By "Neva's Waters.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 79, 1 April 1908, Page 10

By "Neva's Waters.

Being an Episode of the Secret History of Alexander the First, _ _ —.. __ _ ._. Crar of All the Russioa. __ BY ' iV JOHN R. CABLING. - - -_'"-_"..'. AUTHOR OF l v *_3_3 BHADO'W OP THE C__a, , *."TH_ VIKING'S SKULL " "THE 'WErED P-CTU__.'

CHAPTER XXIX. WOOING A CZARINA Wflwrid and his Princess occupied their favourite seat by the Fairies' Mirror. Marie was musing upon her kinfolk — "she supposed she had sueh —and with a •mind dominated by her love for Wilfrid had come to the conclusion that should they now appear with intent to restore her to her former life she would be disposed to resist their action. Her life at Runo had been so happy that she felt that any change must be for the worse. "You saw mc in my old life," she remarked. "Tell mc, did I seem very happy in it?" "Truth, compels mc to say ycu did not." ""How did T appear?" "You looked like —like—•well, like the moonlight, beautiful, but sad." And now ?"' "Now I may liken you to —to. the sunshine." "Radiant and happy?" smiled she. "Yes, I feel so. The differenc. must be due to changed conditions." she continued, "and I am resolved not to return to that old state. What 1 lose by this resolve, I do not know; therefore, I do not grieve. I—heaven forgh«e mc, if my act be a wrong one!—bat 1 am bent on separating myself entirely from, the past." Prompted by a sudden J thought, she rose to her feet. "Which way does-St. Petersburg lie?" ; Wilfrid pointed to the-east. j "St. Petersburg! city that was once my home, thou art my home no more." And she flung out her an_s*as if casting something from her. "Friends and relatives, if such.there be to mc, you are discard_d." She repeated heir action. "My old life, fare-veell! I turn my back upon thee." tuiting the action to the word, she turned upon her heel _nd,stood facing the west. Wilfrid being'an artist could not help admiring the c_rves of her graceful figure. Her h_t had fallen off and some golden rays glancing obliquely through her hair neemed to illumine it as with an aureole. Wilfrid saw in this last attitude a happy augury for his hopes; she was facisg the west, and the west was the direction of his home. —Though her words and gestures were not in any way meant to influence Wilfrid, being entirely spontaneous on her part, they none the less appealed to his sense of chivalry. Her new state required that she should have.a. protector-, and who should that protector be, if not Wilfrid? ', "If you are really bent on severing* all connection with yottr former life," said Wilfrid, as Marie again sat Jrcside him, "we must not leave this spot without settling what your future course mnst be. For, to remain at Runo is to run the risk of being drawn back again into ' those old surroundings that you seem to dread. 2s ow, I am going to-(suggest a Jttlan that I trust will make for your-wel-fare." He certainly had a plan, a' delightful one; the difficulty• "w_s~~t6~"fi_d courage enough to put it into words. A delicious sensation of expectancy stole-o-ver Marie. Her eyes daTed not meet his. - -"Well, what is this plan?" she murmured, after waiting for a while. "I am beginning to think that you might not accept it." "How can I say till I hear it?" "Cannot you gue3s its n__ure?" > "I might guess wrongly. Please tell mc," she said, stealing a witching glance _t him from beneath her dark eyelashes, and encouraging him with a smile that ehowed-a (frizzling set of teeth. Wilfrid s_ll fenced witji the question, making it a -natter of wonder to Marie that he, who had never been lacking in courage, should show such hesitation •with her. Ho-wvsweet to have such power over him! but how much sweeter it would be if he -would only say th_words ehe -was longing to hear! - ""You said just now," he rcarrarked, -that you'have been happy here.' What has made you so?" "Many things. The malicious joy of being alive, when my enemies think mc dead; the beautiful summer air; the waving woods of P'.inoi; the quaint old castle, with its Dooks and antiquities; the sweet doing-nothing-all day long-; the sense" of freedom and irrespousibilitv; above all, Pauline's kindness." . "Nothing more?" ' 1 . "Your—your friendship." "You put that last, I see." ."No, Lord Courteuay; I put that first," she said softly. And then 1 Marie suddenly found.herself returning Wilfrid's passionate kiss; and clinging to his embrace as if she meant never to part from it. In the silence that-followed, she could hear the wild beating of her heart above the ripple of the forest leaves. "And do you really love mc?" she whispered. "Do you doubt it?" "No, but you have not: yet said it. It vrill be sweet to hear it." So Wilfrid said it,.not-once, but many times. "And is this," she asked, with a significant pressure of her arms, "is this the plan you were speaking of?" "Yes; that you will entrust your future to my keeping—that you will come with mo to England and be the Countess Courtenay." The sound of this name gave her a sweeter sensation of pleasure than any she hed felt. "And you will marry mc, knowing so little of mc ?" "I sec you to be beautiful, and I know you to have, a sweet, lovable nature— what more can I desire:" He turned her happy, glowing face upward to his own. kissed it again, and softly stroked her hair. She thrilled at his caresses, finding it the most natural thing in the world to nestle in his arms -I never realised till now," he said gazing downwards upon her face, "the lull force of the puoet's words — T n h f n »l Ue -angled in her hair, : And fettered to her eye.* " "lyhat a jretty hand yours is!" he tinned, r__S r it •_• own , s S.^.pt.'.^'^^^you For a moment she was. dumb with a

'"'For ever. The ring was my mother's. The stones are amethysts. See how they mock the violet lustre of your eyes!" jjarie laughed softly. "Am I the first woman you have ever loveu, Wilfrid?" "The first and the last." She smiled, but the smile soon gave place to a pensive expression. : "Dearest, -why that sorrowful look?" "You have made mc so happy," she said, "'and yet, amid my happiness there comes a thought that fills mc with fear. I am not mistress of my true mind. Supposing I should recover my memory and forget my present self, I—l " Wilfrid finished the sentence for her. ''You might not regard mc in the samo light as, now? Is not that what you would say? Well. I am willing to take the risk. But ease your mind, dearest, on that point. I do not think that in your former state you viewed mc with indifference. Js not your kiss at the masquerade a proof?" Though Marie took courage from this last incident, she was still troubled with doubt of another sort. "I have east aside all former ties. I ' ■want to be yours and yours only." She clung to him as if he were her Ufa itself. "But supposing a father or a guardian should appear, forbidding our -union?" ."They may forbid—they won't prevent!" "Or one saying that I had betrothed myself to him?" , ''He must resign you." "You will not hand mc over to anv■one who shall claim mc?" "Not even to the Czar himself if he should want you." -)*, "Remember this promise"/' she said, raising her forefinger with a pretty air. 'You do not know how soon you may be put to the test." And so in happy talk they sat. drawing bright pictures of the future, till the coining on of twilight reminded them of the passing of time. "Shall we return to the castle?" said Wilfrid. "I am eager tc present Countess Ccurtenay to Pauline." Marie rose and took Wilfrid's arm. As. she quitted the dell she cast a backward lingering ]ook at the spot, now rendered sacred in her pyes by reason of Wilfrid's love-vows there. They emerged from the wood into the open space surrounding the castle, from whose windows twinkled numerous lights, ■more numerous than usual, Wilfrid thought. Upon entering the castle they soon learned the cause. A very distinguished visitor was beneath its roof. The Oar had paid the Baroness Runo the hi*}, honour of an unpremeditated visit, and was now holdirg converse with her in an apartment that, from the colour of its ■upholstery, was known as the Blue Chamber, while in the entrance hall Irs equerries Princes Ouvaroff and Volkons'-d I were discussing some excellent wines' with Dr. Beauvais, the major-domo. Wilfrid was one of the 'very few men who are not dazzled by' titles, a sentiment arising, perhaps, from his magnificent faith in his own lineage. « " The Czar! " he to Marie. Ibe _ very gentleman I'm wanting to see, since he can explain who you are lou do not fear to face the Czar?" Not., if you are with mc." As it would be contrary to Court etiquette to enter the Czar's presence unor to send a mesage into the Blue Chamber while he wal conversing with the Baroness, Wilfrid had to wait; till that interview were over, and then, ""•hen the Czar should return alon* the grand corridor to the castle entrant, he would step forward and ask for the favour of a few words. ** ******** in philosophic WiH * \ See What we shall see " aarrW *™ . an e^e u P° n departing majesty Wilfrid chose ax hi 3 place of vigil a chamber whose ed upon the corridor P waus of this chamber were several ZZt s * CiMfßU y>»p«Wth^£ selected one and girded it at his side fo- trembliDg,yaSkedhisreas A\Kct. h"One may as well be prepared for emergencies," he smiled. Beneath the mask- of his light and careless air Marie could see that he apprehended there might be danger, and she began to realise more vmdly the nature of the comin* ordeal. ' ° What if the Czar, on seeing the man who had mocked him by not appearing at the rendezvous, should order his at° tendants or Pauline's to arrest Wilfrid? vyilfnd, she well knew, would fight for his liberty against any odds. Or supposing the Czar should be tempted to renew his duelling proposal, what could Wilfrid do but respond, to the challenge? Or what, too, if the Czar, in the exercise oi his legitimate authority, should insist upon her returning with 'him to St. Petersburg? Willrid, true to the promise she had exacted from him, would endeavour to prevent this; but what could his single sword achieve against the power of the Czar? Her lively imagination began to picture scenes of alteration and fighting, of bloodshed and death. Let the mystery of her origin remain unsolved for ever if its attempted solution must bring danger upon the head of .Wilfrid. Her quick-changing colour, the trembling of her hand within his, spoke eloquently of her fears. Folding her within his arms, Wilfrid tried both by words nnd caresses to infuse, her with some of his own spirit. "It is for you I fejr," she said, as she clung convulsively to him. "Let us leave the castle till the ■ Czar be gone. Nothing but harm will come of this meeting." All in a moment that frowning portrait in the Hall of the Czars rose vividly before her. If a mere picture could fill her mind with a nameless terror, what would be the effect of the living original? "Oh. Wilfrid, don't—don't make mc face him!" she' gasped. "I dare not—l don't, know why. but I dare not! If he sees me— there is something—something at my heart—that tells* , - mc this embrace—will be our last! Let u?—o. Heavens! he is, coming—it is too late!" j (To be continued daily.)