The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-02-08
CHAPTER X (ConFd-).

/ wonderful SelE-pOSSeSSiOn or LIt
woman, whose life, liberty, honor
and whose all. had been by means
OF the conversation I had overheard
placed utterly at MY mercy Even
though 7 were really what she sup
posed me to be, an ordinary citizen, The
danger was no less, Tor had DuL 90
repeat what I had heard TO bring about
an investigation which could result II
only one way. Her COmpOSure was an
sOlure as we walked side by side to-
ward the house, nor did she once TeLeE
10 the subject upon which we were
both thinking so deeply she was q
shade paier tLau usual bur DeyCnu ina.
there was TO sign that anything out OF
the ordinary had occurred nor did she
manifest any evidence OF me nervous
fear which would have proSJraled most
women IN such a pred iCauIelJ-
I Neither Of US REQUIRED TO the SuDJeCl
I that was UpDeTmoSL IN our Ul1oS- ID
deed, We were silent during Ile nome no
THAI was required 10 traverse me length
Of the garden, and to pass from u int
the house where the company was as
sembled-
Bur / was conscious Of O. subtL-
change in the character OF my feelings
toward cara de ECheveTIa- The faScl-
nation that had enthralled me q little
! while back was tempered now py q
1 wholesome dread Of TINS TiOJOuSly beau
1iful creature who could see Eer Goa
given feminine attributes 20 SttalI Sucl
fGeplorable ends What had seemed 20
me TO be a creature Of utter l1EellueS5
E had now deEeDe-aIeG TO q EllHS I1lI
I was r1ouentariIy horrible, because what
/ 4 had believed 10 be all purity and al
/ perfection, had suddenly been rev ealec
/ as something that was AKIN 10 IN
/ We par-ed at the door. she TO cross
the room and Join a group OF her
guests who were clamor-nE for her
I while 7 lCiteredr with no purpose save
10 avoid comment on the apparent IacI
that the princess and laa De-il s.
Ions a time together f. the garden The
prince Joined me While stood lileE-
de was accompanied by q man Vno-n
he wished 20 introduce 10 ne
"Ah- DUbravuilz-" ne said u ma Ne
been looking everywhere FOR YOU
Didn't know but YOU had gone. ihts
is nv friend. Alexis DUru-et- You "
each heard heard me talk about me
other 50 YOU should he good FRIENDS
/ Capt Alexis DuTuief2' asked
shaking hands with him
THE same he repllet- JUST
turned from one of the far posts IN
/ Siberia and 7 am very SAD 10 ne
back here again I haven Z had an
/ YOU kept her in the garden so long
/ 7 thought that he gave me a sig
EifiCaur glance as he made L-a -al --l-
iuc remark. but as the princess her
/ self Joined us at that moment, DID
not give Il a second thought He EaF
her his arm, and they went away to-
Eether- leaving the prince and my
Z think, If YOU do not mind I VIII
90 7 said The house Of Princess
cara had suddenly become hateful 20
iwhat. At this bour-7 Why
/ Prince Michael was amazed
! oh there IS no reason, other than
that I feel Ike IL. / told him. ShEuE--
EiuE my shoulders and trying 10 look
Then stay Some OF the best people
are not here yet or Old your nan
hour I'm the garden upset you, Dub
4 T. L. r-rH
as he asked the question but IL had
a hollow sound. nevertheless
/ Not at all" I assured him
q can assure you that i IS an hon
or which the princess Confers upon
very few of her friends and never
on new acquaintance Y on are the
only exception have ever known
.Tndeed2 We met in the garden by
accident. and in reality were together
/ not more than two mInutes-tle time
il takes to walk the length Of IT, so
DO not feel as greatly hOnoTeu as
might have done II she had gone
I there with me and had given me al.
7 did not have an opportunity. for
YOU never asked me TO do So, salC
the soft tones Of the princess immedl-
arsIy behind me- and as turned she
added but these rooms are sUrOcaI-
Ing. so II you viii give me your arm
now, Ar -Du braEDIE we viii lead the
way, anG perhaps the others viii fol
onCllE for an opportunity 20 smoke
( '-DGb-4vnik was on the point Of leav
ing US. the prince called after her
/ Perhaps you can persuade him 20 change
his mind"
Were you coutsmpIa suicide
Nr. TGb-aVuik2- she asked laughing
but here vas an undcrCurren- Of gray
ity in her question which was deeply
=Someih.uE very Ike it. I replied. a,
zravely. since 7 was about TO leave
your presence"
'-Supposfn- you 10 be serious'--and
felt THAI her hand UnconscIousIy
frightened lis clasp upon my arm as
we moved away-''Would II not be bet
ter for me to do the deed than fol
I am afraid that the suppozition Il
7 altogether too foreign TO my nature fOl
me 10 entertain il. princess"
We had entered the garden, and Z
I throng Of guests were troOpinE afte1
us I glanced down at my companion
and saw that she was regarding ms
rather anxiously through her lashes.
Suicide IS the oEfy solution for al
problems at once she said
Pardon me, it is the solution fo-
only one2 What is thater'
"Rut there NAV he circumstance,
? where il offers the only means of IS
cape from an alternative that is in
finitelv worse Nr- Dubravnik-' ",
]
little side paths and 7 drew her into ir
noticing that there was Just a sugses
ton Of resistance from my Compa MOI
when I did So but Il was only Tor az
instant Then, as I paused abruptE
underneath one Of the green shade,
/ globes. she added, as though she knew
| that 7 perfectly understood her ''
have reaIIy been considering the subjec
quite seriously
I looked down at her. The green hui
Of the light above US seemed 10 hav
transformed her into spirit It ma,
changed the color Of her dress. Of he
hair, and II had touched her cheeks a
with magic wand which sOftened anJ
: heightened every feature Instead O
Transforming her into something tha
she was not I was convinced that !
brought ner back from what she va
= not to what she really vas At al
events Z realized that she was - dead
/ " earnest.
In that moment 7 felt again all tn,
spell or this wOman's charm as shj
b stood before me. beneath the glow o
that shaded light, looking up into NIX
face with serious concern. with ne
( fun, 1.-THE. graceful body pUlsinE witt
life 50 close to mine while she talkeC