Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-07-08
DAILY SHORT STORIES

Was / glad or sorry?
/ don't know. l only know that
hurried down stairs. There stood the
young soldier. his checks, which had
been round, now hollow, his complexion
n pale yellow, his eyes sunken in his
head. i wished 10 be taken into his
arms that my heart might beat against
his. But | controlled myself. l showed
my delight at receiving him back from
the dead, but gave no indications that
II was from love. Gravienicff was
splendid match, and ] was by no
means ready to permit this condition
of sentiment to interfere with my talk
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 he served and
mad returned n general OF brigades,
covered with decorations
1 asked him why he had not inform
ed me of his recovery. He replied I'm
shamefaced way that, having sent
me the bullet that killed Linn, he had
felt that to announce that he had not
been killed after all would have put
him In 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 I'm person He
hoped that L would not think any the
less OF him for not having been killed.
While 1 could not forbear smiling at
this absurd self abnegation. | confess
/ was touched by it. could not for
bear 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
1t 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 Advantageouspo 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 us a mark of his de-
votion the bullet that was supposed to
have killed him. Never was woman
| called upon to decide between such
extremes.
And while 1 was undecided, or, rath-
er, while l 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 n delicate one
When the count learned that Paul
Nevinsky was his rival he was very
much astonished. Paul had no for
tune, was a commoner and was in
years and appearance a mere boy.
That such man should presume to
compete with him for the favor of
any woman was n great blow to Ora
vienieff's vanity. That / should con
slider Paul at all I'm 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 he first learned
| that he had rival in Count Ora
\ vlenieff all hope deserted him. 81
would not truly love YOU" he said,
should / insist upon your bestowing
| yourself on me when a position so
much more exalted than / could give
I you IS I'm store for you"
| / could not but contrast the self con
/ 6dence 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 one considered himself too
good for me, while the other cared
| only for the honors he had won that
he might lay them Mt my feet.
One evening my two lovers happen
Cd TO call upon me at the same hour.
As soon as the count saw the general
| his brow darkcned. introduced
them. The count bowed stimy. The
general returned the salute with more
amiability than might have been cx-
I pccted under the circumstances. The
counts fOrbearance with me for keep
ing him so long in doubt broke down.
II cannot consent" he SAID haughti-
ly, "tO be placed I'm rivalry with one
who though he has distinguished him
self on the field Of battle. belongs to
an entirely different class frCr my
own ! have offered YOU my heart and
hand. j. remains for you TO decide
whether you prefer TO be the wife Of
noble or the wife OF commouer
/ II General Ncvinsky can bcstow upon
you what ] am able 10 bcstow / VIII
resign YOU for your own good IF not
Jet him cease 30 come between you
and me-"
Count" I said. az will no longer
keep YOU in ignorance Of my decision
I fully appreciate the substantial hon
Ors YOU arc able 90 bcstow upon me.
General Ncvinsky has already made
mo one Gift which I hold Ga ,,r.4f,~