The Whitefish pilot. [volume] (Whitefish, Mont.) 1904-current, 1910-09-22

gearing the name OF Paul NevinSky
Was ! glad or sorry?
oont know. ! only know that
hurried down stairs. There stood thu
young soldier. his cheeks, which haC
been round. now hollow. his complexion
pale yellow. his eyes sunken in bis
mead. | wished to be taken into bis
arms that my heart might beat against
MIS- But ! controlled myself. / showed
my delight ut receiving him back from
the dead. but gave no indications that
1t was from love. Gravieniefr was q
splendid match. and was BY nc
means ready to permit this condition
OF sentiment 10 interfere with nv TAX.
ing advantage Of what it would bring
me.
| This was Paul's story:
He had disappointed the surgeons BY
recovering from his wound and far
more quickly than could have been an.
ticipated. He had taken part in the
subsequent battles of the war fought
by the army with which be served and
mao returned general of brigades.
covered with decorations.
asked him why he had not inform.
cd the OF his recovery. He replied in
q shamefaced way that. having sent
me the bullet that killed him. he had
felt that to announce that he had not
been killed after all would have put
MIN III a ridiculous position before me.
He had therefore put Off the announce.
iO,,N
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, confess
! was touched by it. | could not for
pear taking his hand, and when he
bent forward for kiss | could not
help giving him one
| now had two lovers between whom
1t was not easy for me to decide. On
the one hand, there was Gravienieff,
who permitted me to understand that
it was great condescension on the
part OF his family to consent to min
gle its blood with mine. Indeed, con-
sidering that he came of the Oldest
stock in Russia and | 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 sent me rs 4 mark of his de-
votion the bullet that was supposed t.
have killed him. Never was woman
called upon to decide between such
extremes.
And while was undecided. or. rath-
er, while ! was unable to hurt tiny
young lover by turning him away for
the man 1t seemed best for me to mar.
~, my position was 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 mere boy.
That such man should presume to
compete with him for the favor of
any woman was great blow to Ora
vienieff's vanity. That ! should con-
slider Paul ut 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 propose!
for my hand
AS tor Paul, when he first learned
that he had rival In Count Ora
vienieff all hope deserted him. II
would not truly love YOU" he said,
should insist upon your bestowing
yourself on me when position so
much more exalted than l could give
You Is In store for YOU
| could not but contrast the self con-
fidence Of the count with the n,odesty
of the little general. Nevertheless |
was not so affected by this difference
between TIE two men as by the fact
that the one considered himself too
good for me, while the other cnred
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.
u
his brow darkened introduced
them. The count bowed stiffly. The
general returned the salute with more
amiability than might have been ex-
pected under the circumstances. The
counts forbearance with me for keep
ing him SO long in doubt broke down.
Il cannot consent" he said haughti-
~. ITO be placed in rivalry with one
who, though he has distinguished him.
self on the field Of battle, belongs to
an entirely different class from my
own. 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.
II General Nevinsky can bestow upon
you what ! am able to bestow l will
resign you for your own good. If not.
let him cease to come between you
and me-"