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DARKEST
1IY M. O RATTAN DONNEM.Y.
Copyright, 1890. by Street X 9mt(h, All rights reserved.
Vbwn,VwiVl,flii,,Wl' Aft
CHAPTER IX.
An Astonishing Discovery.
With one glanco nrouuil thd apart ,
Incut, which gave no sign of being ten
anted but a moment fooforo by nearly
a Bcoro of. people, Ivan bounded up
the etepa nnd, removing tho oaken
harywhlch had boon carefully replaced
whea tho door was closed aftor llda'a
ontranco, fitood Bllently for a moment
"Without there-!" ho asked. "What
do you want?"
"Admittance!" was the prompt re
!lr. "Your object at this hour?"
"Speech with you!"
Ivan glanced once more about tho
room.
Then with tho single word "Enter!"
bo tlttng tho door wldo open.
A tall, soldierly figure stood In tho
doorway an Instant, nnd then without
u momont's hesitation entered and,
descending tho Bteps, calmly surveyed
tho apartment.
Ivnn.clopiiis the door.dcsccndcd nnd
stood faco to faco with a stranger,
whom ho surveyed with keenest inter
est. "Now, Bir, tho object of this visit?"
asked Ivan as ho pointed to a chair.
t Tho stranger, ignoring tho courtesy
and speaking In tho unmistakably per
emptory manner of a man accustomed
to command, after another glance
'around the room, fixed his eyes upon
Ivan. "I seek Information of a young
slrl a musician."
Ivan could not repress a slight start
of surprise; hut ho maunged with an
effort to control himself as ho return
ed tho Dxed glanco of tho stranger.
"Her name?"
"Ilda Barosky!" As ho uttered tho
words tho stranger unbuttoned tho
great coat which enveloped him to
the throat, and displayed an officer's
uniform. Then with an easy indiffer
ence, ho threw himself into tho chair
with tho air of a man who had come
to take possession and was bout upon
something of a long stay.
"Why do you seek Ilda Barosky
hero?" asked Ivan.
"Because." was tho quick roply, "she
was seen to enter this house end lias
not Binco left It - Sho Is horo."
"Soon to enter It by whom?"
"By my servant, whom I ordered to
follow her."
Ivan's eyes flashed. "May I ask by
what right an officer sends his servant
to play tho spy upon a defenseless girl
becauso she hnppened to bo alouo and
unprotected. When an ofllcor a mau
of rank forces his attentions upon a
girl who, being a musician, is presum
ably of lower degrco than himself, he
can have but ono object in view her
dishonor!"
Tho stranger sprang to his feet, and
hulf-drawlng his sword, said In a voice
of anger: "Stop, sir! When you at
tribute my visit here, or my actions,
to a dishonorable motive, you lie! It
is because I am a man of honor be
causo I respect tho girl, that I am hero
to-night Summon her here!"
Ivan sjtood motionless.
"Well, sir!" Tho stranger spoke
with some Impatience.
"Itcro sho comes not," said Ivan
calmly. "I forbid it!"
It wb now tho strnuger's turn to
start!
"Voit forbid It!" ho exclaimed.
"And pray, sir, by what right do you
assumo to decldo for the girl?"
"By tho right of being her pro
tector." Tho stranger changed color. It was-
ns If ho had received a blow that
stunned him. Ills voice his wholo
nfarinfcr changed In an Instant. Ho
spoko with nn evident effort, painfully,
hesitatingly, as if ufrald to trust his
speech. "You arc not her " and
ho paused.
"I am her brother," was the simple
reply.
Tho effect of this announcement on
the stranger amazed Ivan. Tho pained
nnd anxious expression of his faco
changed to ono of gratified relief,
which In Its way gave place to a
look of astonishment and surprise.
"Her brother!" and as tho stranger
upoko ho extcuded his hand. Ivan
grasptd It involuntarily. "You sur
prise me," said tho visitor, "but slnco
you are her brother I have no right to
object I may leave a message for
her. may I not"
Ivan bowed.
"Then say to her," continued tho
stranger, "that Alexis Nazlmoff"
"AlexlH Nazlmoff!" Ivan interrupted
with x start, and then, with an cagor
ncss which astonished tho stranger, he
repeated, "Alexis Nazlmoff! Are you
Alexis Nazlmoff?"
It was now tne turn of Alexis to be
RUSSIA
nstonlshcd at tho Intense interest of
Ivnn. "I am," ho replied.
"Colonel Aloxis Nazlmoff?" went oh
Ivan eagerly, as If to make assuranco
doubly sure.
"I am Colonel Aloxis Nazlmoff."
This with a fajut suggestion of a smile
at tho other's eagerness. "But why
this"
"And the betrothed husband of
Olga!"
Had a shell suddenly exploded be
neath his feet, Alexis Nazlmoff could
hardly hnvo been more astounded.
With a look of profound amazement
at Ivan, nnd then a glanco nt his sur
roundings, ho paused a moment be
fore speaking, as if he hardly compre
hended tho Inquiry.
"Mile. Olga Karslcheff," Alexis said,
in a tone of moro hauteur than ho had
yet assumed, "and I havo been betroth
ed for two yonrs but " as tho pos
sible significance of Ivan's words forc
ed itsolf upon him "who are you to
speak of Mile. Karslcheff in such a
manner? I "
Ho was again Interrupted by Ivan,
now speaking with feverish haste, his
words flowing in a very torrent, to tho
amazement of Alexis.
"Toll me, tell me," ho exclaimed, as
ho grasped Alexis' hand with a grip
of iron, "tell mo, do you love her, do
you worship her Is sho nil In all to
you has she given you her heart do
you possess her love do you daro to
make her your wife?" and ho paused
out of breath by his Impassioned
string of questions.
Aloxis gazed at him In wonder.
Then, as if speaking to himself, ho
said, "This man is insane."
"No, no!" exclaimed Ivan, "I ntn not
insane. Listen to me listen, for Ood's
sake for your happiness, mine, tho
happiness of Olga, depend upon your
words. Do you lovo Olga with all that
devotion, that depth of affection, that
would mako you give up ail life it
self, if need be for her happiness?
Tell me answer truly, for tho dear
God's We would you force Olga to
an unwilling marriage? would you drag
a helpless, friendless girl, to nn un
loved llfo with you if her hoart were
given to another? Answer mo now,
for God's sake, for lifo and death hang
upon your wordBl"
Alexis Nazlmoff gazed at the man
beforo him ns If he could scarce be
lieve his senses. This man here In
this place, with these gloomy sur
roundings, to talk thus of Olga Kar-
sichoff of hiB betrothed wife of tho
daughter of tho powerful minister of
police But Ivan's mannor moved him.
"No," was his reply, "I would novcr
marry an unwilling bride."
Ivan droppod his head and sank on
a chair.
"Thank God, thank God," was all
he said.
"Pardon me," said Ivan at longth,
"I was somewhat overcome by my
agitation in tho first placo, and by
tho joy and hope which your words
gave to mo, and will give to ono who
Is dearer to mo than life Itself Olga!"
That name was again repeated.
Alexis was annoyed.
"I must ask you to explain,' he said,
"by what right you speak of Mile. Kar
slcheff, ray betrothed wife, as 'Olga!' "
Ivan arose. Ho took a hurried step
to tho right and left pause a mo
ment, and then returned to Aloxis,
who sat following his movements with
lntenso Interest.
Seating himself, ho turned to Alexis
and said: "You are a man a soldier
can I trust you fully and freely? Will
you glvo mo your word of honor to
keep, as an Inviolable secret, what I
am about to say?"
Alexis paused before making reply.
At length ho spoke: "Yes, on the word
of honor of an officer and a gentleman,
you may trust me. I will ,keop your
Eccrot."
Ivan began his story. Ho spoko In
a low and impassioned voice, but
tho earnestness nnd sincerity which
marked the tones went homo to tho
heart of Alexis, and left In his mind
no doubt of their truth. In a few
words Ivnn mndo known what the
reader has already learned of his early
llfo and that of his sister Ihln. Alexis
listened with interest until Ivan be
gan his story of his enreer in tho
house of tho Baroness von Ithlncberg.
"It was hero," Ivan went on, "that I
first saw Mile. Karslcheff. Sho and
tho baroness were devotedly nttached
to each other and the baroness fre
quently brought her Into tho library.
From tho first momont I loved Olga,
but it was not with that hopeless pas
sion that a peasant might feel for a
princess shQ was so far. above mo In
rank, birth, station, everything.
"But ns time went on, and the baro
ness left us together never dreaming,
for a moment that the secretary would
daro to ralso his eyes to ono as exalt
ed as Mile. Karslcheff we becamo
moro and moro ncquainted. There
wero many tastes wo possessed in
common music and literature and
art. Finally, at tho baroness' sollclta.
tion, I began to give Mile. Karslcheff
lessons in English pronunciation, and
together wo began to read tho British
poets. You may lmaglno tho result
Ono day I felt mysolf carried away
by my lovo for Olga, and thero on my
knees, in ono breath, 1 told her of my
adoration, and begged her forgive
noss. I found that my love was re
turned.' Alexis started,
"Olga then told mo of your betroth
al. Whllo you wore away ,n Asia thoro
was no Immediate peril, and for
months wo lived In a fool's paradise.
Wo both know that tho end must como
with your return, and that tho secret
must bo revealed. For weeks I havo
begged and prayed Olga to fly with
mo, but sho has refiiBe'd, preferring to
wait until tho Inst hopo was gono
an nppenl to you! Now that you havo
rotttrned, Olga wns to have told' you
all, but you camo into my llfo to-night,
nnd you know tho story. Now do you
wonder that t was so astonished when
you rovcalcd your name? do you won
der at my fervor and anxiety ns I
asked you If you would make Olga an
unwilling hrldo?"
Alcx'.s sat spellbound.
Ivan watched him with anxious
eyos.
"What you say may bo true," at
length said Aloxis, "but I must havo
better proof than your simple word."
"You shall you shall!" eagerly
cried Ivan. "You shall hear it from
the lips of Olga herself."
"When and where?" asked Alexis,
rising to his feet.
"Here nnd whero you stnnd within
nn hour's tlmo."
"What! Hero! Man, nro you mad!
Mile. Karslcheff hero! Why, but an
hour ngo sho drove homo with her
mother and family, from tho fcto at
my fathor's houso."
"No! By agreement with mo she
went to tho homo of the Baroness von
Rhlncbcrg, nnd is thero now."
"Good God!" exclaimed Alexis. "Can
this bo truo?"
"It Is true," replied Ivan. "See," ho
exclaimed, producing a koy, "horo Is
tho proof. This will admit mo to tho
Rhlnebcrg mansion and I can bring
hor hero. Shall wo put It to tho test?
, "wgqdsjwze: go.""
Will you hear tho avowal of hor lovo
for mo from the lips of Olga herself 7"
"Yes! Go!" almost shouted Alexis.
"We shall put it to tho tost In God's,
name go, and let mo bo convinced,
nnd I Bwear that if Olga Karslcheff
enters that adoor to-night Bhe shall
never be my wife."
"And I swear to you sho shall enter.
On that I stake my happiness and
hers!"
And now tho great strain under
which Ivnn had been slnco Alexis re
vealed his identity began to tell upon
him and for a moment ho loaned back
against tho table.
By taking a drosky at tho nearest
stand ho could reach tho houso of tho
baroness and return In twenty-five or
thirty minutes. But Alexis horo!
What if he discovered tho real char
actor of tho place! Thero was a rule,
as Ivan well knew, that forbid tho
members when concealed from coming
forth until a safety signal was given.
Even suppose ono of them entered,
Alexis could explain that he was Ivan's
friend.
As these thoughts, ono after another,
rushed through Ivan's mind, Alexis
sat regarding him with a searching
look. Tho Idea that Olga Karsichoff,
daughter of tho haughty countess
whoso pride was so well known,
should havo descended to a mlsal
llanco with this man
His reveries wore Interrupted by
Ivnn.
"Here! You are a man and a sol
dier, and I havo trusted you. Do mo
this ono favor will you trust me?"
"Yes."
(To bo continued.)
One of Them for the Company.
A well-known comedian, celebrated
forhis eccentricities, boarded a street
car tho other day and duly paid his
faro upon demnnd. Aftor riding a
block or so further ho produced an
other nickel and tendered tho same
to tho passing conductor.
The honest conductor refused the
proffered coin, while tho actor vehem
ently protested his desire to pay 'his
fare.
"You havo given me your faro al
ready," argued tho man In the uni
form. '1 know," responded tho comedian,
"but this is for tho company."
Every ono laughed excepting tho
discomfited conductor, who hajl
omitted to register tho first collec
tion. Now York Times.
William Thaw, tho Pittsburg mil
lionaire, delights In automoblllng, and
has acquired a particular fondness for
a certain kind of machine. A friend
endeavored io dispel this prejudice
and invited Air. Thaw to a twonty-
mllo spin in a machine constructed
along dlfforent lines. When tho rldo
was completed Mr. Thaw thanked his
friend, saying:
"Splondld machine! I'm sure your
baby will appreciate it."
"Baby appreciate this machine?
What iu thuuder do you mean?" ask
ed the other in astonishment
"And Is your baby, then, ho unllko
othor chlldron," said tho Plttsburger
searchlngly, "that sho cannot appre
ciate a rattlebox?" New York Times.
Largest Pea Cannery.
It Is estimated that tho factory at
Longmont, Colo., caus moro peas than
any othor In tho world. Tho factory
has been enlarged this year, so that
its capacity Is Iti.OOO cans an hour,
which exceeds all records.
Sunshine, fragrance, everywhere;
Tender green of fluttering leaves
above;
And the heart of maiden fair
Raised In silent, tender prayer.
As she consecrates her life to love.
Half in hope and half In fear,
Love, to give, Is such a mighty thing.
Whllo her voloe to calm and clear,
Through her smllo there gleams a
tear
As tho vow Is sealed with wedding
ring.
Roses kiss the altar rail.
Where she kneels with strangely beat
ing heart
Under rippling bridal veil
Tremble lips that dara not fall
In the oacred, "Until death do part."
SUGAR IN SOUP THEN LIE8.
Quick Wit Enables Man to Crawl Out
of Dilemma.
Thoro hnd been a glorious gamo of
gotf, followod by a jolly dlnnor at tho
clubhouse.
Sometimes it is not tho correct
thing to .tell oven a Iruthful story with
real names, banco It happens that It
was tha Joneses who gavo tho Bproau
and tho person that happonod In was
Smith.
Bmith ia really a man of parts,
wealthy, intelligent und gonial, and
usually knows "what's what," but ho
Is not given to swell nffalrs and is
not dressy, withal.
A business call hnd taken Smith to
tho ciubhauso and Jonas, scoing htm,
called -him to tho tablo after tho others
had begun. Soon as ho was seated,
being preoccupied by salutations from
other persons at tho tablo that ho
know, -ho was absently sweetening tho
cup at his elbow, when Mrs. Jones,
hoping to mako the matter quite plain
to tfali,plalmrnan,-Kaid Bhstnklngly:
"Ah "Mr. Smith er that is tho
soun"
"Yob. thank you," Smith nonchalant
ly replied, "Yea'm, I understand. But
I always Hweetcn by bouillon," with
tho slightest emphasis on "bouillon."
But Smith was at that moment a pre
varicator, to put it mildly. Ho really
thought tho cup was tea and probably
never tasted sweetened bouillon In his
llfo.
PURE BLOOD GOOD HEALTH.
No Disease Exists Where There Ic
Good Blood.
Keep your vitality abovo tho nega
tlvo condition, nnd you will never
know disease of any kind. No dlseoso
can oxistAvhero thero Ib an abundanco
of pure blood! To get tho necessary
amount eat nutritious food; to circu
late it perfectly take proper dxcrclBo;
to purify it get fresh air nnd sunlight
If a perfectly healthy condition of tho
skin exists and an even temperature
of tho Burfaco or the body Ib main
tained it ia Impossible to catch cold.
Cold water baths taken every day will
do much toward producing tho for
mer; proper food and exercise tho
latter. Nature gives you an nlarrn
Iu tho first chilly feeling. Hood it
at onco or pay tho penalty. Take a
brisk walk or run, brcatho deeply and
keep tho mouth closed.
If you nro so situated that you can
do neither, ns in a church, lecturo
room or -street car, brcatho deeply,
ITALY
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RUSSIA
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In 1903 the relative proportions of emigrants coming to the United
States from the, various European countries were distributed In this manner.
rapidly and noiselessly until you aro
satisfied that your body has passod
from a negative toa positive condi
tion. Exchange.
Japan's Great Cotton City.
Osaka Is tho great cotton manufac
turing city of Japan. Thero aro sev
enteen cotton mills in Osaka, with
4D3.G00 spindles. In all Japan there
cro seventy-four cotton mills nnd 1,
251,000 spindles. Tho workmen and
boys, taken on an averago, receive
fifteen conts a day, tho foreman forty
eight cents a day, and tho women ton
cents a day. Thoy work cloven hours,
with two intervals a quarter of an
hour for smoking and half an hour for
luncheon or dinner. Tho mills work
Iwcnty-two hours a day In two shifts.
No restriction is put on age, and
many of tho children employed aro
ot moro than 7 or 8 years old.
DISINFECTED UNIFORMS.
Japanese Surgeon Recommends Use
of Clean Fighting Garb.
Dr. Wada, staff surgeon In tho Jap
anese naTjy, who was in charge of tho
provisional field hospital In Chemulpo,
to which tho seriously wounded Rus
sInn sailors woro tnken, nl ready has
drawn ono medical lesson from tho
war. Ho attended n numbor of Rus
sian sallqrs wounded on tho Variag,
and says: .
"Tho experience has emphasized
ono thing, which I am going to wrlto
to my government about In many
cases tho fragments of shells had car
ried with them pieces of clothing
which often causod suppuration of the
wounds boforo thoy could bo extracted.
To avoid that, as far ns possible I
am going to proposo that it bo made
a rule in our navy that every man
when a fight Ib expected shall havo
his body well washed and bis clothes
disinfected.
"Happily it is a iuIo with our men,
In tho army as well as in tho navy,
always to go to battle in their newest
and cleanest uniforms. This is not
for any sanitary consideration, but it
works tho right way all tho flame. We
Japanese used to say that as we al
ways fight liko gentlemen, we also
dlo llko gentlemen, nnd dressed like
gentlemon."
CHILD'8 LOVE FOR FATHER.
Typical Expression of An Affectionate
Daughter.
Hand-ln-hand they wandered among
tho posies of a Now England garden, a
father and his llttlo girl, and tho Sab
bath peaco wns over nil,
Tho father was a clergyman of tho
old school, and that morning ho had
preached to tho quiet country folk of
tho wrath of God, and tho tortures of
hell, and tho fearful punishment and
rotrlbution which & just and angry
God Bends upon tho children of men.
Tho llttlo girl had listened thought
fully a8 he preached long and earnest
ly of the wrath of God and the tor
ments of the damned.
Tho clergyman returned to hiB home
and walked with his llttlo girl among
tho flowers in his garden. Ho loved
hor very dearly, aud ho plucked the
sweetest flowers and gavo them to her
and kissed hor, nnd led her footsteps
with tho gontlencss and tenderness oi
fatherhood.
Suddenly tho llttlo ono looked up
into his face. "Dear papa," sho said
wistfully, "I wish God waa as good as
you are!"
Old-Time Stories.
Recently published reminiscences
left by Mrae. do Crcquy, who lived
beforo aud during tho French revolu
tion, glvo somo queer pictures of high
llfo In Franco in tho eighteenth cen
tury. Sho tells, for example, tho trag
ic fate of a Bmall dog belonging to
tho Comtosso do Blot: "Attached to
1 tho chapel of the Palais Royal was a
.093
SCANDINAVIA
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very big fat abbo of an inferior order,
who wns novor received on termB ol
equality save on Now Year's day
This man called to wish Mmc. de Blot
tho compliments of tho season, and
sat down on a folding chair that she
had tho goodness to offer him. He
fancied on sitting down that he felt a
slight resisting movement, and, feel
lng with his hand, found he had sat
down upon a llttlo dog. Bolng certain
that the mischief was already done
he determined that his wisest pollcj
was to mako an end of It. and, press
ing down firmly with all tho wolght ot
his heavy person, ho effectually killed
tho llttlo animal. Tho tail was stick
ing out, so ho twisted it up, and.
cautiously wriggling about, he grad
ually got tho body Into ono of his big
pockets and carried it off. Mmc. dc
Blot never know what was her dog'i
fate "
L 2
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TICKLE
GRASS
BV
BYRON WtLLtATO
The Rose.
Oh, fragrant roo In pungent bed.
That hloomcth redolent anil red.
I would Hint I your nocrot luiewr
Oh. roue, red rH0. nglint with dowl
If I but know ymir clmnn to bloom
In noft mill odorous iierfumn,
I too would mnko my fellow Rind
liy HmllliiK whtra tho path la bad!
Oh, fingront rooc. ro brnvo und frail,
I.Ibp hi my enr your secret tulo,
Thnt I niny tell the world apart
And put your beauty In each heart!
Then human llfo could havo uo-woe.
And each In fellow-love would Brow!
Ah, rool Hod rosol Agllnt with dew,
I would that I your Hecrct knew!
To-morrow.
Tho to-morroW of which wo.drcam
novcr comes, hut tho real to-morrow,
upon nrrlvnl Is merely a commonplace
to-day.
Do to-day tho good things you havo
planned. To-morrow to you may novcr
dnwn.
Mnko to-dny count! Thoy may not
blto to-morrow.
What a happy world this would bo
If pcoplo lived their pleasures to-day
Instead of planning them for to-morrow!
"I will LIVE to-morrow," saya the
fool. And for such ns him, there is no
to-morrow.
If n man lived to be as old as Methu
selah, ho would still be planning on
tho fortunes of to-morrow!
A CEA8RIi:SS UOUND.
Tho receiver had n hard time wind
ing up the nffnlrs of a bankrupt clock
store!
Suiting a Customer.
Jones usually orders his clothes of
a tailor and has strong convictionii on
tho matter, but It was warm tho other
day and ho stopped into a clothing
establishment to buy somo linen trous
ers. Tho trousers fit well except in tho
length. Thoy woro a trlflo too ahort to
suit him, henco were left to be length
ened. The next dny thoy arrived and
Jones tried thorn on to find they were
a bit too long.
Ho was sorry, ho said to tho sales
man, to cause so much trouble, but
thoso trousers were certainly too long
now.
The salesman was obliging and
promised to attend to the matter.
Jones left.
Now it so happened, through an
error, that tho trousers had not been
nltered in tho first place, but wero tha
samo length as when Jones pro
nounced them too short This tho
salesman know, and ho smiled' slightly
ns ho wrote an order to shorten tho
trousers and pinned It to them.
But ho did not send tho garment to
the repair room. Ho merely kept the
pantaloons another day, and returned
thom without alteration.
Jones found tho order, trlod them
on for tho third tlmo and pronounced
thom absolutely correct
This Is a funny world, isn't it?
A SUdAK BOWL HAIUCUT.
Many n man would give $10,000 to
day for ono of mothor's haircuts!
Peace to her memory!
Nothing and Something.
Therc'H "nothing to do" fjr tho Kluggnrd
In nil of this jcreut. wldo world!
Nothing to win In the battles
Of Life, whero the flatus unfurled!
"Nothing to do!"
Dut there's something to do for tho work
er Who tolls through the thick and thin!
Something to do In tho charges
Of Life, where tho bravest win!
"Something to do!"
He bad como on her dozing in a
hammock, and when she woke up sho
iccueed him of stealing a kiss. "Well,"
fie said, "I will admit that the tempta
tion was too strong to bo resisted. I
lid steal one llttlo kiss." "One!" she
jxclafmed indignantly, "I counted
sight before I woke up."
Kr V
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JlijM
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