The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-07-20

pocket.
The news soon leaked out. Colonel
Repoyitch was placed on trial Even
then nobody suspected me. except the
colonel. He knew-and he would not
betray me. Instead, he simply sent me
a message, by a trusted orderly, to
leave the country.
Il went to Vienna, where l learned
he had been condemned to death as q
spy and was to be shot as soon as the
car confirmed the sentence. Why did
I place my head within the lions Jaws
again?
Il went back to Serbia because !
loved him, and felt that this treach.
cry, which had taken mans life away,
had awakened something that had
slumbered within me against my
knowledge. I went back to confess
but first must see Colonel Repovitch.
II reached Krujevatz-you know how
these journeys can be arranged even
in time Of war. The colonel had not
been put to death. but the cars order
was expected hourly. BY means Of my
infuence-for he had not denounced
mel managed to secure an interview
with him In his cell.
when he saw me his face seemed
to light up. In that hour Of imminent
death the husk Of the man had fallen
away, revealing only the goodness Of
the spirit. He took my hands in his
and babe me sit down.
TELL me how you came to do It,
he said. as II he had been q father
speaking to . child.
Il burst into tears. Something hard
In me melted also. and confessed ev.
erything. told him OF my fathers
occupation and his death; how had
come to take up the work Of espion-
age; there was nothing that did not
reveal. When / had ended speaking
he said, gently:
AT least my death viii not have
been in vain IL / have saved Russia the
services Of one OF her enemies most
trusted agents.
Then he spoke solemnly, because
the time was very short and the war.
den was growing impatient.
Il told you that loved you, Vera,
he said. II had no suspicion Of your
occupation. When I discovered that
you had forced the safe I felt that
death would have been preferable to
the knowledge Of the dishonor Of the
one woman whom I had loved and be-
lieved in. You took away my faith.
Can you give It back to me3'
Eyes. would IL II we've possible,
] answered, weeping.
1T IL possible, Vera, he answered.
Howl l asked.
BY telling me that you did love me
and were not playing part said
Colonel Repovitch.
Il fell upon my knees and told him
that ! had been sincere. I had loved
him indeed, and It had been the love
Of q good man and the knowledge of
my hideous perfidy that had awakened
my soul He listened till / had done.
1T prayed for that he said. Now
! can die happily, Vera. And you
will
"T shall devote the rest Of my life
to trying to atone for my past life.'
He kissed me. and then, as the
guard was growing very impatient, I
departed. l never saw him again. The
enemy entered the town on the second
day, and I have no doubt that he had
already been shot In the citadel"
II would be impossible to exaggerate
the horror on the face Of the Red Cross
nurse as she finished speaking. Then
took up the tale.
you cannot be sure that he died."
answered. Suppose, for instance,
that the order Of the car had not ar
rived before the storming Of Kruje-
vatz, and that he escaped"
HE would give himself up" she an
swered with conviction. !.
well. them" resumed, let US sup
pose that the order had not arrived.
Imagine that the prison was thrown
open In the face of the enemy, and that
be took . rife and fought like q com
mon soldier. distinguishing himself 20
greatly that afterward the case was
Suppose-tust for a posi-
bility, which can do no harm-'that
the truth came out. Suppose he was
hardened and restored to his rank IN
the army"
She looked at me with wide eyes.
What do you meant What do yon
known" she cried.
Suppose" continued, that he
fought through the rest Of that cam
paign until he received q Gripping
wound, which was the cause Of his re-
tirement, on half-pay. and that he left
the service full of honors and warmly
appreciated by his royal master"
She grasped me by the hand. ''You
have heard something; you are con