CHAPTER XXV.
A RAGE FOR A LIFE. Wat lefb the palace as rapidly as he dared and at the entrance had the satisfaction, if it -was oue, of seeing Sofia jusfc driving away in the carriage of the grand duke. He did not know where she was going, but, with the hatred in her heart for poor Vera, the chance 3 were that she would go at once to the fortress, to have the Czar's cruel order executed. It would nob do under the circumstances to run the risk of her not going, so he found a hack ag quickly as he could and bade the driver to make his best speed to a point near the quarry. Giving the man several roubles as an inducemeut to hurry, he sat back in the vehicle and eagerly watched for some sign of Sofia, who had by this time passed out of his sight. He soon came upon her, as she was not driving with any great haste, bub he knew he must pass her if be hoped to reach the fortress in time to be of any use to Vera. Ib was liberally a race for a life that he was engaged in, and as yet the odds were seriously against him. , Bub all the bime as .he rode he was thinking and thinking. It seemed as if there was nothing to do but make the best speed he could and trust that he would be in time. But it never suited Wat to leave anything to chance. He preferred to have all things under ' a careful direction where ib was possible. He must have, ab least, half an hour start of Sofia, or ib was more than likely that he would not be able to save Vera. And save her he was determined, if it was in the power of man. How could he get half an hour ahead of Sofia? There she was, an alert, vengeful woman, riding behind a pair of the most spirited and fleet horses in all St. Petersburg. If he should make the least show of passing her she would be most likely to have some suspicion that there was something wrong, and then he would be distanced in a twinkling. Even to get there at the same time would be as bad as not getting there at all. Since ib was at the best a risk, he had better make an attempt now. (To be continued.)
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Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 379, 22 June 1889, Page 4
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412CHAPTER XXV. Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 379, 22 June 1889, Page 4
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