CHAPTER LII. SOFIA HAS A SURPRISE PARTY.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 390, 3 August 1889, Page 6

CHAPTER LII. SOFIA HAS A SURPRISE PARTY.

From tho asylum Wat hastened back to Pans, sleeping on the way with all the soundness of a man who has done a good piece of work. And when he reached his bed he took moro sleep, a thing ho had not had in any comfort for a great many night?. In the morning he went to Sofia's palace, and there took up a position where he could see all that went on at the front. At about ten o'clock Sofia's can iagc drove up to the door, and soon afterward the Countess came forth, looking lather as if she had done many good deeds tho day before than like a murdeiess at heait. She was radiant with the hope of the accomplishment of her purpose. Wat did not hear nor try to hear her order to the coachman, for he knew =he would be going nowhere but to the asylum. As soon as she was gone he hurried to the chief, and inquired if the demand for Sofia's extradition had been received. It had, and the papers for her arrest would soon be made out. ' I will stop here to take up theofucerasl come back with the Countess Kadolinski,' said Wat. ' He will be ready.' Wat then had himself driven to the wineshop, wheie he found Vera. He told her what had happened and what he intended to do. I 'And now,' he said, smiling, 'I will | guarantee that- you aio not only willing, but anxious to get to your room first, *o that you can do a little beautifying before seeing Ivan.' Vera aftected a pietty little dignity at this, but bigmh'ed her wish, nevertheless", | to be taken to hei room. From theie, Wat took her to tho palace of the Countes3 AlmazofF, stopping on the way, as he had arranged, for the officer with the warrant for the arrest of Sofia. At the palace he asked to see the butler, and taking that little functionary aside he told him that he had arranged a little surprise for the countess, and wished to hide himself and companions in the room adjoining the drawing-room. The butler eyed both Wab and the officer with a peculiar glance, and seemed to recognise the fact that it would be useless to combat them. ' Not a word to the countess about this,' said Wat. ' No, monsieur.' 'And send me a trusty servant, will yon ?' The butler went away, and a footman presently came in answer to Wat's with. Wab put a piece of silver in the man's hand, and then said : 'This is part payment for something I want you to do for me.' ' Yes, monsieui.' Wat then described tho position of the telegraph oih'cc wheto he received messages from G lesser, and asked the man to go there and wait for a message for Wat Denton. 1 And as soon a& the message come?, bring it here, and hand it to me." ' Yes, monsieur.' They now settled themselves as comfortably as they could to await the return of Sofia. So far as ihe otficer was concerned, this was no difficult task ; and for Wat, it seemed to be easy enough, though he afterward confessed that he was in an inward fever all the time. But for Yeia, there was no such thing as pretending to anything but burning impatienie. The hours dragged along with leaden feet ; but, as Wat told Vera, the distance to the asylum was considerable. The end came at last, however, and they heard the caniage stop in front of tho palace. Presently they heard Sofia's dress rustling in the halls, and then the manly voice ot Ivan. Vera looked as it she would jump forward and claim Ivan for hers at once ; but Wat, seeing her desire in her eyes, laid a restiaining hand upon her, and she subsided with a sigh. Sofia led Ivan into the drawing-room, and said, in her most honeyed accents : ' Welcome, Ivan, to my home after your cruel confinement. I am happy to have been the instrument of your deliverance.' 'And lam grateful in proportion to the service rendered. Ah, if Vera were only here now, I should have nothing to wish for.' Sofia ground her pretty teeth, but smiled as sweetly as she could, and answered : ' I am afraid you will have to do without Vera to-day.' Wat saw that he would be unable to restrain Vera any longer, &o he nodded to her, and she dashed abide the portiere, and stood before the astonished Sofia. 'No,' she cried, ' he will not have to do without his Vera, for here she is ! Ivan, i my dear love !' She opened her arms, and he opened his, ! and before tho defeated woman knew what had happened to her, they weie locked in a close embrace. Sofia .stared at them in a sort of stupor of rage and astonishment, and then it seemed to gradually come over her that she had been duped. Wat, who had not taken his eyes from her, saw her put her hand to her bosom and draw something out. In another instant she had leaped forward like a tigress, with the glistening blade of a knife held alofo. Before she could do the injury she contemplated, \Va(; had her wrists in his vicelike grasp, and was saying : *,You have had your turn. It is ours now.' She recognised his voice even then, and seeing him in the garb of Gaspard, hissed at him : • So it is you again ?' 'Iti 3 I again. Officer, do your duty.' ' You are my prisoner, madum.' And before the wretched woman could suspect what w.-ie going to be done she had been handcutled.

At this point the footman returned with the telegram which Wat had been expecting, and handed it to Wat. 'Ah I what have wo here?' exclaimed Wat, tearing open the envelope and rapidly translating the contents. ' Gcod news, countess !' he cried, ' I mean Countess Radolineki,' he added. Vera was too happy to speak ; sho merely looked with a smile at him. ' You are doclared innocent, and the estates of your brother and yourself aro to bo returned to you.' Sofia said not one word. She realised that sho had been beaten at all points, and she would not give her enemies the satisfaction of hearing her moan.