The Argosy, Vol. XXV, No. 1 — page 98: what you’re looking at

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

98 BY RIGHT OF SWORD. When the storm of her sobs ceased she remained for some minutes quite still ; and I would not break the silence, knowing she was fighting her way back to self possession. Presently she got up and came to me, holding out her hand. ‘‘T will go, Alexis—we are still firm friends?”’ This with a little smile of wistful interrogation. ‘‘Can you forgive my temper? I was mad for the moment, I think. ButI trust you. I do indeed, absolutely. I know you had no thought of insulting me. I know that. I couldn’t think so meanly of you. It’s hard to leave—Russia ; and—and everything. And you, too —at this time. Must I really go?’’ A half beseeching glance into my eyes and a pause for the answer I could not give. ‘‘ Very well. I know what your silence meam. Come, tomorrow morning —’’ she stooped “ue and bit her trembling lips to steady them as sia framed the word— ‘‘and say—good by tome. And now, please, let me go—brother and truest friend.’’ She wrung my hand, and then before I could prevent her, or even guess her intention, she pressed her lips to it and, with the tears again in her eyes, she went quickly away, leaving me to stare after her like a helpless: fool, longing to call her back and tell her everything, and yet afraid. CHAPTER XIV.—THE DEED WuicH RANG THROUGH RUSSIA. It was not destined that Olga should leave Russia yet. A terrible event happened within the next few hours, the report of which ran through Russia like a clap of thunder, convulsing the whole nation, and shaking for the moment the entire social fabric to its lowest foundations. And one of its smaller consequences was to ruin my plans and expose me to infinite personal | peril. Olga was to start at noon, and I proposed to see her an hour before that time for what I knew would be a very trying ordeal. But when that hour came I was in the midst of a very different kind of interview. Outside official circles I was one of the first men to learn the news. Just before ten o’clock a messenger came with a request for me to go at once to the police bureau. I started in the full conviction that for some cause Tueski had changed his mind and meant to arrest me. I was of course helpless ; and could do no more than scribble a hasty line to Olga telling her of my appoint- ment, asking her not to wait for me, and bidding her good by. But I did not send it. The police agent said with great politeness he would prefer my not doing anything then; I could send the note equally well from the bureau. I knew what that meant and yielded. The moment I arrived at the office I could see that some event of altogether unusual importance and gravity had occurred. ‘The air was laden with the suggestion of excitement. ‘There was an absence of that orderly, business- like routine always characteristic of Russian public offices. The police agents were present in exceptionally large numbers, hurrying through the corridors, thronging the rooms, and standing in groups engaged in animated discussion. I was kept waiting some time, perhaps half an hour, before a word was Eomichbooks (S@)