El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-06-10
The Test OfLOUe

I LLAeQ Win Gay 4LlG-- ---1h--A5
~ crowds though it is already late
| Charles de Melville was the only one
who did not seem TO care to take part
in the rsiety, despite the fact that his
love foe the beautiful princess Marina
! Serge 5cff was returned by her
1t was barely two weeks since he
Z had met her the first time. At tAe
I exceedingly youthful age Of is she had
! been married to prince Sergejeff and
I was one of the most famous beauties
Z i'm Europe. Charles de NeuFlle had
. never met the prince either In Paris
Z or Nice. He only knew that at present
prince SereEeJeff was supposed TO be
I living on his estates In Russia and
Z that during his absence the princess
had granted him a rendezvous at her
Charles walked through the garden
7 and cl tered the princess apartments
on the ground floor where Mariana
had PROMISED to wait for him 1t was
the first time he had seen this room
and he was surprised at the luxurious
oriental rugs and curtains and the
priceless works Of art On one wall
was q life size painting OF a man OF
about 40. a giant with a fierce nous
taChe md the body OF a trained ath-
lete, the imrense strength Of the man
9 being evident even IN spite or the dark
green Russian uniform The eyes were
peculiarly fascinating in their mixture
/ Of kindness and sternness. A man
Z among a thousand
Charles was in no doubt that this
was a picture Of the prince, and, con
{ ceiued though he was, he had 10 admit
TO his handsome self that most women
I would not have a single glance for
him in the presence Of the prince.
| Princess Mariana saw the impression
{ the portrait made on her visitor with
! a smile.
~He looks rather fierce. does he
nOt? she said And as IL she had
guessed her visitors thoughts she adj
ded- we are quite safe here. ] have
I sent all the servants TO the carnival
{ Charles felt vlsibly relieved KneeI-
ing down before the princess he whis-
1 pered passi0narely- Il love YOU 7
adore you If you were 20 tell me you
I would come with me, / would leave
I everything for your sake. If you asked
me 10 kill your husband, I would do it.
II you asked for my own life, I would
lay it down for you"
Z She interrupted him
w Women alone understand how to
NO. no." he cried. 'I would bring
I any sacrifice for your sake" He threw
I his arms about her and kissed her. She
/ pushed him gently away, put her
finger on her lip and whispered
[ somebody IS coming through the gar
( dem at the same time she switched
off the light Both strained their ears
[ to catch the slightest sound
I suddenly there was noise as II
somebody were cautiously inserting q
] a
The servants are coming back soon
er than expected" said Mariana They
I are locking up the house. but nobody
! has seen you But we had better go
/ TO my apartments on the floor above
I Perhaps / had better leave" be sug-
gested- we viii not be able TO talk
Z any more anyway He went 20 the
4 window TO open 1t and get out into
: the garden but found the shutters OUT
{ side closed tightly
10y husband has given orders that
all shutters must be locked every
. night" Mariana szsu.
How VIII get away theug'
/ Come TO my rooms There is
strong vine on q lattice work down
1 the outside wall"
They went TO the door. but found it
I locked from without.
I'VE are lost" she cried None OF
the servants has done that Somebody
mas $40 locked US up here on purpose"
"SiIencef" she whispered. Perhaps
somebody is listening outside the
She drew him away from the door
and after a moment OF dreadful sus-
pense the key was turned quickly, the
door was opened and a tall man en-
Z tered At the first glance Charles
I recognized the prince.
The prince however. did not seem to
I notice him at all but stared at his
VIE and spoke few sentences in
I Russian Mariana threw herself down
[ before him and uttered a few broken
l words, but he turned on his heel ana
[ left the room locking the door behind
( him
What did he say? What does he
Z intend 10 doe" cried Charles in an
! agony Of suspense.
He says he must have either your
selves. In five minutes he viii return
/ TO Kill one Of us. You understand
[ either you or I"
Charles heart seemed to stop beat
ing but he made an effort TO appear
But we are not in Russia" he said.
( we are not at his mercy here IN
/ France, whose laws protect Us He
] viii not dare kill any OF US He only
{ wants to scare US"
/ She shook her head sadly
I You do not know him, she said
! He viii dare anything in his present
/ mood. he once had one Of his servants
{ knOuted TO DEATH because he dared
/ contradict him.
Charles tore up. and down the floor
Z ike Gagged beast
Then We must defene ourselves. We
I must cry for help"
/ Defend ourselves With whatt
/ There is nobody in the house but our
! selves"
/ Then we mus try to burst the
/ shutters to set away
/ He threw his whole weight against
Z the heavy shutters, but in vain.
You or J." said Mariana
| y" he cried furiOusly You, you
alone are to blame for this EOu knew
I the risks you exposed me 10 when you
l asked me TO come here You euticed
/ me into this trap"
As If you had not begged me a thou
/ sand times Then you do not love me,
GU love only my riches.
And you What do you love, my
, youth, my passionate temperament
II set everything aside because 1
I loved you"
And YOU expect me to believe you.
j am probably not the first one"
I She sat on the divan looking at him
{ with an expression of the deepest con-
/ tempt while he ran around looking for
I a hiding place.
The door was opened once more and
Z SergeJeff entered with a revolver in
I his hand.
Who is to be2' he asked quietly.
Charles hid himself behind Mariana
spare me-" he cried. Il am inuO-
/ cent did not know she had a hus-
band Your Highness. / shall never
I look at her again"
At this moment the princess arose
and raised her hand
That is enough" she said