West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1914-01-01
A VICTIM OF
NIHlllsIS
Strange Happening at a
Luncheon In Paris.

Az secretary IN handsomely fur
nishcd house In Paris sat young girl
making memoranda. Near her stood
young man. Ills look was serious. even
melancholy.
$50 the prince" he said, rs to be
your fathers guest at luncheon"
"les. and as | am papa'S major
dbmo. woman OF all work or what you
like 10 cali IL. the preparation all falls
on me-"
How came this honor"
"Oh. papa was In Russia two years
ago and while there got wind OF plot
t. Kill the czar. lie went with the in
formation TO the prince. who was then
chief OF police. The plottcrs were ar
rested, some of them executed. Others
sent TO Siberia
While she spoke the young man lis
tened eagerly and when she finished
muttered TO himself, "Now I under.
stand why this is 90 bc done and why
NJ Portier's life Is not Ia Ice considered
any more than that Of the prince"
Mile. PORTER" he asked. 'is this
luncheon To be private onc--no one
present except the prince and your IN.
ther?"
THAT is my understanding"
"Will You permit me To help you with
your preparntlonsT'
"Ccrtninly. VIII you buy the fruits,
the ices. or 20 to the butcher's2"
"lf you Will leave the fruit TO me 1
VIII sec that dish containing the rar.
est I'm the market shall be on the table"
Very well You may attend To
that" And she entered on her memo
rnda. Fruit to be bought by Ivan
kerchoff." Then. rising. she said, Now
j must bc on"
Mile. Elise"
"Wen?"
IL am not feeling very well.
Something tells ne that some misfor-
tune hangs over me-"
Poor fellowl Don't feel that way.
When we are not well we take the
blucst view OF things. It's the liver"
81 hope YOU will understand what
am going TO say TO you. wish you 10
know that whatever happens ! would
lay down my life for you."
For mcf"
Yes: for YOU"
"Oh. that's figure OF speech"
III moan il. Circumstances may arise
which will force me To prove or dis
prove It,"
was r6O~ ,iTi.c ~ = pa uoctcs--
pied with her preparations tO notice
the aGouized look on the young mans
face. 4 Russian who had made her ac-
quaintance ut soirec given by mu-
fttu f,.sa 4.
had seen much of her and though she
only suspected II. wOrshiped her. At
quarter to he returned To the house.
called for Mile PORTER and handed
her n dish OF fruit that had been ar
ranged at the fruiterer's. on the apex
of pyramid was huge orange
'TIow tastefully got up remarked
the girl. II thank you ever so much"
"Place Il on The table Just as II Is"
~ Will" And. calling servant. she
gave the order.
"Where are YOU going TO be. made /
molsclle during the luncheonT"
"Oh. shall remain where 7 can give |
orders TO the servants. Perhaps after .
the discussion Is over papa will call
for me to go In and be introduced TO
the prince"
The young man paled.
Come" she added. "you must bc :
going have too much 10 do TO en- /
fertain yOu"
"Elise" said Ivan. IL was the FIRST d
ume he had addressed her except with
tbe prefix mndemoiselle: besides. there /
was something akin 20 despair I'm his I
Yolce. She waited for him 10 go ON. |
With an effort he controlled himself
"If you Will permit me 7 Will remain !
here tin after the luncheon. I wish 20
get glimpse Of the prince"
Certainly. II you wish II. Perhaps
papn may have an opportunity TO In /
troducc yOu TO our fellow cOuntryman." |
The prime arrived and was ushercd
by M poFtier into the dining room.
Kcrchon walked back ana forth I'm the
hall. from time 10 time looking at his
watch lie was very pale and there
was look Of horror Ia his eye. This
he partly controlled whenever Elise
cnue near him.
where is Nile PortierT" be asked /
after missing her for some time.
"ln the dining room with the prince !
and her father"
The yonug man groaned lie stood T.
With bis cycs Gxed on his watch. wait
ing. watching listening for the girl to
appear. Then as the hands Of the time
biccc pointed 20 twenty-five minutes
iftcr I he went 10 the dining room
door opened H. hurried to the table.
naized the ornnge on the fruit dish and
plucked n fuse from II. which he inn
mcrsed in finger bowl filed with wa
icr Those sitting at the table looked
70 him boo silent wonder
"MademoiscIlo' he said 10 Elise. Z
told you that ! would die fOr you I
have proved my words. I am n nihi-
list and have been ordered by my chief
here in Paris 10 use this opportunity tp
Kill the prince and your father ms we'll
Your coming ln here Is my death wal
rant Messleurs. call for the police. I
shall either die by the law or by the
society"
Br thc luterpositiou Of Elise PORTER
not word of the affair was spoken
fond the three persons present Ker-
tt6 walked ont Of tbe house unmO
tested but y week later he died by the
bands 0f the nlhlists.