upon Inc.
General Nevinsky has already made
me one gift which l hold in greater
esteem than the wealth I would share
with you as your countess. That gift
has won. Being called upon to choose
between you. l choose him who gave
me this"
Catching hold of a small gold chain
about my neck. l drew from under my
bodice that which was attached to IT.
q leaden bullet.
The count stood for q moment aston
ished that a bit of metal should over
balance his estates; that the little gen.
eral should have won me with a bu!:-
let. But he knew that my decision
was against him and In favor Of the
giver of the ball of lead. He with
drew haughtily. and the moment the
door was closed behind him my accept
ed sutton knelt at my feet.