The Argosy, Vol. XXV, No. 1 — page 97: what you’re looking at

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

BY RIGHT OF SWORD. 97 be mistaken in my new reading of her actions, in which was mixed up another fear, not nearly so strong, that her anger on account of Paula Tueski might really end in our being separated. My first act showed the change in me. I ceased to feel the freedom with which I had hitherto acted the part of brother, and I immediately threw open the door and stood aside, that she might go out if she wished. ‘Then I said: ‘“Perhaps you are right. My conduct may be inexcusable, even to save your life.’’ Whether there was anything in my manner that touched her—I was con- scious of speaking with much less confidence than usual—or whether it was the act of unfastening the door ; or whether, again, some subtle influence had set her thoughts moving in parallel columns to mine, I do not know. But her own manner changed quite as suddenly as mine; and when she caught my eyes on her she flushed and paled with effects that made her radi- antly beautiful to me. She said not a word, and finding this, I sosnteene ds ‘“I am sorry a cloud has come between us at the last, and through some- thing that was not less hateful to me because forced by the needs of the case. We have been such friends, but ’ here I handed her the permit—‘‘ you must use this at once.’’ She took it and read it slowly in silence, and then asked : ‘“ How did you get this? ’’ ‘“ Myself, personally, from the chief of police.’’ ‘Why did you run the mad risk of going to him yourself ?.’’ “There was no risk—not so much in going to him asin keeping away from aa. He had tried to have me murdered, and I went to find out the reason.’ ‘I told you I would not leave Moscow.’’ ‘* Unless—and the condition now applies—it was necessary for my safety.’’ ‘“And you?’’ The light of fear was in her eyes as she asked this. ‘‘ As soon as you are across the frontier I shall make a dash for my liberty also. I can’t go before, because my absence would certainly bring you under suspicion.’’ She now looked at me again very intently, her head bent slightly forward and her lips parted with the strain of a new thought, while suspicion of my motive chased the fear for my safety from her face. ‘‘Is this to get me out of the way? I won’t go!”’ All my honor for myself and my love for her were in that note of re- proach, and they appeared to waken an echo; for then this most strange girl threw herself down on a couch, and burying her face in her hands, sobbed passionately. I turned away from the sight of her emotion—the more painful because of the strong self reserve and force she had always shown—and paced up and down the room. I forced back my own feelings and the desire to tell her what those feelings were. ‘To do that would be worse than madness. ‘Till we were out of Russia we were brother and sister, and the bar between us was heavier than we could hope to move. (G) Eomichook (S@)