Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-17

could possibly recover, and for weeks we feared
for her brain. She had suffered some great
shock; though the Herr her father, would not
say what it was.
She looked at me interrogatIvelv; but had
no mind to satisfy her curiosity, though |
guessed at once what the shock must have
been, and that Anne had broken down after the
strain of that night in the forest near Peters
burg and all that had gone before it. She had
never referred to this illness; that was so like
her. ANYTHING that concerned herself, per-
sonally, she always regarded as insignificant;
but thought now that it had good deal to do
with her worn appearance.
And Herr Pendennis, where Is he!' | de-
manded next.
Il do not know; they left together. when
the frauein was at last able to travel. All, but
they are devoted to each other, those two! 1t
IS beautiful to see such affection in these days
when young people so often seem to despise
their parents"
1t was strange, very strange. The more
tried to puzzle things out the more helpless the
tangle appeared. Whv had Pendenns allowed
her to return alone to Russia, especially after
,he had come through such severe illness? OF
course he might be attached to some other
branch of the league; but it seemed unlikely
that he would allow himself to be separated
from her, when he must have known that she
would be surrounded by greater perils than
ever. decided that could say nothing to this
garruous woman, kindly though she was, or to
any other stranger. l dreaded the time when
should have to tell Mary something at least of
the truth: though even to her would never
reveal the whole of it.
THE manager came to my room presently,
bringing my money and papers, and the
miniature, which he had taken charge Of
Lucky it was for me that l had fallen into
honest hands when reached Berlin
He addressed me as Herr Gould, of course,
and was full of curiosity to know how | got
through, and if things were as bad in Warsaw as
the newspapers reported. Berlin was full OF
Russian refugees; but he had not met one from
Warsaw.
They say the Governor will issue pass
ports permitting Poles to leave the city" he
said. But you American, which makes
all the difference"
Il guess so'' ! responded, wondering how
| Loris had managed to obtain that passport,
and if it would have served to get me through
| if had started from the city instead of making
that long detour to Kutno.
l. / assured nv host that the state of affairs in
the city of terror had left was indescribable,
| and l. d rather not discuss it. managed finally
to get rid of him on the plea that felt too bad
to talk any more which drew his apologies but
| when he had gone / examined the miniature
again, more closely than ID had an opportunity
of doing since Eoris gave it to me.
1t was not recently painted / was quite sure
Of that, and vet it certainly did show her as l
had known her during these last few weeks, be-
fore Dea tfl printed that terrible change on her
L
| must be my imagination! The artist had
caught her expression at moment when she
was grave and sad; no. not exactly sad, for the
lips and eyes were smiling,-a faint, wistfu, in
scrutable smile like the smile of the Sphinx it
gazes across the desert, across the world, into
space and eternity.
As / gazed on the brave, sweet face, the
sordid misery that had enveloped my soul ever
since that awful moment when l saw her
body borne past in the square was lifted. and
knew that the last poignant agony was the end
of long path of thorns that she had trodden
unflinchingly with royal courage and endur-
ance, for weary months and years; that she was
at peace, purified by her love, by her suffering,
from all faint of earth.
7 STARTED for England next evening, and
travelled right through. l sent one wire to
i'm from Berlin and another from Flushing,
where l found a reply from him waiting me.
All well. Meeting YOU
That all well" treasured me. for, now that
| had leisure to think, my conscience told me
how badly Ihadtreatedh him and Mary It's true
that before started from London with Mishka
| wrote saying that was off on secret service
and they must not expect to hear from me for
| time but l should be all right. That was to
smooth Mary down; for knew what she was,
dear little soul, and | didn't want her to be
fretting about me. If she once got any notion
of my real destination she'd have fretted her
self into a fever; but if she hadn't guessed at
~, tr,,t, I he ali to evade TELLING her