Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-10

we'll, and | thank you. One last service you
shall do, if you are fit for it. You shall ride
with us tonight when we take her away.
Mishka has told you of the arrangements?
That is.well. If we get through. you will not
return here. That is why l,have sent for you
now" -l.-"
mot return?" repeated 1t
NO." he answered quietly. but decisive1y.
command you to do so; not because do not
value you but becauSe-She would have wished
it. Wait, hear me outl You have done noble
service in cause that can mean nothing to
you, except"
Except that it is cause that the lady
served lived-and died-for, Sir" interrupted.
More than once before l had spoken of her
to him as the woman we both loved: but now
the other words seemed httest; for not half an
hour back had learned the truth which, think,
l had known all along, that she who lay in her
coffin in the great drawing room yonder was, if
her rights had been acknowledged, Grand
Duchess Anne of Russia. 1t was Vassilitzi who
told me.
They were married months ago in Paris.
before she went to England" he had said, and
for moment bitter wave of memory swept
over me, though l fought against it. Hadn' t
decided long since that the Queen could do no
wrong1 And therefore the deception she had
practised counted for nothing. All that really
mattered was that loved her in spite of all
asked nothing more than to be allowed to serve
her.
You served her under de1usion," Loris
rejoined with stern sadness. And now it is no
longer possible for you to serve her even So.
cannot discuss the matter with you. / cannot
explain it would not if l could. Only this
repeat. request, command, you to make your
way out of this country soon possible and
rejoin your friends in England, America,
where you will. 1t may mean more to you than
you dare hope or imagine. You will have some
difficulty probably, though some of the trains
are running again now. | think your safest
plan will be to ride to Kutno, or if necessary
even to Alexandrovo. Here IS passport, per-
hitting you to leave Russia. 1t is made out in
the name you assumed when you returned as
order. And must ask you, for the sake of our
friendship, to accept these he took a roll of
notes out of the drawer of the writing table,
" and, memento, this. 1t IS the only deco
ration | am able to confer on a most ch1val-
rouS gentleman"
He held out a little case, open, and took it
with an unsteady hand. 1t contained minia-
ture of Anne, set in rim of diamonds. ]
looked at it and at him; but | could not speak
my heart was too full.
understand each other well, you and l." he
continued, rising and placing his hands on my
shoulders. You will do as / wish, as / entreat
insist"
Il would rather remain with you," urged,
/" and fight on, for the cause"
He shook his head. :" 1t is lost cause; or at
least it will never be won by US. The mani
festo, the charter of peacel What is it? A
dead letter. Nicolas issued it indeed; but his
ministers ignore it, and therefore he is helpless
his charter futile, and the reign of terror con-
tinues, will continue. Therefore l bid you 60
and you must obey. So this is our parting
for, though we shall meet we shall be alone to-
gether no more. Therefore, God be with you
my friendi"
WHEN next saw him he stood with drawn
sword, stern and stately, foremost among
the guard of honor round the catafalque in the
great drawing room, where all that remained of
the woman we both loved lay in state, ere it
Jared forth on its last journey.
The old house was full of subdued sounds
for,'as soon as darkness fell, by ones and twos
men and women were silently admitted and
passed as silently up the staircase to pay their
last homage to their martyr.
Nearly all of them had flowers in their
hands, red flowers, sometimes only single
spray, but always those fatal geranium bios
SONS that were the symbol of the league.
They laid them on the white pail, or scattered
them on the folds that swept the ground, till
the coffin seemed raised above a sea of blood.
Every detail of that scene is photographed
on my memory,-the great room, hung with
black draperies and brilliantly lighted by a
multitude of tall wax candles; the air heavy
with incense and the musky odor of the flowers
the two priests in gorgeous vestments who