CHAPTER XIV.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 377, 15 June 1889, Page 3

CHAPTER XIV.

IVAN LKAKVS THE KATE OF VERA. As he spoke he threw his chair back, and lisins to his feet strode to the door. * Where are'3 rou going ?' * 'I am tfoing -to demand a reckoning of my false uicnd.' *^ , , ' 'Io -what purpose ?'jisked Wat, kindly. * To what" pui-pdse'?' repeated Ivan, -as if lie did not understand. 1 Yes ; what good will 1 it do to have any words with him? That will not help Veta.' xSut if he has.betrayed us both. If he has, by Heaven, ho shall pay for every tear of tiers with a drop of his own blood.' He did not" rant or tear about violently. He was frightfully calm, though his blue eyes were almost black with passion. 'My friend,' said Wat, earnestly, ' I was s6nt'by Iy'dur1 y'dur father to- help.you. I soon foun'd'fch'tft'the person who neecled'help was the pooV little woman whom, you loved and whose life was bound up in you. Her I promised to help, and I will do it. And if you care more for her than for the gratification of your angry feelings you must liston to my counsels.' Ivan listened silently, and then sat down, saying : ( You are right. For Vera'a sake I will hold my hands. Well, what must be done?' 1 First tell mo how it comes that you, who told Vera that Sofia was a wild beast, should be virtually asking her pardon for misjudging her?' 1 Chernigoff was the first to represent to me that —but I cannot go over all that. I see now that I was foolish. Oh, Chernigoff, .ChernigofjQ 1 All the fierce"rough nature of his Slavic 'ancestors seemed to" have been aroused in the young man's breast, and b,e uttered the name of his false fiiend in a tone like the 'growling'df an angry lion. ' And that letter of Veua's—-fool, fool that I was ! —told me how good Sofia had been to her. Woman as she is, I could tear the heart out of her breast! Oh, my poor little Vera!' . The thought of her checked his furious passion once more r and he stopped and looked at Wat ' You must calm yourself,'said Wat, with infinite kindness, ' for Veras very life may depend upon it.' ' I will be calm. 1 am not so easily put out of my self-control. But to think that I should be going about so free and gay, while thejpoor gicl was all the while suffering all the agonies of a Russian prison. Oh. no. wonder there are nihilists in that accursed country !' ' Ace you going to help me, or must I save Vera all alone V •1 deserve this reproach. Tell me what must be done.' 'You will need great strenth of purpose to be of any use to me.' ' Do not jud^c me by my passionate outburst. Try me.' ' Could you btill pretend to believe in the friendship ot Chernigoff, and the goodness ofttotia? 1 Ivan shuddered, and then he drew a long breath as he answered : ' Yes, though I should want to strangle them.' ' Sofia is a nihilist, is she not V ' I believe so.' ' And Chernigoff, is he one too ?' ' 1 may not a'riswer that.' ' Why nob ?'' ' What I know of him I know in sacied confidence.' 'Sacred confidence with a wretch like him i' 'Itis as I ha\ c said. Kis Wronging of me would not justify me in saying any thing which might,nob.on,ly, putliiin in jeopardy but oth&i's'as \vel}.\ "( *. ' u v •'And you would sacrifice Vera to a s>crup£e like that ?' 'I cannot* see how,anything I can say will help,her.' 4 Biib I give you my \V6rd that the life of Vera may depend upon your answer t;o me nb.W,,' v, lti.,v , «..'] JD^tL :,r . 'If I.^Q.uJd^^OjttsJwould^peak;' 1 In -pity spare, youi'self and' me any explanation.' " l '"'" ' Ivan looked at "Wat with a sudden dread in his face. '. -*. ' You are keeping something from me. Tell me what it is.' ' You would be wiser not to know and it can do no good. Tell me about Chernigoff.' 1 No, no. Tell mo^yhat it is. Oh, I know those fiends ! More of their cruelty. Tell me, tell me.' ' Be warned.' * Don't torture me. Tell me.' ' It will be an awful shock.' •She is not dead? No, no. Don'fc tell me that. Not dead ?' 1 No, she is alive and well —as yet.' •As yet. What) do you mean ?' ' General Greaser is working with me to circumvent Sofia and her friends.' * Yes, yes.' ' Sofia has caused the day of Veras punishment to be fixed ; and ifc is to be by the knout.' ' Oh, my soul!' • Grosser tried to have the time of punishment postponed a month.' . • Yes.' 1 The Minister of the Interior agreed to' it?' « Yob.' ' But the friends of Sofia, working under hor inexorable orders, have had the original time fixed again.' ' And that is whon ? Ob, Heaven help her 1 Oh, how can duch things be? And I josted with her to-night!' ' You did nob know.' ' The time ? the time ?' 4 The clay aftorto-morrow morning,'

'Oh, no, no.' f • Unless I can send Gresser such information about 'the nihilists as will mako his credit so good with the Czar that he can persuade him to postpone the punishment.' • I will tell you anything I know. Oh, quick, quick ! question me. I don't know what I ought to tell you. Oh, sir, save my Vera and Iwill give you my life's blood for the asking.' • Don't lose heart. We will save her, Chernigoff is a nihilist, then V 'Yes. 1 ,' • ' And are there nihilists here ?' ' A great many.' • Dou yo know where they meet ?' 'No ; but Chernigoff goes' there Co-nighb.' ' A'b what time?' • • As soon as he has , brought Sofia home, or provided for her escort.' ' Then I can follow him.' • 'You could nofc gel into the room.' 'I could do something. I will save Vera,,'<■l know the password into the general meeting.' • What is it V • Sassulich ?' ' That will do. It will gro hard but I will find something to tell' Grosser. If not I still have one resource left. She shall be saved !' ' • ' ' , 'Cart I rt'o nothing? It seems as iffl 1 should go mad thinking about this.' • Inaction is hard, but I think you had better do nothing but conceal yourself so that you will not be likely to meet any of the plotters until the cerbainity of success has enabled you to remain calm in their presence.'