The Argosy, Vol. XXV, No. 1 — page 110: what you’re looking at

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

TIO BY RIGHT OF SWORD. scarcely lying cold in his grave,’’ I said, aghast at her cold blooded proposi- tion. ‘‘ Every man and woman in Moscow would immediately think we had murdered him together in order to marry.’’ ‘‘ Every man and woman will not know,’’ she answered calmly. ‘‘ Do you think there is no such thing possible in this holy Russia of ours, or that gold cannot buy silence here just as well as anywhere else in the world?” “T know that a secret marriage under these circumstances would put the lives of us both into the keeping of any one who knew of it, however well you paid him. The more you paid, indeed, the more certain the inference.”’ 7 ‘‘T care nothing for that ; nor will you if you love me as you have often sworn you do.’’ She uttered this with the energy and passion which always were shown when she was crossed. But in this I was naturally as resolute as she. \ ‘‘T will not do it,’ I said very firmly. ‘‘ Understand me. I will not do it. It has nothing to do with love in any way at all; but simply self pro- tection. It would be sheer suicide, and that I can do much more simply in other ways. I refuse absolutely to put both our lives into the keeping of any man in Russia, however holy and however well bribed. When we are married, it must be openly in the light of day and before men’s faces ; and that most certainly cannot be until all this excitement about your husband’s death has died down, and the marriage can take place without causing suspi- cion. ‘That must be at least six months hence—and probably a year or even two years.”’ ‘‘T won’t wait,’’ she cried instantly and angrily. ‘‘ You want to break with me. Iam no fool.”’ ‘As you will. ‘Then instead of marrying me you can denounce me and come and see me beheaded or strangled. If you threaten me much longer,”’ I said bitterly, ‘‘ you will make me prefer one of the latter fates.’’ She bent close to me, trying to read my thoughts. ‘¢ And meanwhile ?’’ she asked. ‘“ Are you such a mad woman that you would have us placard the walls of the city with our secrets? Haven’t we all Russia to hoodwink? Do you suppose your police agents and secret agents are all fools, to see nothing, think nothing, infer nothing? It may be hard for us to be apart, but what else is possible? Even this visit is foolhardiness itself and may set a thou- sand tongues clacking. Heaven knows, if ever a pair of lovers had need of caution we have. Have you dared so much for our marriage only to toss it all away now just for the lack of a little self control? We must see very little of each other. That is the only possible course.’’ ‘‘T1] not consent,’’ she cried again, vehemently, and then broke out into a fresh storm of protests and reproaches. But I held to my decision, confi- dent that she would see she must give way. We parted without coming to any definite understanding ; and I was glad because it spared me the infliction of those outward signs of affection in which she delighted to indulge, and which now would have been more than ever repulsive. . pean Eomichbooks (E@) _ ae