The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1911-04-11


pulling him toward a dangerous ca
reer. the other endeavoring to keep
him out of the strife that we all saw
coming. he was fred by Annals ideas.
while Llsa's restraining influence was
not In accordance with his ardent ma
ture.
That there was strife of another
kind between these two girls | did not
doubt. 1t seemed to me that on the
one hand the resolute Anna would pos
sess Nicholas If she was obliged to
wreck her life In order TO get him, and
1t seemed that If the gentle Lisa did
not get him she would herself be
wrecked. Not one word concerning
these things was spoken. There was
underneath our intercourse a current
running deep and swift that was
scarcely noticeable on the surface.
think was the only one cognizant Of
it. and even did not realize its
strength
Finally our little group was broken
up by Nicholas and going to the cap
ital. to practice law, Nicholas ostensi-
bly, to do the same, but since he was
possessed OF good income there was
no necessity for him to labor. Great
was my surprise when he told me on
our way to st. Petersburg that he was
engaged TO Lisa. l was pleased to hear
the news, for. as have said. sympa-
thized with Lisa in this struggle be-
tween the two girls. But somehow
did not think Anna girl to give up a
lover to one who. considering her own
dominating nature. must have seemed
greatly her inferior. Now that the sub
Ject was an open one between US l In
timated this to Nicholas. His reply
was characteristic of him:
II know nothing Of the rivalries
among women and care less. A mans
heart is independent of his relations
with any woman. love Lisa. Anna
is companionable with me in an intel
lectual way"
But does not Lisa fear her influence
over your
"She does. She distrusts Anna. But
one cannot expect that either Of two
rivals will do the other justice"
These few words furnished me with
food for thought during the rest Of the
journey. | have noticed that the good
women of the world are apt to be cor
rect in their Judgment of the bad ones.
1t struck me that Lisa was endeavor-
ing to protect the man she. loved
against an evil influence. But with a
mans logical mind asked why should
an influence drawing him to take up
the cause of downtrodden people be
bad? And here Is where mans judg-
ment is often mistaken when wo-
mans is right He attacks a question
with logic which is failible She at
tacks 1t with instinct which is fnfalli-
BILE.
We hadn't been long in st. Peters
burg when l learned that Anna was
there. What she had come for | did
not know, but believed she had come
because Nicholas was there. ] saw
her name among those present on sew
eral occasions at court DalIs ana heard
that she was quite prominent among
the beauties of the capital. l often
met Nicholas and without directly
questioning him gave him every OPP
portunity to tell me II he saw her
often and what was going on between
them, yet he never would talk about
her.
But one day he sent for me. l went
70 Inn or nd
much agitated.
whats the matterr' l asked anx.
iously.
You have heard the adage, Hell
hath no fury like woman scornedY
"Well?"
Il have resolutely refused to make
love to Anna. 1t is one Of those sin
gular cases that | cannot understand
Her love has turned to hate"
How can she harm your
'She can send me to Siberia"
surely she will not do thatP'
Il think not. fear not for myself
but for some one else"
"Who?"
Lisa"
"Great heavensr
TT is a question which a woman
scorned hates the more-the man Oh
the rival who has taken him from
her."
But how can Anna harm LisaT
THAT | don't know. only hops
that IL she harms her at all it Will bG
through me. It would be some salts
faction for me to suffer for my owl
fault In not listening TO Lisa's warn
ings. If one hair of Lisa's head shoult
be harmed directly should go mad"
said all could to comfort him, bu
In the situation there was no comfort
There had been great revolution IL
his mind with reference to Anna.
could see that while before be had ha(
confidence In her and had admired he