CHAPTER XLIII. NERA'S WILD SCHEME.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 386, 20 July 1889, Page 6

CHAPTER XLIII. NERA'S WILD SCHEME.

Veka's manner was so full of excitement, so almost wild, that Wat saw he would have great difficulty in dissuading her from her rash design. ' What ib it that you would do ?' he asked her. • What would I do? Anything:— anything bO that I may be saved from sitting down and waiting.' 'But, my dear little lady,' said Wat, persuasively, ' you will not have lonj; to wait. You did have faith in me once. Why lose ifc now ? 'I haven't lost ifc, bnfc don't you see that I must do something V ' But what is this that you propose to do V ' I would disguise myself — have you disguise me, you who do such things so well — and then I i\ ould go to Sofia" s and enter her service as a maid.' ' How could you get in her service ?' 1 You could arrange that. Don't say you could not, for I know you could.' Wat smiled at this exhibition of faith in him. • Well, suppose I could do it, how would it help matters any V 'I would watch everything she did, and, perhaps, find out so where Ivan is.' ' And suppose she should discover you in the meantime? 1 Vera looked quickly up, and a fiery gleam shot out of her dark eyes as she ejaculated : ' Wsll ?' Wat shook his head. ' You think because you have the courage that therefore you would be a match for Sofia. You are mistaken.' 1 J'm not afraid of her.' 'No; but to cope with that woman one must have such a knowledge of evil as to be able to foiesee what she will do. You have no such knowledge.' 'Ah, you are going to refuse to let mo do as I wish.' ' I am, and shall I tell you why ?' c Please do.' 1 It is because you aie going there with a mad motive.' ' What do you mean '? and Vera turned pale. ' I mean that you believe, in spite of what I have assured you, that Ivan has met with his death at Sofia's hands.' With tightly closed lips Vera nodded a defiant yes, and Wat went on : ' And you have it in your mind that you will punish Sofia with your own hands if you find your suspicion to be true.' ' Yes, yes, yes — you are right. And I will Co it !' • Vera spoke wildly and like a woman beside herself wibh the fear of the worst. Wat went up to her and took both her little hands in his. ' Countess, 1 he said, ' you must not give way like this. Ivan is not dead, and he will be restored to you in a few days. But if he should not be, I promi&e to put Sofia in your hands for your own punishment. Will you not trust me a little longer ?' Vera sank into a chair and burst into tears. Wat saw that he had produced an effect, and he went on : • Consider, countess, thao the finding of Ivan is an easy task compared with what you have seen me do.' The tears s-eemed to have relieved Vera, for she looked up moie hopefully at this, and said : ■ ' ' You are not telling me this to give me false comfort. '/' ' When have I ever done such a thing to you ?' 1 Never! And you really do think you can find him . ' I am sutc I can.' ' But what shall I do while you are hunting for him V • I fancy that Sofia will give you enough to think of as soon as she disco\ers whcie '•you are.' •What will she do?' ' In the desperate plight .she finds herself now, I do not believe she will stop at murder to get you out of her way.' ' What would you have me do then ?' '-Stay here, and wait for her to act. Don't go out of your room except with me ; don't admit anybody in it.' ' And won't you let me try my plan ? I am sure I could carry it out.' ' It would do no good, and would gieatly interfere with me ; for I could do nothing with you in possible danger all the time. You really can help Ivan more by keeping quiet in here.' • But I feel as if I could not be quiet.' ' Overcome that feeling for Ivan's .sake. Rest yourself, and gee back all your roses for his coming.' ' Ah, I have do vanity now.' 'In spite of Vera' a sorrowful air, Wat could not refrain from laughing at this. • Well, don't worry for the loss of that,' he said ; ' I will guarantee its return in ten minutes after you see Ivan.' Vera smiled too. ' Find me Ivan, and you may make as much fun of me as you like.' ' I'll find him if you will promise not to leave thig room until I come for you. 1 • I will promise then. But, oh, do hurry as much as you can. I know how unreasonable arid even ungrateful that must sound, but I don't mean it so.' • I'll forgive you anything now that you have given up your mad project.' ' I believe it would have been a good one, anyhow J Wat laughed, and left her.