VELLA VERNELL OR, AN AMAZING MARRIAGE.

By Mi.s Sum.nf.u ll.vvden,

Author of "Little Golilie," "Tho Midnigh Marriage," "Goraldino," oic, etc.

CHAPTER XXI.

ES KOUTK. " I have never known tho winter's blast, Or the nuick lightning, or tho pestilence, Make nice distinctions when lot slip From God's right baud,"-Holland. TnKY wcro vory nice people, thoso Costclios —gonial, gentle, cultured, a thoroughly attached, domestic family, too. Ono did not need to know them long to discover that.

" Wo go samowhoro ovory fall," explained Bcssio, tho younger of tho girls, "and this year v«> havo chosen Philadelphia. Papa Is tho only ono of us who has ovor boon there. Last year wo went to Dotivor, and tho year boforo to Europe Wo just go away for a chango, to sco now places nnd enjoy our selves. It Eooms to brighten us up, and givos us something to talk about, for tho rest of tho year. Kitty and 1 havo tho selection of tho trip always;. Sometimes wo find it hard to agree, but-" "But," interrupted Owoti, mischiev ously— «" Wliorosoo'er thoy wont, liko Juno's swans, Still they went coupled and inseparable.'"

Thoy all laughed. " Don't dosecrnto Shakespeare !" 'repri manded Kitty, gay ly. . . , "My comparison is molegant after Owon's," declared domuro Bessie, with a mournful shako of tho head. " I was about to say that wo went 'all togothor, liko Brown's cows.' " They laughed out again at tho homely old speech. Poor Vella tried to join in tho mirth ; but, oh, how that now, fresh pain did tug, tug at her heart-strings ! Such capital friends as they had grown to be already I Generous and warm-hearted toa fault woro tho Costclios. Volla's beauty, loneliness, evident Borrow and trouble, had appoalod to them—won thoir friendship and sympathy, " I think wo all desorvo a rest, nnd a heaping spoonful of fun once a year, Miss Vcmell—that is tho name you said, isn't StT We aro neno of us drones. Owen is an artist. Ho has n studio in Pike's Build ing. He is going to be famous some day. Ono of his pictures last year was so good wo induced him to sond it to tho Exposition. Kitty's faco was quite aglow with sisterly pride. "Was it, really?" asked Vella, with interest. " I was there quite often. Whore did it hong?" Tho others woro looking on and listening, with amused, quir.zical faces. " Well, you soe, it didn't— 'exactly— hang at all" avowed Kitty, horpretty whito brow woefully puckered. ** You see, it was be yond the appreciation of tho Committeo, and they—in fact, they returned it." "Oh I"

Thero was a goneral laugh, Owon joining in heartily. A good many in tho oar looked up at the croup and smiled. Their mirth was en livening, infectious. " This is tho last timo for sevoral j ears we ehall have Owon with us," said Bossio, a shadow clouding tho bright faso. "Ho is going to Rome this winter. What a Moeca for artists that wonderful old city is. He had been there three years when wo wont to Europe. I think Kitty told you that was the year before last. Ho camo back with us then, But ho has boon pining ever since. Yes, you have, sir ; don't attempt to deny it So ho is going back." For a littlo while silence foil upon them. " I was going to tell you how busy wo all were," broke in Kitty. "Papa, of course, is eternally down at that old office, and mamma has enough to do to manago her turbulent family. Bessio is an artist, too —at least sho v going to bo. She studies at the Academy of Design. Last year she got big prizes for hor water-colors— dig," opening her eyes very wido indeed to con vey an idea of immensity. "My dear," hor mother interposed, gently, " you are boring Miss Vornell. Sho aunot be so interested in us."

"Wood I am!" declared Volla with aircere warmth.

"The most difficult lesson for young people to learn," went on Mrs Costollo, with flermotherly smile, "is eelfeffacemont." Vella's own rare smile lit up her faco liko sudden sunshine as she turned to Kitty.

" But you haven't told mo a word about yourself. 1 know you are not idle." "I J Oh, I'm not of mnch account," f»nkly. "I help mothor with tho house keeping—that's about all." "Don't believe her, Miss Vernell," cautioned Owon, dodging to avoid a threatened blow from a slim, grey-kidded hand. "She is a goniua in embryo. She aspires to literary fame. She writes poems by the dozen." Kitty blushed deliciously. "Don't mind him, Miss Vernell. His eulogistic announcement is my humiliation, If I do, it is only to havo thorn ' returned with thanks.'"

" The only trouble with us," said Bessie, in ber soft, quizzical way, "is that wo aro not appreciated. We are too brilliant for an agO which lacks porcoption." Whereat they all burst out again in cheery laughter. " Now, girls, that you have burdoned Miss Vernoll with our family history, do you feel your consciences oasior?" asked Mr Costello, with twinkling oyes. '* You wore very, vory good to mako such a friend of mo," asserted Volla, earnestly. "I hope our aoquaintanco will not end with our journey. I am going to visit an old school friend in Philadelphia. Ido hope you will come and soe me. I will give you her address."

The girls looked askance at thoir mother. She smiled and nodded.

"Thank you," Bessio said, brightly. " We shall be very glad to do so." It was quite late whon they had their berths made up and retired. Vella removed her hat and cloak. Sho drew the curtains clo3o, and without un dressing, lay down. Now that sho no longor heard tho gay voioes of her travelling companions, no longer beheld their sympathetic faces, ber depression, foreboding, anguish bocauso of Mare returned tenfold.

Without, Bhe could haar the rain driving, the wind howling, as they dashed on through the night. She lifted a cornor of the window-ahade and looked out. Pitch darkness.

She drew back with a shudder, Sho had a childißh terror of darkness. Her head drooped to the pillow. Silence in the car—silence absolute and profound. Not the faintest human sound. Without was the roaring wind, tho beating rain. Sho flung her hands above her head. The hot, slow tears rose in her eyes. What would the end of it all bo? Ah, what? "Marol" she murmured—"Marc! Do you remembor tho song they were singing that night you told me you loved mo ? ' I know not who the blamo should bear. Nor who should plead, nor who forgive.' Neither should plead, dear; neither forgive, Marc." By-and-by the whito lids drooped|heavi'y; a drowsiness crept over her. And on through the midnight darkness sped the train, rushed on and on. What is that? What happening ! Oh, merciful Heaven!

A shock, fierce, terrific as the crack of doom—a report like thunder-Shrieks, curses, clamor I Like a living thing the train roars up, up, rocks madly an instant from side to side, drops, topples, crashoa, dpwn!

CHAPTER XXII.

A MIDNIGHT VISITOR.

"Who comes so fast In silence of tho niirht!" Merchant of Venice. And at that verylnomont thero camo a littlo tinkling sound at Miss Dorothy's chamber window.

But, after tho intrigues and fatigues of the day, she slept soundly. Silence. Again I This time quito a small shower of pebbles-a stony clatter on tho glass, And now Miss Dorothy lifted hor head from her snowy pillow with a bewildered start, looked about, comprehendsd, rose, Nrtily threw on her droB?, thrust her feet mto slippers, flung up the window and leaned out. Aunt Dolly !'" cried softly a voice from a, %°'>' r in a faltering murmur. " I thought it was you, Voyle." lat mo in by the conservatory, will you?" "ft ?' es'" oamo ti e tremulous whispor. Only, for JHeaven's sake, bo cautious, my dear." J^l heatd his low laugh at the words, a k th? assertion, " For my sake." J™* et down tho fash. At the door she f™«ed-hstcnod. Tho poor little soul was ta«bh n g likea , oafi «<KaSOUnd.

Stealthily as a midnight a«sassin sho stolo to tho stairs, crept down, hor footfall making no noiso no the thick pile of tho Moqucttc carpeting. She reached tho foot; -stood still again. Not a breath. She turned to tho right, groped her way to tho drawing room entrance, prudontly und safely, by tlio sense of touch as do tho blind, navigated tlio room, steering with out stretched hands between chairs, easels, and conversaziones.

If she had only thought to procuro a match boforo asconding ! Sho mußt do her best without ono now. Sho could hear tho rain plashing in tho lawn's miniature lako. And that poor boy out in tho storm all this timo !Ho would bo wot through i Tlio socond room successfully passed, sho pushed osido tho portieres and passed under tho arch separating the drawing-room and conservatory.

A moment later tho door leading into tho gardens was reached, carefully unlocked, opened.

A dark, drenched iiguro waiting on tlio granite steps without cunio quiotly in. Aunt Dorothy put hor shaking arms around him and kissed him.

'•They are all found long ago!" sho whisporod. "Como up to your own room and toll mo all about it."

As noiselessly as tlio door had boon opened it was rol'astoned, nnd tho two mado thoir way toward the hall through tho donso darkness.

" Tako caro I" murmured Aunt Dorothy. Scarcoly woro tho words spoken when there was a jar—a crash I

Loss deft than a woman would havo boen ho had como in contact with a dwarf cabi inot laden with bric-a-brac.

Click—clang—clatter I down thoy camo, a bronze medallion, "bits" of porcelain, a rain of mineral specimens.

"Great Jupiter ("exclaimed Voylo, " now 1 hare done it !"

Already thoy could hoar a stir upstairs. A door opened, Somo ono \V»s coming down. Through tho half-open door shono a llickor of light, a match probably, for in a socond All was darkness. Another was struck. Tho gas in tho hall llared brightly up, A ray ponotratcd hero—sufficient to discover a large Turkish divan near by. " Quick !" gasped Miss Dorothy, " undor there ! Tho Lord bless mo I" I.iko a Hash Voylo dropped to tho floor, and rollod undor the lomigo Indicated. Tho deop fringe completely screened him. And just then Colonel Vernoll, in dressing-gown and slippers, cockod rovolvor in hand, crnined his long nock inside the door. " D-d-o-on't iho-ot—Jamos ! quavered Miss Dorothy. The hand which held tho rovolvor drop ped to his side. Ho como into tho room. Prom head to foot his cool glanco swept the littlo rotund, shrinking figtlro. " You !" disgustedly. "Yes it's—it's only mo, Jamo» I" quite reckless in regard to grammar in hor troin orous excitement. " I Boo?" dryly. " I —l'm sorry I'm not a burglar, Jamos. You seom disappointed in finding no targot I" ondoavouring to turn off tho affair with a nervous littlo laugh. By this timo thoro was a group of startled servants on tho stairs. Colonol Vornoll turned to thorn irritably. "Go back to bod!" ho commandod. "Thoro is nothing to stand gaping at. Miss Vernoll accidentally jarred a cabiuet and a few things fell off. That is all."

When thoy had gono, ho turnod to his sister with a short, angry laugh. "Why in thundor couldn't you have called out to mo at first ? It's a marvol I didn't firo. What timo is it, anyhow ?" He glanced at tho clock on a console neir by. "Half-past twelve I What on earth brought you downstairs at this unoarthly hour, anyway ?"

Miss Dorothy was on her knees, gather ing up tho debris. What a blessing it was tho light of tlio hall-lamp penotrated but faintly hero, leav ing unrovoalod hor traitorous countonnnce. Hor lined old mouth had beon very, very truthful always. But now she must lie. To savo Voylo she must, tho good Lord for give her ! sho added, contritely, in the depths of her simple heart: " I camo down to look for my koys. I —l left them here to-day. My matches wont out, and I—l knocked against this —nnd "

" What did you want tho keys in tho middle of tho night for?" ho domandod, grimly. For what did she roquiro thorn ? This was a poser. But trust a woman. Never doubt her resources.

Sho thrust tho last bit of porcelain on tho cabinet, roso, and laid hor hand on hor stomach, with a groan. " Such pain, James ! Dear, doar, such cramps and pain ! Tho fright of having disturbed you all mado me forget it for a moment. Oh-h, thoro it is again I I wanted to got some poppormint," writhing nearly double, " and tho key of my medicine chest was on tho ring with tho othors, and—Oh, goodnoss— gracious!" " Peppermint!" repeated Colonel Vernoll, disdainfully, in much the same tone as that in which the two disgusted old topors in Thomas Hardy's " Squire "echood "Milk!" "Much good that would do you, Como into tho dining-room and got Bomo brandy !" Now if thero was anything under tho gloriousaun this samo littlo woman abhorred and detostod, it was brandy. Tho very smell to her was nauseating. Undor advico sho had takon it in deadly sickness crossing the Atlantic, and ovor since the very name had recalled with horrible distinctness tho smoll of tho'ongino-room oils, tho lurching of the vessel, the grinding of tho wheel. «■ I—l think it is gotting better !" she avowed, faintly. For answor tho colonel produced another match, and turned toward the dining-room with an authoritativo gesture. " Como, Dorothy, you'vo got to tako it. Ono can't risk cholora—como !"

Miss Vernoll groanod. Was that a gigglo proceeding from benoath tho divan. Thank goodness Jamos was already busy at tho sideboard. Truly it had been a gleeful, explosivo, irrepressible giggle. She bont down as sho pasßed the spot from whence if emanated.

"Hush, Voyle I When all is quiet como ;o my room." " Mako haste, Dorothy," said tho colonel,

She hurriedly crossed tho hall. Ao sho entered ho hold out to her a glowing Vene tian goblet half full of brandy. "Thoro, drink that I No, it won't hurt you if you are ill. Bo quick I I'll got my death of cold." '

Valiantly tho old woman and young actress took a sup. It scorched hor throat, filled hor oyos with water, and sent her off into a fit of coughing. " That's right! Down with tho rest of it." "I believe—Jamos—l'll take it—upstairs —and finish it there I" doclarod she in the intervals of coughing. " Vory well." She mounted the stairs, her brother remaining behind a momont to put out the gas. Once in hor own apartment, she straight way approached the stationary basin in the cornor, and poured tho contents of the Venetian goblet therein, Then she Bat down to wait. Ten minutes passed. He was prudent. He would not vonturo out too soon. Fifteen ! Hark ! Such a peal as rang through the silent houso—such vigorous, repeated jer kings at the bell, as though the nocturnal visitor would wrench it from its sooket. What was it! What could it mean ? In an instant the servants wore crowding out of their rooms, James Vernoll, who had only just got to bod, was pulling on his drossing-gown and swoaring like a trooper. Aunt Dorothy was clingiug to tho topmost pillar of the balustrades, hernorves wrought up to tho pl'ch of hysterics The colonel swung out of his room with an oath. " Go down and open the door, you block - hoad I" ho cried to tho footman. Ho did as bidden, tho colonel following close at his heels. The hall-door was flung wide, then tho ma?sivo vestibule door, disclosing a sub stantial dark object just without. "Como in—you I" growled tho colonel. In responso to this cordial invitation he did come in. He had been absolutely unprotected from the storm, having neither oil cloth coat, surtout, nor umbrella. Little pools and rivulets were trickling down all over him. Ho was soaked to tho skin. Ho was positively dripping. As he came forward into tho gaslight he suggested to one a con densed Niagara. . Colonel Vernell started back at sight of the short, corpulent figure, the deep-set, glaring eyes, the flabby, colourless, agitated "Jonas Clafiin!" he ejaculated, "how whol-tho douce-do gou want?" And Jonas Clafiin answered : " My wife !"

CHAPTER XXIII.

A BRIDBLESS BENEDICT. " The t'me I've lost in wooing. In watching and pursuing, Tho light iliat lies In woman's osos -,»■„„„„ Hasbeen my heart's undolng."-MooRK

Dead silence. For fully half a ininuto tho rain beating fiercely in at tho open dsor was the only sound. Over Colonel Vernoll stole a Iromour of sickening approhonsion. What hud occurred? Had all his labour been in vain ? No, no, that could not bo I Vella was Claflin's wifo as safo and sure

as parson, and book, and ring, and Hconso could mako hor. But Jonas possessed no stronger sonso of practical humour than he himself. Most emphatically ho was in earnest now. "Get to bed I" thundorcd tho master of the mansion, including every domestic present in a comprohonsivo scowl. "And stay thoro I do you hear mo ? or, by tho Lord Harry, you'll got your walking-papers to-morrow, tho wholo puck of you I" Tho reprimand was oifoctivo. In an instant tho footman hod closed tho door and vanished—tho stairs woro cloarod.

On tho topmost step Miss Dorothy sat down weakly, holding on to tho banisters, and in tho splondid hull below the two men facod oaoh othor in a silonco born of excite mont. It was broken by the colonial. " What's up?" Clallin snatched off his hat, from which tho niin trickled down his nock, n voritablo water-spout, and dashed it on tho Hoor,

"Up ? Tho gamo's up. Your part of it, Como, whero havo you got her hiddon ', Out with it!"

"Who—what?" gaepod Vornell. "Nouo of that, I say I" wrathfully. " You thought a marriage would seal my mouth for the timo boing—that after you could spirit hor away—that then prido and droail of ridiculo would silonco mo. That was your littlo scheme, wasn't it? But I tell you I won't "

" My dear Clallin, I " " bo fooled— won't bo siloncod ? I'll publish it first. I'll mako tho country ring with tho story. I'll stand tho grins of fools and tho snoors of knaves. I won't bo swindled out of what's mino—mtV, I toll—"

" But listen a moment," pleaded Vornell, despairingly,

"I won't listen I Don't talk to mo. Excuse is Bolf-uccusation. And I will havo hor—l will, if I've got to move creation — if hoavou and oarth have got to chango places. She's mine, as much mino as my own house, nod my dogs and my hoses. She—"

And horo ho choked so with rago not a word could he utter. Ho had brokon off abrubtly whilo speaking in a shrill, rising voice. Vornoll took a match from a bracket near, walked into tho drawing-roem, lit tho gas, returned, and pushed Clallin into tho room.

"Now," dryly, "come to your sonsos. Don't be an idiot, man. Your ranting won't do you any good. Talk sonso. I don't at all comprohond whAt you're driving at. I haven't laid eyes on your wifo 6inco she loft this hou«o On your arm last ovon ing." Clallin was loosoning his collar. His face waa positively purplefrom tho paroxysm of fury into which ho had workod himsolf. Now ho took a stop forward, lifted his ferrety eyos to Vernell, lookod him through and through. " Aro you lying?" In curious contrast to hia companion tho cslonol was whito as paper. His close-sot, cunning eyes snapped ond scintillated with intense nervousness.

" Upon my soul, no !" " Haven't you been cognisant of hor actions "? "No." " Not even had suspicions ?" "No—no I" " Will you tako your oath you don't know whore she is at this moment ?"

" Fifty I" desparately. " I know nothing about hor, 1 toll you, nothing— nothing I" Clallin deposited himsolf and his soak ing garments on a frail structure of bamboo wooa and palo bluo satin. " Thon, with a groan, " sho has run away from me." " Couldn't thoro havo beon somo orror?" suggested tho colonel. "Whoro did you miss her first ? Could not sho have acci dentally missed tho train—stopped off, whilo you wero otherwise occupied at somo utation —perhaps anticipating a dolay. Toll mo all about it I"

Mr Claflin sprang up with moro energy than graco, and began pacing tho room rapidly. Despite all tho fear and anxinty this now and undroained-of complication engendered, Vornoll smiled at sight of tho abbreviated and pudgy figuro to which tho water-soaked bridal suit of fino-toxturod glossiness adapted itself •* ith unlovely ad hesion and clung with painful attachment; tho light displaced cravat, tho face which had lost its usualsmilo of egotistical satisiac tion, the rich black hair pushed back, scalp and all, and very much awry at that.

"I know bottor than that I" still tramp ing furiously up and down. "Thoro was no mistake. It was a forced marriage all through. Sho nover likod mo ovon when she consented to marry mo. No one knows that bottor than you do. You ran hor into it for fear I would betray you about tho monoy —" Vernoll leaped toward him with uplifted hand.

" For Heaven's sake, hush I" Claflin'a littlo inflamed eyes blinked round tho room.

" I'll be hanged if I will I Thoro's no ono horo — not a soul to bo mado tho wiser."

As grow his savage angor at being duped, deceived, made a butt and target of for jibos, and jokes, nnd derision, increased his dosiro to vent his irritability somowhore, on somo ono, strengthened that instinct deplorable, deapicablo, barbaric, but in tonßoly human, tho hungor for rotolia tion.

" As I was saying," he wont on, doggedly. And now Vornoll with another groan listened, knowing it was vain to try and check him.

" You woro afraid I would betray you— let the world know of the woalth out of which you swindled thoso children. It was a bad journey for you—that trip of mino to Australia. Will Vernoll was a millionaire —diod ono. At the time how much woro you worth ? Where now are those properties ho left ?" plumping down his two hundred and fifty pounds on the Turkish divan, '" and how many hundreds of thousands aro in your name to-day ?" Again his volco had risen to a dangerous key, hia unpleasantly rasping, aggrossive voice.

Vernoll camo up to him —stood behind him.

" Look hero I" quietly, but one could havo soon how his lipa twitched, his eyos glinted. " You'vo been drinking !" "Drinking!" frankly, "to bo sure I have ! Evor sinco she gavo mo the slip. It was the only way I could keep my courage up. Of course I've been drinking, but I'm not drunk—not by a good long sight! It sets my tongue wagging a little moro than usual perhaps, but I know what I'm saying every word of it! And it's all truo—you owned up—you couldn't help yourself I" exultantly. " You " "Yes, yes. Now you've said enough about it. Drop the subject. You wanted the girl as"—lowering his voice—"the price of your silence, didn't you ? Yes. Well, I said you should have her. She married you. Now, what in the name of all that's infernal you come here reproaohing me for, is more than I can understand." And he, too, flung himself down on tho Turkish divan.

"It nil brings us back to the point wo started from. You said her absence might be the result of a mistake. I toll you it wasn't. She never wanted to marry me. I'vo seen her turn pale with repugnance when I came near her. Oh, yes, I Baw that, and more. Jonas Clafiin is no fool. But I did love hor—l did admiro her—l did want Chicago to sco that I could have ono of the loveliest wives in America, as well as one of tho fastest horses and swiftest yachts—l did!" reminding ono, with his expression, tone, air of imperious determination, of a very ugly and (to be paradoxical) a very old (Jiild. "What has all that to do with this harangue ?" queried Vernoll, gloomily. " I don't know what threats or promises you made to induce her to marry me. She might as well not have done so. She locked me out of her room last night with tho pleasing information that she would hear my name, but declined tho honour of any further acquaintance. To-day she ran away from me. We left town this morn ing. Scarcely a syllable did sho speak. In the afternoon I went into tho smoking car for half an hour. While there the train stopped at a station. When I returned my lady had vanished. A note lay in my book. Here it ia."

He took from his pocket and offered to the colonel a very wet and crumpled bit of paper. The latter took it and read :

"Heartiest congratulations on your marriage —your next. A divorco suit will go by default. Aware that a lady doubles the expenses of a bridal tour, with mv usual unsolflshnoea I nerve myself to tho sacrifice of withdrawal, rewarded for my denial by tho knowledge that you, at east, enjoy the delights of a wedding journey, and wishing you—boa voyage!" Such an impertinent, satirical, comical, Hibernical little letter !

Colonel Vernell laughed nnd swore in tho same breath. " They wouldn't stop the train till we got to the ne?t station," ruefully continued the

dosortcd bridegroom. " Then I had to wait for the noxt train back. Then I inquired ; then I—oh, groat Jupiter I" swinging up with a liowl of disgust—"l'vo been on tho dead go ever since, and horo I am now in as bad a fix as ever. Give mo somo whisky.'

"Come ovor to tho dining-room. You can stay hero to-night?" as thoy crossod tho hall,

"No, no I Just a drink, and I'll bo oil." "It is almost two now." "No matter. (!o I must." But ovidently his resolution weakened with tho first glass. Anothor ho took—yot another. For awhile ho talked loud und fast; then his tone grow lower, loss voluble his spooch, his voico thick, broken, husky, sank to silence.

Vernoll half assisted, half hauled him ovor to thegreat, roomy, morocco-eoverod lounge, wont out, roturnod with a rug, Hung it ovor tho now slumbering intruder, took a nerve-soother himself, and wont upstairs to bod.

Ton minutes—fiftoon—twonty. Silonce, Nover was'tomb moro breathlessly still than this groat dark hoiiHo.

For not a soul saw nor hoard tho imlo-faced follow who omcrgod from undor tlio silken fringe of tho Turkish divan, crept on his hands and knoes across tho lloor, into tho hall, hushing his heart-bouts us ho wont,

CHAPTER XXIV,

A HINTED ACCUSATION.

" Ay, thoro aro somo good things In llfo that fall not away with tho roßt. And of all boat things upon oorth I hold that a faithful frlond Is tho bost." —MHUKDITH. Two I And from tho littlo brass clock at tho foot of tho stairs a soft, swoot chime of bolls gaily proclaimed tho hour. In tho dining-room tho gas still burned but dimly. Across tho floor, towrrd tho wido, morocco-covored sofa that dark figuro wont creeping—creeping. In thoir excitement, noithor had noticod what a poor imitation of Vella's writing was that scrawled on tho noto of farewell. When roturnod to Clallin, ho had moro likely thrust It in his pocket. No ono must scrutinise it moro closely, Voylo told himself. Doubts, suspicions, might nriso. After tho conversation ho had overheard, such would not suit his presont plans. No, ho must soouro the papor, and so put such a possibility out of tho question. He was besido the loungo now. Ho cautiously knolt upright, anddrowdoivn tho rug, Tho sloepor nover stirred. The boy bogan to examine his pockets with tho dex terity of n thief.

Ah ! thoro it was at last I Just as ho was dospairing of securing it, ho touched it, re covered it.

Ho turned, crushing it in his hand, and wont softly back the way ho had como. At tho stairs ho lifted himself to his full height and ascended with soundless footfalls.

On tho landing above, Miss Dorothy's door stood ajar, and from tho aporturo light streamed. Without knocking, he pushod it opon and wont In.

Sho started up at Bight of him. Sho had beon sitting in a low rockor by hordrossing tablo.

" My blossod boy ! you havo como at last I Wasn't it dreadful ? I did think I would faint whon tho crash came," closing the door noisolossly and locking it as sho spoko. "And then, James—and the revolver—and thoso awful lios—and may I bo forgivon I" Voylo triod the door to bo Bure it was secured, made hor sit down, and drew up a chair for himsolf.

" And thon the abominablo brandy I" she whispered, excitedly. "And right after, that ring, and that man!" with disgusted emphasis.

" But! how ia Volla? Whero is she?" put in Voylo, anxiously. Since his ontranco ho had boon vslnly Booking a chanco to ask tho question. " She is safo. I only loft hor about oight last ovoning."

Voyle smiled, and caught his broath in a quick gasp of relief

"Thank heaven for that I "—gladly. " How did she leave ? Whero did sho go ? Now tell tne all about it."

Sho drew hor chair closo to him, and did as bidden.

" I am glad sho has gono to Evelyn," ho said when sho had finishod. "It would not

havo done for hor to have romnined hore. It will bo all right whon sho comes back as Marc's wifo. By Jovo " —loaping to his feet—in his faco a sudden, startled dismay. "Could it havo boon posniblo that this morning he mistook mo for Volla? I did not dream of such a probability then. In fact, for tho timo boing, I actually forgot horongagoment to him, no crowded was my brain with schomos and plans of oscapo. I knew mysolf so woll, I folt suro ho must know me, I winked at him as I passod, to mako it a certainty, but ho bowed so low ho probably did not notico it. I must go straight off and find him I"—catching up tho hat ho had flung off on ontoring. "I can't rest easy till all is made cloar."

But with an immonso deal of decision for her, Miss Dorothy roso and barrod his way. " Now what is all this about ? Sit down and toll mo. Havo you seen Marc? I thought ho was in York. How did ho got back so soon ?"

Tho boy hail paled at thought of tho evil conßequonccs the episode of tho hotel cor ridor might entail, Ho placod both his hands on his aunt's shouldors, and looking down on tho chubby face, related tho in cident of tho morning previous. Sho lookod sorious whon ho had told hor.

" Whon you docoived your most intimate frionds, Voylo, your undo, Mr Clafln, that cute widow ovon, it would bo no difficult matter to mystify him. 1 wish it hadn't occurred, my dear, or that you had had an opportunity to speak to him, I'm afraid harm will como of it—l'm sadly afraid." " Oh, I guoss 'twill bo all right!" con cluded Voylo. brightening up with youth's swift revulsion of leoling. "Ho knows Volla would dio boforo sho would bo untruo to him. I'll boo him at dawn, though—just to make a sure thin" of it."

"How did you manage to oscapo—got back here ?"

" Why, you see while Jonas was in tho smoking-car I got off at a station, loavlng in a book on the seat I had vacated a moesago of farewell. Soon after a train westward bound stoamod up. It had passed that in wliioh was Clallin. It was a special. I fortunately had monoy, and startodback, Horo (you know I stili woar my bridal travelling costumo,) I took a haok and drovo to Charlio Lislo's. You know that ho boards at the Loland. I luckily caught him in, confided in him, laid aside my feminine, apparel, sworo him to socreoy, dinod in his rooms and camo horo to you. I had to wait till I was sure all had retired."

" But last night, my dear Voylo—l moan the night before?" faltered Miss Dorothy. The lad flung book his head and laughed —not loud, but heartily.

"It was a good joke. You should have aeon the old chap's face. Aunt Dolly, when I suggested the advisability of his procuring another apartment. 1 told you, didn't 1, we missed toe train last night, and stayed at the Palmer ?Of course. I must go over to my room for awhile. Thero are a few things I want to take with me. A few more I want you to try and Bmugglo to me."

" Very well. You wont monoy, of course. Volia wrote mo out an ordor for her money to-day. I told you how she procured yours." "Yes. I never gavo Volla credit for so much pluck," laughing.

"I will get it for you as soon as possible. In tho meantime "

She trotted over to the dressing-case as she spoke and took from the topmost drawer her alligator-skin shopping satchel. "No, no!" declared Voylo. "I have Borne—enough, Aunt Dorothy. ' But she insisted, turning into his pocket quite a handful of gold, silver, an i notes. As ho reached tho door, ho paused, turned, and came back.

"Did it ever occur to you," ho asked, regarding her steadily tho while, "how very curious was the fact of my father's dying in woalth, and leaving Vella and me penniless ?" She only glanced up at him perplexedly. His eyes had narrowed, as they always did when he thought deeply, his beautiful mouth was oddly stern. "Uncle James's wealth began with father's death," he added. "Now do you understand ?"

She Btarted back in horror, almost stumbling over the train of herCammalette maroon wrapper, " Oh, no, no ! Dear mo, no ! Whatever put such a dreadfid idea into your head ?" Her ancient and cherubic countenance was quite pallid with horror. Voylo only riveted those clear and pene trating eyes of his upon her, and said never a word. No wonder it shocked her—the dear, good, honest, simple old heart. " James was never quite like Will," she wept on in gentle, nervous defenca. "Not quite so—so particular in points of honour —nor so—ao high-spirited, but he would wrong no one—no one, lam sure of that." She paused quite breathless from her eager assertion,

" Woll, I must bo going. As soon as I can safely soo you I will do so. I may send you word to moot mo somewhere. I hardly know what I will do with myself boyond proving "ho broko off sharply, continu ing, confusedly, in a moment: "I may go to Philadelphia and soo Vella. Then it will bo timo for mo to adopt somo profession, sottlo down to somo steady work." Ho talked n littlo longor, tolling hor tho articles ho wished hor to sond him, cutition ing absolute prudonco and silence. Throo 1

"So late I I must bo going to my room, Vos, I can got out that way," in answor to her murmured quostion. "You know tho stops from tho balcony load to the Hat roof of tho summer study, and from thoro descent is oasy. And now good-byo, Aunt Dolly !" Putting bis arms tondorly round her. "I don't know what wo would do without you anyway I I must sco Marc first thing in tho morning—it's morning now for tho matter of that I This has boon a foarful ordoal1"

Into his oyos sprang big shining drops, and through thorn sho know how prostrating and painful had been tho oxcitomont of tho last few duys, despite all his termor joking and airy munnor.

" Woll, it'H all ovor now," comforted Misa Dorothy, with a choorfalnoss which would havo been croditnblo to Mark Tnploy. " You and Vella will laugh ovor it together somo day—so don't loso courage! You know :

"Thorolsncvora night without a day. Nor an evening without a morning, And tho darkoßt hour, us tho iioots sny, Is tho hour before the dawning I'"

"Bravo I" laughing down on her quizzi cally, though his oyos still woro moist. " Who wrote it?" " Was it Thackoray ?" musingly. Voylo laughed, shook hor and kissed hor —all in a breath. "No, I don't think it was. And now, my precious old guardian angol, good-night —good-bye I May Hoavon bless you and may 1 shako a foot yot at your wodding. Five minutes—ton. Sho wont over to tho window and stood thoro looking out. "I wish I could havo askod him about that arrest und tho mouoy. I was curious to know—not that I doubt him—dear, dear, no I That was just why I couldn't bring myself to spoak of it—fearing ho might think I dW.,r Without tho rain had ceased. Hut tho loavoa were dripping yot. From undor the ragged clouds stolo out a tearful moon.

Bolow sho could hoar Lako Michigau booming on tho shore.

Sho was quite chilled and wearied with standing at tho window before her anxious pationco woh rewarded. A dark figure nppoarod, making its way ovor tho roof of tho summor study. It clambored down a fow foot by tho casement of a Florentine window, thon dropped. Sho watched it whllo it crossed tho lawn— passed through tho goto— disappeared. (To be Continued.)

A FEMALE NIHILIST

A TRUE STORY OF LIFE IN

RUSSIA

;AIIKin(IKf)KnOMTIIK"IJOItNinLLMACIA/,INE.")

(Hy " Shopnlak," author of " Underground

Russia," &c.)

On tho 27th July, in the yoar 1878, tho littlo town of Talutorovsk, in Western Siboria, was profoundly excited by a pain ful ovont. A political prisonor, named Olga Linbatovitch, it was said,had miserably put an ond to her days. Sho was univer sally loved and ostooincd, and hor violent doath therefore produced a most mournful impression throughout tho town, and tho Ispravnik, orcbiofof tho police, waß socretly accused of having drivon the poor young girl, by his unjust persecutions, to tako away hor lifo.

Olga was sont to Talutorovsk, some months after tho trial known as that of tho " fifty " of Moscow, In which sho wus condoinncd to nine years' hard labour for Socialist propagandist^ a punishment after wards commuted into banishment for lifo. Unprovided with any means whatever of existence, for hor father - a poor engineer with a largofamily.couldscnd her nothing— Olga succoeded, by indefatigable industry, in establishing horsolf in a certain position. Although but littlo skilled in fomulo labour, sho endeavoured to livo by hor ncodlo, and becamo tho milliner of tho somi-civilisod ladies of tho town, who wont into raptures ovor hor work. Not unfrequontly sho ovon took tho placo of tho district doctor, a worthy man who, owing to old ago and a partiality for brandy, was in such n state that ho could not venture upon dolloate

operations, bocauso h'w hiinds shook. Mio acted for him also in many serious cases ballling his antediluvian knowlodgo. Somo of hor oures woro considered marvollous ; among othors, that of tlio district judgo, whom, by determined treatmont, sho had saved aftor a violent attack of dolirium tromons, a malady common to almost all mon in that wild country. In a word, Olga wus in groat favour with tho peaceful citizens of Talutorovsk. Tho hatred of tho polico towards hor was all tho greater for thut reason, Her proud and indopondont disposition would not pormit hor to submit to tho stupid and humiliating exigencies of tho representatives of tho Government Thoso representatives, bar barous and ovorbouring as thoy woro, con sidered ovory attempt to defend porsonal dignity a want of respect towards them selves—nay, a provocation, and neglected no occasion of taking thoir rovongo. Thoro was always a latent war botweon Olga and her guardians, a war of tho weak, bound hand and foot, against tho strong, armed at all points; for tho police havo almost arbitrary power over tho political prisonors who are undor thoir aurvoillanco.

Boforo long, on a trumpory ohargo, pro ceedings woro takon against her boforo the district judge, the very man whom sho had cured of delirium tremens, who sontoncod her to throo days' solitary confinement, It was continemont in a dark, fotid holo, full . of filth and vormin. Muroly in ontoring it sho was ovorcomo with disgust. When sho wna released rlio Boomed to havo passod through a sorious illnoss. It was not, how ovor, tho physical sufferings sho had under gone so much as the humiliation sho had on durod, which chafod hor proud disposition. From that timo sho became gloomy, taciturn, abrupt. Sho {spoilt whole days shut up in hor room, without seoing any body, cr wandered away from tho town into tho neighbouring wood, and avoidod people. She was oviaently planning some thing. Among tho worthy Citizens of Talutorovsk, Who had a compasßionato fool ing towards her, somo said one thing, some another, but no ono foresaw such a tragic ending as that of which rumours ran on July 27th. In tho morning tho landlady entered hor room and found it empty. Tho bed, undia turbod, clearly showed that she had not slept in it. She had disappeared. Tho first idoa which flashed through tho mind of the old damo was that Olga had escaped, and she ran in all haste to inform tho Ispravnik, fearing that any delay would bo oonsidoreil as a proof of complicity.

The Ispravnik did not lose a momont. Olga Liubatovitch being one of the most seriously compromised women, ho feared the severest censure, perhaps oven dismissal, for his want of vigilance. He immediately hastened t) tho spot in order to discover, if possible, tho direction thof ugitivo had taken. But directly ho entered tho room he found upon tho table two letters signed and sealod, one addressed to the authoritos, tho other to tho sister of Olga, Vera Liubatovitch, who had also boen banished to another Siberian town. These letters were im mediately openod by tho Ispravnik, and they revealed the mournful fact that the young girl had not taken to flight, but had committed suicide. In tho letter addressed to tho authorities she said, in a few linus, that sho died by her own hand, and boggod that nobody might bo blamed. To lu.r eteter she wrote moro fully, explaining th&t her life of continuous annoyance, of inac tivity, and of gradual wasting away, which is tho lifo of a political prisoner in Siberia, had become hateful to her, that sho could no longer endure it, and preferred to drown herself in the Tobol. Sho finished by affectionately begging her sister to forgive her for tho grief she might cause her and her friends and companions in misfoitine.

Without wasting a moment tho Ispravnik hastened to l.ho Tobol, and there he found the confirm i'ion of the revelation of Olga. Parts of hir dross dangled upon the bushes, under which lny hor bonnet, lapped by tho rippling water, Somo peasants said that on the pra^ous day they had set n the young girl wandering on the bank with a gloomy and melancholy aspect, looking fixedly at tho turbid waters of the river. Tho Isprav nik. through whoso hands all tho corres pondence passed of tho political prisoners banished to his district, recalled certain ex pressions and re]3}.arkß that had struck him

in tho last letters of Olga Liubatovitoh, tho moaning of which now bocamo clear.

Thoro could no longor bo any doubt. The Ispravnik sent for all the fishormon near, and boj;an to dra^tho river with poles, casting in nets to recover tho body. This, however, led to nothing. Nor was it surprising ; tho broad river was so rapid that in asinglo night it must havo carried a body away —who knows how many leagues ? For three days tho Ispravnik continued his efforts, and stubbornly endeavoured to mako the rivorsurrondorits proy. But at last, after having worn out all his pooplo and broken sovoral nets against the stones nnd old trunks which the river mockod him with, ho had to givo up tho attempt as unavailing, 11. Tho body of Olga, her heart within it throbbing with joy and uncertainty, had meanwhile boon hurried away, not by tho yo'low waters of tho Tobol, but by a vehicle drawn by two horses galloping at full spood.

ilaving'mado nrrangemonks with a young rustic whom, in her visits to tho neigh bouring cottages in a medical capacity, sho had succeeded in converting to Socialism, Olga disposal ovorything so as to make it bo bolioved that sho had drowned herself, and on tho night lixed secrotly left hor house and proceeded to tho neighbouring forest, whoro, at a placo agroed upon, her young disciplo was awaiting hor. The night was dark. Beneath tho thick foliage of that virgin forest nothing could bo soen, nothing could bo heard,but tlio hootings of tho owls, and somolimos, brought from afar, the howling of tho wolvos, which infost tho wholo of Siberia.

As nn indisponsablo precaution, tho meoting-placo was iixod at a distance of about throo miles, in tho interior of tho forost. Olga had to traverse tho distance in uttor darkness, guided only by tho stars, which occasionally pierced through the donso foliago. Sho was not afraid, how over, of tho wild boasts, or of tho highway mou and vagrants who aro always prowling round tho towns in Siberia, It was the comotery-koepor's dog sho was afraid ot. Tho cometorios aro always woll lookod after in that country, for among tho horrible crimes committed by the scum of tho con victs ono of tho most common is that of disinterring and robbing tho newly buried dead. Now, tho keoper of tlio cemetery of TalutorQvsk was not to be trifled with ; his dog still less so. It was a mastiff, as big as a calf, ferocious and vigilant, and could hoar tho approach of anyone a quarter of a milo off. Meanwhile tho road passed close to tlio cottage of tho solitary keoper, It was precisoly for tho purposo of avoiding it that Olga, instead of following tho road, had plunged into tho forost, notwithstanding tho groat danger of losing her way.

Stumbling at every stop against tho roots and old fallen trunks, pricked by the thorny bushes, hor faco lashed by boughs elastic as though movod by springs, she kept on for two hours with extreme fatigue; sustainod only by the hope that blio would shortly reach tho placo of mooting, which could not bo far off. At last, indeod, tho darknoss began to diminish somewhat and tho troos to becomo thinner, and a momont afterwards blio entered upon open ground. Sho suddenly stopped, lookod around, her blood freezing with terror, and recognised tho keoper's cottago. She had lost hor way in tho forost, and, aftor so many windings, had gono straight to tho point sho wished to avoid.

Her first impulso was to run away as fast as hor remaining strength would enablo her, but a momont afterwards a thought flashed through hor mind which restrained hor. No Bound camo from tho cottago ; till was silont. What could this indicate but tho absonco of tho occupant? Sho stood still nnd listened, holding her breath. In tho cottago not a sound could bo hoard, but in nnothor direction sho hoard, in the Bilence of tho night, tho distant barking of a dog, which soomod, howovor, to bo approaching noaror. Evidently tho kocpor had gono out, but at any moment might return, and his terrible dog wus perhaps running in front of him, as though in search of prey. Fortunately from tho keeper's houso to tho place of appointment thoro was a path which tho fugitive had no nood to avoid, and sho sot off and ran as fast as tho fear of boing soized and bitten by tho forocious animal would allow hor Tho barking, in dood, draw nearer, but so donso was tho forost that not oven a dog could ponetrato it. Olga soon succeeded in reaching tho opon ground, breathless, harassed by tho foar of being followod nnd tho doubt that sho might not find anyono at the placo of ap pointment. Great was hor delight whon sho saw in the darkness tho expected vohicle, and recognised tho young peasant. To loap into tho vohiclo and to hurry away waa tho work of an instant. In rathor moro than live hours of hard driv ing thoy reached Tumen, a town of about 18,00 ' inhabitants, fifty miles distant from Talutorovsk. A few hundred yards from tho outskirts the vohiclo turned into a dark lane and very quietly approached a house whero it was evidontly oxpocted. In a window on tlio first floor a light was lit, and

tho figure of a man appeared. Thon the window was oponed, and tho man, having recognised tho young girl, exchanged a few words in a low tono with tho peasant who waa acting as driver. Tho latter, without a word, roso from his seat, took tho young girl in his arms, for who was small and light, nnd passed hor on liko a baby into tho ro bust hands of tho man, who introduced hor into his room. It was tlio simplest and safest.nioans of entering unobsorved. Tho peasant wont his way, wishing the young girl tJlUccoss, and Olga was at last üblo to°tak« ft few hours' rest. Hor first step had succoodod. Many were tho porils from which, thanks to hor clovornoss, sho oscaped. But her greatest troublos awaited hor in tho city blio so ardently desired to reach, St. Petersburg.

It waa at St. Petersburg that I first met hor-not at a " business " gathering, but ono of moro pleasure. Sho was seated at tho end ol tho sofa, and, with hor head bont, was slowly sipping a cup of tea. Hor thick black hair, of which sho had an abun danco, hung ovor her sholdors, tho ends touching tho bottom of tho eofa. When sho rose it almost roaohod to hor knoos. Tho colour of hor face, a goldon brown, liko that of tlio Spaniards, proclaimod her Sou thorn origin, hor fnthorand grandfather having boon political refugees from Mon tenegro Who ha i sottled in JRupaia. Thero was nothing Russian, in fact, in any foaturo of hor faco. With hor largo and black eye brows, shaped liko a Bieklo as though sho kept them always raised, thoro was some thing haughty and daring about hor, which struck ono" at first sight, and gavo her tho appearnnco oj the woman belonging to her native land, From her now country sho had dorivod, howover, a pair of bluoeyos, which always appoarod half closed by their long lashes, and cast flitting shadows upon her soft cheoks whon sho moved hor eyolids, and a litho, delicate, and rather slim figure, which somewhat relieved the severe and rigid expression of hor face. Sho had, too, a certain unconscious charm, slightly statuesque, which is often met with among women from tho South. Gazing at this stately faco, to which a regular nose with wido nostrils gavo a somewhat aquiline shapo, I thought that this was precisely what Olga Liubotoviteh ought to bo as I had pictured hor from tho account of her adventures. But on a sudden she smiled, und I no longor recognised her. Sho smiled, not only with tho full ver milion lips of v brunotto, but also with her blue eyos, with hor rounded cheeks, with ovory muscle of her face, which was sud denly lit up and irradiated liko that of a child. , . To see this young girl, so simple, so quiet, and so modost, who became burning red, bashfully covered her face with both hands, and hurried away upon hearing some poetry dedicated to hor by somo former disciplo-to sco tins young girl, I say, it was difficult to bcliovo that she was an escaped convict, familiar with condom nations, prisons, trials, escapes, and adventures of every kind. It was only necessary, however, to see her for once at work to believo instantly in everything. She wus transformed, displaying a certain natural and spontaneous instinct which was something between tho cun ning of n fox and tho skill of a warrior. This outward simplicity and candour served her thon liko the shield of Mambrino, and enabled hor to issue un scathed from perils in which many mon, considered able, would unquestionably have lost their Uvea. Oneday the police, whilemakmg a search, really had her in thoir grasp. A friend, distancing tho gendarmes by afew moments, had merely only timo to rush breath loss up the stairs, dash into the room whore she was, and exclaim, "Save yourself! the police!" when the police were already surrounding the house. 01"a had not even time to put on her bon net Just as she was, she rushed to the back stairs, and hurried down at full speed. Fortunately, the street door was not yet i guarded by the gendarmes, and ths was able to enter a littlo shop on tho ground floor. , She had only twenty kopecks m her pocket,

having boon unablo in her haste to get any monoy. But this did not trouble her. For'fifteen kopecks she bought a cotton handkerchief, and fastened it round hor head in tho stylo adopted by, coquoUish sorvant girls. With tho livo ko pecks remaining sho bought somo nuts, and left tho shop eating them in such a quiet and innocent manner that the detachment of polico, which meanwhile had advanced and surrounded tho houso on that sido, lot hor pass without evon asking hor who sho was, although tho description of hor was well known, for hor photograph had boon distri buted to all tho agents, and tho police have always strict orders to let no ono who may arouse tho slightest suspicion lcavo a houso which thoy have surrounded. This was not tho only timo that sho .slipped liko an eel through tho fingor»-of tho police. She was inoxhaustiblo in expedients, i-n stra tagems, and in cunning, which she always had at her command at such times; and with all this she maintained her serious and woro ospeot, so that she seemed utterly incapable of lending herself to deceit or simulation. Perhaps sho did not think, but acted upon instinct rather than reflection, and that was why blio could meet every danger with the lightning like rapidity of a fencor who parries a thrust, IV. The romance of her life commenced during hor stay in St. Petersburg, after hor escape She was ono of the so-called "Amazons," and was one of the most fanatical. She ardently preached against lovo and advocated celibacy, hold ing that with so many young mon and young girls of tho present day lovo was a clog upon revolutionary activity. Sho kept her vow for several years, but was vanquished by tho invincible. There was at that time in St. Petersburg a cortain Nicholas Morosoff, a young poot and brave fellow, handsome, and fascinating as his pootie dreams. Ho was of a graceful figure, tall as a young pine-tree, with a fine hoad, an abundanco of curly hair, and a pair of chestnut eyes, which soothed like a whis per of love, and sent forth glances that shono liko diamonds in tho dark whenever a touch of onthusiasm moved him.

Tho bold " Amazon " and the young poet mot, and their fate was decided. I will not tell of the delirium and transports through which they passed. Their leve was like somo delicate and sensitive plant, which must not be rudely touched. It was a spontaneous and irresistible feeling. They did not perceive it until they were madly enamoured of each other. They bocame huslwnd and wife. It was said of them that when" they were together inexorable Fate had no heart to touch them, and that its cruel hand became a paternal one, which warded off tho blows that threatened them. And, indeed, all their misfortunes happened to them when they woro apart. This was tho incident which did much to givo rise to tho saying. In November, 1870, Olga foil into the hands of tho polieo. It should be oxplained that when these suocoed in arresting a Nihilist thoy always leave in tho apartments of tho captured person a fow men to take into custody anyone who may como to see that person. In our language, this is called a trap. Owing to tho Russian habit of arranging everything at homo, and not in tho cafds, as in Europe, tho Nihilists are often compelled to go to each other's houses, and thus those traps become fatal. In order to diminish the risk, safety signals aro generally placed in tho windows, and are trken away at tho first sound of the polico. But owing to the negligence of the Nihilists themselves, accustomed as they aro to danger, and so occupied that they sometimes have not timo to eat a mouthful all day long, tho absonce of those signals is often disregarded, or attributed to some combination of circumstances—the diffi culty, or porhapa the topographical impos sibility, of placing signals in many apart monfcs in such a manner that they can be soon from a distance. This measure of public security frequently, therefore, does not answer its purpose, and a good half of all the Nihilists who have fallen into tho hands of tho Govornmont have beon caught in these vory traps. A precisely similar misfortune hap ponod to Olga, and ttt* worst of it was that it was in tho houso of Alexander Kviat kovsky, ono of tho Terrorist loaders, where tho police found a perfect magazine of dynamite, bombs, and similar things, to gothor with a plan of tho Winter Palaco, which, after the explosion thero, led to his capital conviction. As may readily bebe liovcd, tho polico would regard with any thing but favourable oyes everyone who eamo to tho houso of such a man.

Directly she entered, Olga was im mediately eoized by two policemon, in order to prevent her from defending herself. She, however, displayed not tho slightest dosiro to do so. Sho feignod surprise, astonish mont, and invented thero and then tho story that she had como to see some dress makers (who had, in tact, their namos on a doorplato below, and occupied tho upper floor) for tho purposo of ordering something, but had mistaken the door ; that she did not know what thoy wanted with her, and wishod to return to her husband, etc. ; the usual subterfuges to which tho police are accustomed to turn a deaf ear. But Olga played her part so woll that tho pristav, or hoadof thepoliceof thodistrict, was really in clined to boliovo hor. Ho told hor that any how, if sho did not wish to bo immediately takon to prison, she must givo hor name and conduct him to hor house. Olga gave tho first name which camo into hor mind, which naturally enough was not that under which she was residing in the capital, but as to her place of rosidonco eho declared, with every demonstration of profound despair, that eho could not and would not tako him thoro or say where it was. Tho pristav insisted, and upon her re iterated refusal, observed to tho poor simple thing that hor obstinacy waß not only projudical to her, but even usoloss, as, knowing her name, he would havo no difficulty in sending Bomo ono to tho Adressni. Stoland obtaining her address. Struck by this unanswerable argument, Olga said eho would tako him to hor homo. No Boonor had sho descended into the street, accompanied by tho pristav and some of his subalterns, than Olga mot a friend, Madame Maria A., who was going to Kviatkovßky's, whevo a meeting of Terrorists had actually been fixed for that vory day. It was to this chanoo meeting that tho Terrorists owed their escape from tho vory gravo dangor which threatened them; for tho windows of Kviatkovsky's rooms woro so placed that it was impossible to sco any signals thoro from tho street. Naturally enough, tho two frionds mado no sign to indicate that thoy woro acquainted with each othor, but Madame Maria A., on soeing Olga with the polico, ran in nil hnsto to inform hor friends of tho arrest of their companion, about which thero could be no doubt. Tho first to be warned was JSicholas Morosoff, as the police in a short time would undoubtedly go to his house and mako the customary search. Olga felt this was precisely what hor friend would do, and therefore her solo object now was to'delay her custodians so as to give Morosoff time to " clear " his rooms (that is to Bay, destroy or tako away papers and ovorything compromising), and to get away himself. It was this that sho was anxious about, for he had been accused by tho traitor Goldenberg of having taken part in tho mining work connected with tho Moscow attempt, and by the Russian law was liable to the penalty of death. Greatly omboldened by this lucky mooting with her friend, Olga, without Baying a word, conducted the polico to the Ismailovaky Polk, one of the quarters of the town most remote from the place of her arrest, which was in the fNevsky district. They found tho street and the house indi cated to them. They entered and sum moned the dvornik (doorkeeper), who has to be present at every search made. Then came the inevitable explanation. Tho dvornik said that he did not know the lady, and that she did not lodge in that house. Upon hearing that statement, Olga covered her faco with her hands, and again gavo way to despair. Sho sobbingly admitted that she had deceived themfrun fear of her husband, wbo was very harsh, that she had not given her real name and address, and wound up by begging them to let hor go homo. "What's the use of all this, madam? exclaimed the pristav. "Don't you see that you are doing yourself harm by thoso tricka? I'll forgive you this timo, becuupo of your inexperience, but tako care you don't do it again, and lead us at once to your houso, or otherwise you will repent After much hesitation, Olga resolved to obey the injunctions of the pristav. She gave her name, and said she lived in one of tho lines of the Vasili Ostrov. It took an hour to reach the place. At last they arrived at the house indicated. Here precisely the same sceno with the dvornik was repeated. Then the pristav lost all patience, and wanted to take her away to prison at once, without making a search in hor houso. Upon heaving the pristav's harßh announcement, 0 ga Hung herself into an arm-chair and had v violent attack of hysterics. They fetched some water and sprinkled her fac? with it to

revivo hor. When sho had somewhat recovorcd, tho pristav ordered her to rise and go at onco to tho prison of tho district. Hor hysterical attack rccommonccd. But tho pristav would stand no moro nonsense, and told her to got up, or otherwise ho would havo her taken away in a cab by main force.

The despair of tho poor lady was now at its height. " Listen ! " sho oxclaimod. " I will tell you everything now." And she began tho slory of hor life and marriage. Sho was tho daughter of a rustic, and she named the province and tho village. Up to the ago of sixteen sho remained with hor father and looked after the sheep. But one day an engineer, her future husband, who was at work upon a branch line of rail way, came to stop in the houso. Ho fell in lovo with hor, took her to a town, placed her with his aunt, and had teachers to educate her, as she was illiterate and knew nothing. Then ho married her, and they lived very happily togother for four years ; but ho had since become discontented, rough, irritable, and she feared that ho loved hor no longer ; but she loved him as much as ever, as she owed evorything to him, and could not be ungrateful. Then

she said that he would be dreadfully angry with hor, and would perhaps drive her away if she wont to the house in charge of tho police; that it would bo a scandal; that ho would think sho had stolen some thing ; and so on. When Olga had finished hor story tho pristav began to console her. He said that her husband would certainly pardon her when he heard her explanation ; that tho same thing might happen to any ono ; and so on. Olga resisted for a while, and asked tho pristav to promiso that he would assure hor husband sho had dona nothing wrong ; and moro to the same effect. Tho pristav promised everything, in ordor to bring tfie matter to an end, and this time Olga proceeded towards hor real residence. She had gained three hours and a half; for hor arrest took place at about two o'clock, and sho did not reach her own homo until about half-past five. Sho had no doubt that Morosoff had got away, and after having "cleared" the rooms had thrice as much time as he required for tho operation.

Having ascended the stairs, accompanied by tho dvorniks and the police, she rang the bell. The door opened and the party entered, first the antechamber, then the sitting-room. There a terriblo surprise awaited her. Morosoff in person was seated at a table, in his dressing-gown, with a poncil in his hand and a pen in his ear. Olga fell into hysterics. This time they were real, not simulated.

How was it that he had remained in the house ? The lady previously mentioned had not failed to hasten at once and infornj Morosoff, whom she found at home with three or four friends. The rooms were at onco " cleared " with the utmost rapidity. When all was ready and they were about to leave, Morosoff staggered his friends by acquainting them With tho plan ho had thought of. He would remain in tho house alone and await the arrival of tho polico. They thought he had lost his senses : for everybody knew, and no one better than

hunsolf, that, with the terrible accusation hanging over his head, if once arrested it would bo all over with him. But ho said he hoped it would not come to that—nay, ho expected to get clear off with Olga, and in any case would share her fate. Thoy would escape or perish together. His friends heard him announce this determina tion with mingled feolin-'s of grief, astonish ment,'and admiration. It either entreaties nor remonstrances could shake his determina tion. He was firm, and remained at homo after saymg farewell to his friends, who took loavo of him as of a man on the point of death.

He had drawn up his plan, which by the suggestion of some mysterious instinct perfectly harmonised with that of Olga, although they had never in any way arranged tho matter. He also had de termined to feign innocence, and had arranged everything in such a manner as to mako it seem as the ugh ho were tho most poaceful of citizens. As ho lived under the false passport (if an engineer, ho covered his table with a heap of plans of various dimensions, and, having put on his dressing gown and slippers, set diligently to work to copy one, whilo waiting the arrival of his unwelcome guests.

It was in this guise and engaged in this innocent occupation that ho was surprised by the police. Tho scene which followed may easily be imagined. Olga flung her arms round his nock, and poured forth a stream of broken words, exclamations, ex cuses, and complaints of theso men who had arrested her because she wishod to call upon her milliner. In the midst, however, of those exclamations, Bhe whispered in his ear, " Have you not been warned?" "Yes," he replied in the some manner, "everything is in order. Don't be alarmed." Meanwhile ho played tho part ef an affectionate husband mortified by the scandal. After a littlo scolding and then a little consolation, he turned to the pristav and asked him for an explanation, as he could not quite understand what had happonod from tho disconnected words of his wife. Tho pristav politely told the whole story. Tho engineer appeared greatly surprised and grieved, and could not refrain from somowhat bitterly censur ing his wifo for her unpardonable im prudence. Tho pristav, who was evidently reassured by the aspect of tho husband and of the whole household, doclarod neverthe less that ho must make a search.

"I hopo you will oxcuso mo, sir," he added, "but lam obliged to do it; it is my duty." " I willingly submit to the law," nobly replied the engineer. Thereupon ho pointed to the room, so as to indicate that tho pristav was free to search it thoroughly, and having lit a oandle with his own hand, for at that hour in St. Petersburg it was already dark, be oponod the door of tho adjoining room, which waa his own little plaoe. The searoh was mado. Certainly not a single scrap of paper was found, written or printed, which Bmolt of Nihilism. " By rights I ought to tako the lady to prison," said the pristav, when he had finished his search, "especially as her pre vious behaviour was anything but what it ought to have been ; but I won't do that, I will simply keop you under arrest here un til your passports havo been verified. You see, sir," he added, "wo police officers are : not quite so bad as tho Nihilists mako us out."

" Thoro aro always honesty mon in evory occupation," replied the ongineer. More compliments of tho samo kind, which I need not repeat, were oxchangod betwoon them, and the pristav wont away with most of his men, well impressed with such a polite and pleasant reception. He left, however, a guard in the kitchen, with strict injunctions not to lose sight of the host and hostess, until further orders.

Morosoff and Olga were alone. Tho first act of tho comedy they had improvised had met with complete success. But the storm was far from having blown over. The veri fication of their passports would show that they wore false. The inevitable consequence would be a warrant for their arrest, which might be isaued at any moment if the veri fication were made by means of tho tele graph.. The sentinel, rigid, motionless, with .is aword by his side and his revolver in his belt, was seated in the kitchen, which was at the back, exactly opposite the outer door, so that it was impossible to approach the door without being seen by him. For several hours they racked thoir brains and discussed, in a low voice, various plans of escape. To free themselves by main force was not to bo thought of. No arms had been loft in the place, for they had been purposely taken away. Yet without weapons, how could they grapplo with this big, sturdy fellow, armed as he was ? They hoped that as the h»urs passed on he would fall asleep. But this hope was not realisod. When, at about half-past ten, Morosoff, undor the pretext of going into his little room, which was used for various domostic purpo3oß, passed near the kitchen, ho saw the man still at his post, with his eyes wido open, attontivo and vigilant as at first Yet when Morosoff returned Olga would havo declared that tho way w-tts quite clear and that thoy had nothing to do but to leave, so beaming were his eyes. Ho had, in fact, found what he wanted—a plan simploand safe. The little room opened into a small corridor which served us a sort of

ante-chamber, and its door flanked that of the kitchen. In returning to the sitting room Morosoff observed that when the door of tho little room was wide open, it com pletely abut out the view of the kitchen, and conßequently hid from the policeman the outer-door and also that of the sitting-room. It would be possible, therefore, at a given momont to pass through the antechamber without being seen by the Bentincl. But this could not bo dono unless some ono camo ■l openod the ''oor of the littlo room. Neither Olga nor Morosoff could do this, for it under some pretext they opened it, they would of course have to leave it open. This would immediately arouse sus-picion, and the policeman would run after them and catch them perhaps before thoy had descended tho staircase. Could they trust tho landlady? The temptation to do so

was great. If she consented to assist them succofb might bo considorod certain. BuJ if sho refused I Who could guarantee that

' from fear of boing punished as an accom plico, sho would not go and reveal overjj thing to tho polico ? Of course she did no suspect in tho least what kind of pcoplj her lodgers were. Nothing, therefore, was said to her, bu thoy hoped nevertheless to have ho uncori scious nssistanco, and it was upon the Morosoff had based his plan. Abou eleven o'clock she went into the little room whore the pump was placod, to got thj water to fill the kitchon cistern for the noxj day's consumption. As the room was very small, she generally left one of the twf pails in tho corridor, while she filled thf other with water, and, of course, was thuj obliged to leave the door open. _ Everything thus deponded upon the position in whiel sho placed her pail. An inch or two on on« sido or the other would decide their fate for it was only when tho door of tho little room was wide opon that it shut out the view of tho kitchen and concealed the enc of tho ante-chamber. If not wide open, part of tho outer door could bo seen, There remained half an hour before tho de cisive moment, which both employed in pre paring for flight. Their wraps were hong' ing up in the wardrobe in thennto-chamborj They had, therefore, to put on what they had with them in the sitting-roomJ Morosoff put on a light summer overcoat. Olga threw over hor shoulders a w00"{"j scarf to protect her somewhat from the cold. In order to deaden as much as pos-i

sible tho sound of their hosty footsteps, which might arouse the attention of tl«| sentinel in tho profound silence of the night, both of them put on their goloshesj which, being elastic, made but little noise, j Thoy had to put them on next to then stockings, although it was not particularly^ agroeable at that season, for they woro 1W their slippers, their shoes having been purj posely sent into the kitchon to he cleaned! for the following day in order to remove all suspicion respecting their intentions, |

Everything being prepared, they re mained in readiness, listening to every sound made by the landlady. At last cams the clanging of the empty pails. She went to tho little room, threw open tho door, and began her work. The moment had arrived. Morosoff east a hasty glance. Oh, horror « Tho empty pail scarcely projected beyond the threshold, and the door, was at a very acute angle, so that even from the door of the sitting-room where they were part oi the interior of the kitchen could be seen. Ho turned towards Olga, who was standing behind him holding her breath, and made an energetic sign in the negative. A few minutes passed, which seemed like_ hours. The pumping ceased; the pail was full. She was about to place it o» the floor. Both stretched their nooks and advanced a Btep, being unable to control the anxiety of their suspense. This time the heavy pail banged against the door and ferced it back on It* hinges, a stream of water being spilt. The view of the kitchen was completely shut out, but anothordisasterhadoccurred. Overbalanced by tho heavy weight, the landlady had come h'ilf out into the corridor, " She has seen us," whispered Morosoff, falling back paio ns death. "No," replied Olga,, excitedly; and she wus right. The land lady disappeared intdthe little room, and a moment afterwards recommenced her clattering work.

Without losing a moment, without even turning round, Morosoff gave the signal to his companion by a firm grip of the hand, and both issued forth, hastily passed through the corridor, softly opened the door, and found fliemaelves upon the land ing of the staircase. With cautious steps they descended, and wore in the street, ill clad but very light of heart. A quarter of an hour afterwards thsy were in a house' where they were being anxiously awaited by their friends, who welcomed them with joy more easy to imagine than to describe.

In their own abode their flight was not discovered until late in the mortiing, when tho landlady came to do the room.

When the polico became aware of the. escape of the supposed engineer and bis wife, they saw at once that they had been outwitted. The pristav, who had been so thoroughly taken in, had a terrible time* of it, and proceeded with tho utmost eagerness to make investigations some what behindhand. The verification of the passports of course showed that thoy were false. The two_ fugitives were there fore " illegal" people, but the police wished to know, at all events, who they were, and to discover this was not very difficult, for both had already be«sn in the hands of the police, who, therefore, were in possession of their photographs. The landlady and tho dvornik recognised them among a hundred shown to thorn by the gendarmes. A com parison with the description of them, also preserved in the archives of the gendar merio, loft no doubt of their identity. It was in this manner the police found oufci what big fish they had stupidly allowed'tof escape from their not, as may be seen by: reading tho report of the trial of Sciriaeff and his companions. With ex treme but somewhat tardy /_eal, the gen darmes ransacked every place in search of them. ' Thoy had their trouble for nothing. A Nihilist who thoroughly determines to conceal himself can never be found. Ho falls into the hands of the police only when ho returns to active life.

Whon the search for them began to rolax, Olga and Morosoff quitted their place of concealment and resumed their positions in tho ranks. Somo months afterwards they went abroad in order to legitimise their union, so that if some day they were arrested it might be recognised by tho police.' They crossed the frontierof Roumania unmolested, stopped thero somo time, and having.ar ranged their privato affair*, went to reside for awhile at Geneva, where Morosoff wished to finish a work of some length on the Russian revolutioniary movement. Here Olga gave birth to a daughter, and for aw-iiile it seemed that all the strength of her ardent and exceptional disposition would concontrate itself in maternal love., She d'd not appear to caro for anything.! Sho seomed even to forget hor husband in hor exclusive devotion to tho little one. Thero was something almost wild'in tho intensity of her love. Four months passed, and Morosoff, obey ing the call of duty, chaffing at inactivity, and eager for the struggle, returned to Russia. Olga could not follow him with her baby at tho breast, and, oppressed by a mournful presentiment, allowed him to depart alone. A fortnight after he was arrosted. On hearing this terrible news, Olga did not swoon, she did not wring her hands, she did not even shod a single tear. She stifled hor grief. A single, irrosistible, and supremo idea pervaded hor—to fly to him ; to save him at nil costs; by money, by craft, by tho dagger, by poison, even at tho risk of her own life, so that she oauld but save him.

And the child? That poor little weak and delicate creature, who needed all her maternal cure to support its feeble life? What could sho do with the poor innocent babe, already almost an orphan ? She could no^ take it with hor. Sho must leave it behind.

Torriblo was the night which the poor mothe .passed with her child before setting out. Who can depict the indescribablo anguish of her heart, with the horrible alternative placed before her of forsaking hor child to aavs t-ho man sho loved, or of forsaking him to save the littlo ono. On the ono side was maternal feeling ; on tho othor hor ideal, her convictions, her devo tion to the cause which he steadfastly Borvod.

She did not hesitate for a momont. She must go.

On tho morning of the day fixed she took leavo of all her friends, shut herself up alono with hor child, and remained with it tor come minutes to bid it farewell. When she issued forth, her face was pale as death and wot with tears.

She sot out. She moved heaven and earth to save her husband. Twenty timos sho was within an ace of being arrested But it was impossible for hor efforts to avail. Ab implicated in the attempt against tho lifo of tbo Emperor, he was confined in the fortress of St. Pater and St. Paul; and thoro is no escape from there. She did not relax her efforts, but stubbornly and doggedly continued them, and all this while was in agony if she did not constantly hear .about her child. If the letters were de layod a day or two, hor anguish could not be restrained. The child was ever prosent in her mind. One day she took compassion on a little puppy, still blind, which she found upon a heap of rubbish, where it had been thrown. "My friends laugh at me " she wrote, " but I lovo it because its little feeble cries renrni me of those of m^ child." i Meanwhile the child died. For a whole month no nno had the courage to tell the sad news. But at last tho silence had to be broken. Olga herself was arrested a few weeke afterwards. I Such is the story, tho true story, o* OleS Liubatovitch Of Olgd Uubatovitch, do^ *ll t I „f drf. and hundreds v ,oj others. I should not have related it hm_ not been «,. .. lii #^'\

THE AUCKLAND EVENING STAR, SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 1885.

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