Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1911-04-29
CHAPTER xxxIII.-continued.

She nodded Yes Debauchee,
rake, monster, degenerate, product of
that aristocracy which had oppressed
us, was obliged to marry him,
man three times my age! 1 pleaded.
I begged. I was taken away by night.
/ waSI was They say l was mar
ried to him. For myself, 1 did not
know where 1 was or what happened.
But after that they said 1 was the
wife of this man, a sot monster, the
memory only of manhood. Now, in
deed, the revenge of the aristocracy
was completed"
She went on at last in a voice icy
cold. 81 fed one night, back to Hun
gary. For month they could not find
me. 1 was still young. I saw my
people then IS 1 had not before.
saw also the monarchies of Europe.
All, now I knew what oppression
meant Now 1 knew what class dis
tinction and special privileges meanti
l saw what ruin it was spelling for
our country-what it will spell for
your country, if they ever come to
rule here. All, then that dream came
to me which had come to my father,
that beautiful dream which justified
me in everything / did. My friend,
can it-can it in part justify me
now?
For the first time, then, 1 resolved
to livei l have loved my father ever
since that time. 1 pledged myself to
continue that work which he had I'M
dertaken! 1 pledged myself to better
the condition of humanity if l might
There was no hope for me. 1 was
condemned and ruined as it was. My
20
l resolved to give to-what shall we
call it?-the idee democratique
Now, may God rest my mothers
soul. and mine also, so that some time
1 may see her in another world
pray 1 may be good enough for that
some time. l have not been sweet
and sinless as was my mother Fate
laid heavier burden upon me- But
what remained with me throughout
was the idea which my father had be-
Queathed me-
"Ah, but also that beauty and sweet
ness and loyalty which came to you
from your mother" insisted
She shook her head. Waltz she
said. Now they pursued me as
though l had been a criminal, and
they took me back-horsemen about
me who did as they liked. 1 was, 1
say, sacrifice. News of this came to
that man who was my husband He
had not the courage of the mobiles left.
But he heard of one nobleman against
whom he had a special grudge, and
him one night, foully and unfairly, he
murdered.
News of that came to the emperor.
My husband was tried, and, the case
being well known to the public it was
necessary to convict him for the sake
of example. Then, on the day set for
his beheading, the emperor reprieyed
him. The hour for the execution
passed, and, being now free for the
time, he fed the country. He went to
Africa, and there he so disgraced the
state that bore him that of late times
I hear he has been sent for to come
back to Austria. Even yet the en-
peror may suspend the reprieve and
send him to the block for his ancient
crime. If he had thousand heads
he could not atone for the worse
crimes he has done,
But of him and of his end 1 know
nothing. So, now, you see was and
am wed, and yet am not wed. and
never was. 1 do not know what / am.
you who 1 am or what 1 am, because
myself do not know
1T was no longer safe for me in
my own country They would not let
me go to my father any more As
for him, he went on with his studies,
some part of his mind being bright
and clear. They did not wish him
about the court now All these mat