Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1914-10-23

haste. II you are 20 BE- q diplomat you
must get rid OF that American trait"
A couple Of weeks passed. Olga
Ivanovna showed no disposition 20 part
With her visitor. nor aid he care espo
eiaily 70 return 70 the city. There were
no intricate questions between the
United States and Russia to render his
attendance on his chief necessary. and
be was not recalled. He occupied his
time during the day In studying the
Russian people under the guidance Of
his fair hostess. and the evenings did
not seem long enough. since he In
variably spent them In her company.
II Wyman thought OF what might
come Of this association It certainly
did not occur 70 him that a family
whose nobility might be traced back
for centuries, which was In high favor
with the car. would consent to admit
a commoneF like himself into its charm
ed circle By giving him one OF It's mem
bers to wife. Nor did be suspect that
Olga Ivanovna would stoop 20 ally her
self with him. He was happy, and he
was young. and young persons are not
given 10 looking to a point where their
happiness may come % an end.
One evening Olga showed a well de
hned symptom that the little god had
claimed her as one Of It's victims. He
parting withtha American was accom-
panied by an intensity OF feeling 1ot
before definitely displayed Wyman
went TO his rooms wondering. Could
Il be that yielding to love, this high
born beauty would surrender to an I'M
htied man from the other SIDE OF the
giobei
The next morning Olga told her guest
that there was to be q singular eere-
mony in the line Of what she had
promised him. He was delighted.
Olga would take part In IT, Would he
like to DO the samel Certainly. What
wes II hke1 There would Do racing.
She would be dressed in running COS
tune. II he intended TO take part he
would better dress for the same pur-
pose. Capitall He had been a Splinter
IN school and afterward in college. he
had several cups at home he had won
on the cipder path.
An hour later Olga appeared attired
In q dress the skirt Of which came
only 10 the kneea Wyman had no
spFinting costume with him. 80 he ap-
penred simply in a pair OF white dan
mel tr0uAerB and shirt Thus arrnyed,
the two Sprang into q phaeton which
stood at the door. and Olga drove to
a Geld on which was a crowd Of PEG
pie. At One end Of the open space was
q tent olgn drove 10 a point near
the canvas. and both she and her
guest Alighted. Olga went into the
tent for a few moments, where she
Invested herself OF her Jacket and
came out ready for q run.
Wyman saw no n else prepared
for racing and noticed that be and
Olga seemed TO be the center Of at
traction While be was wondering
what It all meant. Olga. who had
walked a short distance from him,
turned. beckoned to him and then
darted away over the neld.
Wyman ran after her. There was
the same excitement the same cheers.
the same shouts. as when he had won
cups In America. He was surprised to
see that Olga was running very swift
~. Gallantry at 6rst caused him to
moderate his pace, but It was not long
before be realized that II be was to
catch her he must do his best
The space to be travelled was 200
yards. and to win Wyman must catch
the fugitive before reaching a goal at
the other end OF the field. he was at
FIRST 30 dilatory that when Olga had
made half the distance Il seemed be
would lose. And so he would have
lost had not Olga in the next quarter
slowed her pace. Within a hundred
yards OF the goal she ran so slowly
that Wyman had no dimculty in catch
ing her. He put his hand on her
shoulder. and she fell back into his
arms amid q vOciferOus approval OF
the onlookers.
Having recovered her breath, she
slipped her arm through his. and they
walked back together to tho starting
point Out OF the tent came a priest
and advanced toward them. Olga rails
ed her hand in protest
"Eo. no. father. This "a not a real
wedding. This gentleman wished to
see some Of our customs. and I
thought ! had best show him one OF
u wedding ceremonies and arrange
that be should be a part Of It, but your
services win not be required"
Wyman stood looking ut the speak
eF wonderingly. The excitement Of the
chase was upon him. Moreover, a de-
hghtful suspicion flashed In his mind
that there was something more in this
ceremony than to show him a custom
OF the country.
As for the crowd. It showed signs
OF dissent. There were cries Of "a
wedding. a weddingF' But the count
ess. who was much beloved by the
people. stilled them.
"For my part" said Wyman. looking
at Olga with eyes that expressed far
more than his words implied, II think
the people are right We should not
disapDoint them"