The Argosy, Vol. XXV, No. 1 — page 102: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

102 _ BY RIGHT OF SWORD. ‘“ Qh, it is too horrible, too awful. God have mercy on us. God have mercy on us.’’ Sad as things were so far as I knew them, this dejection seemed dis- proportionate and excessive. She was like a mad woman distraught with fear or grief ; and she waved her arms and hands about as if wrestling with emotions she could not conquer. ‘* Oh, it can’t be true; it can’t be,’’ she moaned ; and then came suddenly and clinging to me, turned my face to the light and holding it between her white, trembling hands, she gazed at me with a look of mingled anguish, fear, doubt, wildness, and—love; her lips parted and her bosom rising and falling as if in the strain of her passionate feelings. When her scrutiny was over, her hands seemed to slip from me and she fell on her knees close to me and I heard her a prayers with vehement fervor. ‘‘ What does this mean, Olga?’’ I asked gently, bending. down cand lay- ing my hand on her shoulder. She looked round and up at my touch, and tried to smile. Then she rose, and standing opposite to me, put her hands on my two shoulders so that her face was close beneath mine. And all the time she was muttering prayers. Then, in a voice broken and tremulous, she said : ‘ Brother, swear as you believe there is a God in heaven you will answer truly what I ask.’’ ““T will. I swear it,’’ I answered, wishing to quiet her. ‘* Did you really do this ?”’ ‘“Do what ?’”’ I asked, not understanding. “ Kill Christian Tueski? ”’ ‘Did I kill him? No, child, certainly not.’’ I spoke in the greatest astonishment, ‘‘ Oaths may bind you to secrecy, I know. But, for God’s sake, tell me the truth—the truth. You can tellme. I am ” I felt her shudder. “Ts it this which has been driving you distracted? ‘There is no cause. I know no more by whose hand that man came by his death than a babe un- born.’’ ‘“Say that again, Alexis. Say it again. It is the sweetest music I have heard in all my life.”’ I repeated the assurance, and a smile broke out over her face. Next she cried and laughed and cried again, and then sat down as if completely over- come by the rush of relief from a too heavy strain. “What does all this mean?’’ I asked quietly, after a while. ‘‘’I'ry and tell me.’’ “IT have been like a mad thing for two days. Let me wait awhile. I will tell you presently. Oh, thank God, thank God for what vou have said. It drove me mad to think you should have been driven to this by me; and that perhaps for my sake you might have been urged to do such a horrible thing. Waking and sleeping alike I have thought of nothing but of your suffering torture and death. And all through me—through me.’’ She cov- ered her face in horror at the remembrance of her thoughts; but a moment later took away her hands to smile at me. , Eomichbooks (eo)