The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1910-08-26
lContinuedl

tCOntlnueQ)
'1f you indeed speak seriously,
sire, 1 can have but one reply"
Stanief said. Forgive me for the
doubt"
"Since I have taught you it, why
not? But the farce Is over, the
game closed. Dalmorov, pray at
f.; tend; possibly you also may be in
terested in the explanation that my
| cousin asks" For the first time
his glance went that way. "At least
you best can understand why this
game has been played. If a cruel
one, why, our race is not gentle nor
reared intenderness. Or to truth,
remember that: your mother was
an Englishwoman. l give what !
have received; you alone ever gave
or asked of me frankness. Take 1t
now, If long delayed"
He paused, his lashes fell as II
his gaze went back and within. No
one moved or spoke as the fire
mounted visibly through his calm
shriveling his trained composure
and beating against his self control
Il love you, my cousin" he said
the quietness forced on his voice
leaving it almost monotonous. 81
J loved you long ago in my lonely
childhood, WIN your rare visits
came like sunny flashes across my
dreariness and l used to stand al
my window to watch you ride by
each day. had no other affections
to distract me; / loved you still
however unwillingly, when l went
at night to the Nadeja three years
ago. But you asked me to trust
you, and my training had left me
no trust to give. Not that did MOI
want to trust you, for did want te
give that with longing you scarce
ly can understand but l could not
then. Look back to then, Feodor, fol
the commencement of the game
ended now. Loving you, distressing
all alike, listened to you when yol
were with me and listened to YOU
enemies when you were not, striv
ing to reach the fact beneath in the
only method have seen practiced
There could not have been a more
unequal battle, yet at the end of tn.
first year you had won. You ant
Allard had convinced me that there
did exist men different from ny
world. The vista widened for me-
caught glimpse of a golden ag,
within the one I so despised, tn,
ancient breath of chivalry claimed
life beside me. So the second yea
opened. The second year" agail
the cold glance swept Dalmorov
"How did you employ the secon'
year, baron?"
"Sire-'
With shrug Adrian turned from
him; this time his eyes met hi
cousins and held them.
Il have not been happy, Feodor,
he resumed. the control not quite s.
perfect. For one clean word O
yours, a thousand poisonou
speeches were poured into my ears
never a single action of yours es
capped being shown to be as hidin
some sinister motive. When yo
brought order out of the chaoti
country, they explained that 70
: prepared your own empire; whe
you paid me your grave Difference
they told me it was used to lull
fretful child until he could be re
moved. When you spoke of the da
you would yield the sovereignty t
me, they laughed. You guesse
some Of this? All Of it you coul
not conceive. their incredible niger
uity Of falsehood and false witnes.
And hate them as would, a little 9
the venom chung. When the BIZ
ginning of the third year arrived.
stood alone and surveyed It all
older at sixteen, cousin. than 20
will ever be. On one side lay tn
reeking swamp they made of life
on the other the firm white roa