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l..fTf l. DARKEST BY II. G RATTAN UUNNELLY. RUSSIA
J ; t t , Copyright , 1890 , by Street Smith , All rights rCGcrvCl1.
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XIII-Continued. I
CHAPTER -
RadaloIT had no lIen ! of the COI\
' ' \ tents of the letter. But when Illla
. had finished reading It he gave the
"waiting" signal , and In response
to the single strolte of the bell enter'
ed the office to meet the Countess
Knrslcherr , with the result already
descrlhed. In vain ho attempted to
explain to the countess that he
round Udn a prisoner , she having
been captured In the Nihilist rendezvous .
rtczvous , hut the haughty and insulting .
Ing manner In which he had been in
terrupted each time he beatt ; his explanation -
planation , had prevented him from
giving that Important Information.
Thus It was when llda entered her
presence the countess Imew nothing
of her arrest.
The two women stood fac to face
-alone. , Each measured the other
with a glance , and as their eyes met
there was exchanged n look \\hlch
meant that henceforth and forever
these two were enemies to the death.
For the moment , however , the feel-
ins / that controlled lIda Barosley was .
- one of deepest love for the exiled
father whom she was to clasp to her
} heart after the long and bitter years
ct : selmratlon. She cast an anxious
glance at the cGuntess , who stood regarding '
gardlng her with a feeling of bitterest '
' est hale. Katherine saw before her
her deadliest foe. It was to this girl , '
' she owed all the humiliation she had
felt , all \ the deep disappointment In
4I store for her , If Alexis' marriage to
Olga should not alto 1)lace.
"My father-he 18 ! here ? " salll Uda ,
1 'and I shall see him ? 1 shall \ see him
once main ? "
"That depends upon 'ourse1f. "
Katherine spoke these words , looking .
Ing at lIda. There was something In
'f ' the tone and In the look that placed
. Ilda instantly on her guard. She felt ,
she knew not why , that she was to be
made the victim of a cruel lie. With
an effort she suppressed her feelings
and said : "I do not understand you ,
: f madame. "
" " Katherine Kar-
' . am the Countess
'j
. slcheff , wife of the minister of police ,
and It was by my suggestion and at
my desire that your father has been
brought hero to receive his pardon. "
j 'Vhen was ho brought here , madame .
dame ? "
, . The question annoyed Katherine.
Uda noticed the effect and hoc suspicions -
plclons became stronger.
"That Is not for you to know , " said !
the countess , after a momentary
pause. "It Is sufficient for you when
I say he Is hero and that his pardon
r will he granted on one condition. "
= ri Ilda's heart beat rapldlr. : "And
that Is ? "
'l'hat you leave Russia at once and
forevor-alone ! "
Uda's lips became compressed. lIer
fac turned a trifle paler. "Let me
' his'olco
Bee my father-let mc hear his \
-let mo feel the grasp of his hand
before I answer. "
"It Is Impossible. Your answer
must bo given hero and without do
lay. "
" "I will not answer until I have seen
my father. "
Katherine's face deoilened In color ,
and her eyes flashed. "You are here
'i ' td sue for mercy , " she saU ! , "not to
F make . condition
"I am not hero to sue for mercy.
. , I am here by the written ; request of
' " i the minister of Jollre. Ills letter
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states that my father Is here. I demand .
mand to see the minister himself. "
The countess drew herself up
haughtii "Insolent girl , " she said ,
" 'ou forget yourself , as' you did last
night. Remember that you are In
. . the presence of the wife of time minister : .
tel' of police , Countess Katherine Kal"
slehert. I an not used to brook insolence .
lenco from nferIClrs. ( "
Ilda's cyzs ; Hashed ! with : lt ger ,
Meeting the malignant glance of the
countess with Po look of defiance , she
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replied : "I am not your inferior ,
madamo. You are not my eual. You
have taken advantage of my position
to work upon the affection of 11. child
for her father , for' your own ends.
Youtrick Is too transparent. It has
fallel ] I can see the lie upon ) rour
faco-IIIY father Is not here ! "
Katherine lost control of hersclf.
' ; Daughter 'of the gutter , " she hissed ,
"you are In my power here.Vhen
: rou leave thin mouse ! It shall bo for
the llrlson. You are not now In the
house of Count Nazlmoff and Alexis
Is not here to save your. \ "
As the countess spoke of Alexis ,
11110. Instantly divined the object her
enemy had had In view.
The countess continued : "YOI1 fool .
-when ho disgraced his unlfOl'm ,
Insulted his father , and humiliated his
guests last night to save you from
tile lash you deserved , he simply plar'
eJ the mock heroic to win a smile
and the reward from a wanton. "
"It Is false ! Ho loves me ! I shall
ho his wife ! " ' cried IIlla.
"His wife ! Ha ! hat ! ha ! " Kather-
Ino's Ironical laughter was : almost
maniacal In Its wlhln sH. "I1Js $ wife !
The only IntentIOn Alexis Nazlmoff
' ' held ' to make
ever regarding you was \
you his 'lhlng-not his wife ! "
'Voman , you lie ! "
lId a , roused to uncontrollable passion
sian by the stinging words of the
countess , hurled the lie In her cell
with a fury equal to that of Katherine '
Ino herself , and with lUJavlng : bosom
she stood gazing defiance at her mad
dened and baffled en em ) " . At the same
Instant lie door opened and General
Karslcheff entered from the library ,
while Nicholas , who had just returned .
ed , appeared at the other door.
Katherine , wrought up to urcon '
trollahlo frenzy , caught the arm of
her husband , and In words so shrill
ros to he almost 11 scream of rage demanded .
manded Instant \"engeonce. "I no-
cuse her , " she exclaimed , pointing to
Ilda ; "she Insulted the car : last
night , I accuse her. She Is here-In
my power-p11nI8h her-I demand It ;
punish tier now ! Do you hero now ,
with the whip. She must feel the lash
till she writhes beneath -It , till she
crawls on her knees for mercy to
ne ! "
"Katherine , for God's saute , control
'oursclt , " appealed Constantine.
LTYS
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"Y ur voice can ho heard In the I
square , " ho said.
"Then act-act now ! " yelled Kath-
erine.
The door leading to the library
( .pen < 'd.
General Cobb and the baroness ap-
pO:1red. :
"l1ello ! " Raid the American , as he
caught sight of Ilda and recognized
her as the girl of the night before-
the woman whom Ale , .la vowed should
b3 his wlfo-"It 1& Ildn Darosk ) " . "
Uda , hearing her name In no un-
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friendly voice , lurnell ( to the speaker ,
and hurriedly Eteppcd to his Rldo ,
"l1elp mo , " she appealed , ' , help mel !
I am In their power without a fden ! "
\Voll , not whllo I am on deck , "
said Cohb. "What Is the matter ? "
!
" , StOJ } , sir ! " comnHlllll(1 ) ( Km'HlcheIT.
'rhlu Is the private onIco of the mu lti-
Istel' of pollco. You have tlO right
hore. 1 demand that you withdraw ! "
"Cortal ll ' ! But first 1 must hear
what this girl has to say. She has appealed '
pealed to mo for protection "
"I have been brought In hero hr
n trlcl-b ; : a letter signed by tho'
mlnlsler or police , " hurriedly began .
Ihla.
Nicholas springing : forward stopped
. u. . _ _
her. "Hold ! you have no right to
speule-I commftllli you to stop. You ,
sir , " he continued , "rou have heard
' father's ol'del' Leave the -
my . room-
leave the house ! "
"Heall that , sir , " said lilla , attempt.
lug to hand ] the letter of the countess
to General Cobh. .
Nicholas rushed between Cobb and
Uda , and holding her at arm'r length ,
II. ho Ralll : "You cannot give that lot-
tor to any : ono. It belongs to the mill-
Ister of 11011 co. I again command
you , " he said , addressing Cobb , "to
leave the room , "
The baroness quickly passed back or
Nicholas , and taking time paper from
Ilda , handed It to Cobb with the re-
Lark : " ' 1 lie letter Is on zo go ! "
Cobb ollened tllQ paper Instantly. I
"Hollo , " ho sai(1 , "tho glrl'l : ! father
here-whero Is her father ? "
Kathm'lne , who hud been almost
suffocating with rate all this time ,
now found her voice again. "Ituf-
Han , " she shouted , shaltlng her' fist
at Cobb , "ruffian , leave the room or
wo will have you arrested. "
. . "Look here , General Karslcheff , "
said Cobb , "this girl has been made
n victim of a tick for Home object
that I do not Imow. She Is here
friendless and powerless , and It Is
my duty as n. man to stand by her as
any trite man shoulll stand hy n woman .
an In dlstres Now , sir , I say , pro'
duce her father , 01' I will \ arraign you
before Russla-heforo the world-as
a high official who can use his public
position to vent his prIvate spleen UI1'
cn n. ) ) JOOI' girl. "
"I'll hear no more ! " shouted Knrs- !
cheff , stung to madness , and he sounded .
ed the \Jell. \
nadllioff entered.
"Talco this girl Into custody ! "
shouted Karslcheff.
"Pardon , your excellency , " replied I
hadaloff , " she Is already In custody , !
She was ono of the prisoners captured . I
lured In the Nihilist headquarters
this morning. The others are below
awaiting your excellelJcy's plel1.suro. "
Hadaloff laid his hand on the shoulder .
dol' of lilia
Now for the first time Katherine
saw that she had committed a stuIJld
blunder In sending the letter , hut she
saw also that Uda was thoroughly In
her power. "You hear , general , you
hear , " she cried , pointing to I1la.
" 'I'here she stands , arrested this morning '
ing She Is a raltOl'-an t assassin !
You arc the mlnlstol' of 1101lce. Act at
Olce. Sentence her now-I demand
It ! "
"Stop , " cried Cobb , "there Is no
1)l'oof ) on which to sentence her. "
"Pardon , " said Radaloff , advancing.
"Whero this girl was captured there
was found It mine , a score of dyna .
m1te ( homhs , and n tunnel leadln to
he t street along which his majesty
the emperor was to have passed to-
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dar. "
"It Is enough ; , " triumphantly exclaimed .
claimed Kllrslcheff. "Ilda DaroslQ' ,
you have heen found plotting the assassination .
sasslnatlon of the czar. I sentence
you to ten 'eal's' Imprisonment In Siberia
beria !
"Good God , man , " crIed Cobb , " 'ou
are Inhuman on such testimony to
puss a sentence like that ! "
1'he baroness , overcome hy cxct 10.
ment , sank on a lounge and Cobb flew
to her Ilsslstance.
"What Jf the others , excellency ? "
said : Haclnloff , addressing the minis-tel'
"They are In the courtyard below.
Shall thej' bG ; ont first to the fortress ,
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or shall they bo brought before ! you
Her brother Is among them I" !
for brother !
The words caught the car at' ' the
"nCl' brother Is also .
eount.ess. arrested -
rested I You hour , general , her broth-
CI'I ! lie , too , must suffer I Sentence
him too-fontonco ; thom nll. "
KnrRlcheIT gave a silent signal to
Haloft , who roth'Cll.
"Action now-morclless severity , "
whispered ( ] Nicholas , "It Is your only
hope , and , " ho ndded In lower tone
to himself , "hut a faint hope I1.t that. "
A tramp of sollllers outside caused
all present to turn their eyes In the
direction or the antechambor. The
door opened. Hl1.daloff stood on one
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side and then nlllJcltl'ed two soldiers !
allIl t.wo police guarding Ivan Bllrosl < y.
The clock now Rhowod about twenty
minutes of twelve.
General Kal'slc.err took his Iaco
behind the dosl
Ivan was hrought before him.
"Your name ? "
"Ivan Bnrosl < y. " .
"You were captured this morning
In the Nihilist rendezvous ? "
"I was arrested this morning , " was
the reply ] of Ivan.
"You admit then your guilt ? "
"I admit nothing. "
"What ! Do you deny that you were
In this den or assassins ? "
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"I Icily 1I0thlng.
Karslcheff became furious. "I shaH
find a way to make you speak ) , tral-
tOl' ! " ho exclaimed : "meanwhile ,
pending further Inquiries , you are sentenced .
ten cell to twenty years In Siberia "
"Poor Ivan ! " It was from the bar-
oness. She heard no more at the
time , for her sympathetic heart was
overstrained and she had fainted.
Ivan had turned to Uda. They were
clasped for a moment In each other's
arms , for hoth well knew that In n.
few minutes more they woulll ho torn
apart , In all prohahlllty to meet on
earth no 1110re
nut the vengeance of Katherine ICar-
slchert was nol yet sated She leaned
over the desk and hissed the words
Into time cars of her hU'3hand-'I'ho
others , her friends , sentence them
all , do you hear , all ! I woulll ( have
mr revenge complete. Do not disappoint
point me , Constantine , 01' I swear you
will regret It to your dying day ! "
Constantine Karslcheff needed no
urglnE
( 1'0 ho continued. )
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Fad of the Czar.
One of lie fads of the emperor of
Russia Is the collection or modols.
vie I 110sesse : mlnaturo reproductions
of neatly every great batlleshlll In the
world , heslllc 1 Innumerable models efforts
forts , gunG , rind various weapons or
destruction. ' A somewhat grewsomo
model In the collection Is of a machine .
chine to prevent ) burial before .Ieath. .
It Is somewhat late ! a guillotine ! and
slowly ! : drives a sharp ) I.t.lfe Into Ito
heck of time doubtful COI'llse.
Playwright Quits America.
Augustus Thomas , playwright has
decided to settle perJl\anontly In Eu'
1 rope.
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