“PROMISE OF DAWN."

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16573, 4 November 1921, Page 11

“PROMISE OF DAWN."

OUR SERIAL,

By

E. R. PUNSHON

(Author of *' The Crowning Glory/’ *' The Woman’s Footprint/' f ‘ The Solitary Hou»e,” etc., etc.) CHAPTER XDL In the firsts sleigh travelled Prince and Princess Greigh. accompanied by little Saßha. Afanasi himself drove this, and was very full of a wonderful speech Trophim had delivered the preceding night at a. meeting of the town Soviet. He insisted on repeating various phraas from it, and demanding admiration for them, and though they seemed to the Prince merely commonplace specimens of tawdry and violent rhetoric, he was surprised to find that TVophim had the capacity of delivering a coherent speech at all. But In point of fact th© man had developed a kind of rough and ready eloquence, that was already winning him a certain* notoriety ill the town. In the second sleigh Michael travelled with Sybil who be had insisted must borrow his fur coat for the journey as she hnd lost her own in th© destruction of th© Prince’s property. Fortunately it was not very cold, for the morning was bright and sunny, with a touch of spring in tho air, and Michael, as lie took his place next to Sybil, was conscious of a feeling of exand gaiety not very frequent with him. He told himself this lightness of heart was a result of the favourable prospects that seemed, opening around. Russia/ had struck the fetters from her limbs, and was rising like a young giant to take her rightful place in a regenerated w’orld. It seemed certain that th© war would now he prosecuted with a vigour the weary, corrupt, cynical bureaucracy had never been capable of, and that therefore it would soon be over, once Russia, was permitted to use her full strength. On every side work was being carried out and tasks accomplished with a new energy, and already bribery as a system of government seemed doomed. Altogether Michael’s mood waa joyous as he seated himself by Sybil’s side, and he did not stay to ask himself if this unaccustomed lightness of heart was -due in any way to his sense of the girl’s proximity. “You know,” he said to hor, *' though it’s very rough hick on ill© Greighs, on the whole I should say that no great Revolution has ever in the history of the world been carried out so good-humouredly or with so little lloodshed. And Greigh is sure to receive compensation, and moat likely will be given a big position under the new Government. Everyone kriow3 he in Hie most honest and capable man iu the province.” tf ‘ I hope you are right,” said Sybil, and sighed and shuddered a littlo as she spoke, for she remembered th© huge roaring of the flames that had devoured the Prince’s homo, and the. faces of the peasants, as they went about tlieir wo?*k of destruction. Yes. I hope so,” she repeated, nnd she added that she was glad Mr Yicker had left before it happened. Vicker? Boris?” repeated Michael, vaguely startled by the introduction of his name, “ Why had he been staying with the Greighs? I didn’t know.” “ Oh, yes,” she answered, u he stayed with us for nearly a month, before he went on to Troitsa.” There was something in her voice and manner as she : said this that increased the odd disturbance of mind Michael had experienced on hearing her mention Boris’s name. He looked at her quickly. Her even were downcast, but he saw that her usually pale cheek had reddened, and her manner and bearing displayed a certain nervousness her serene, gentle temperament did not often give way to. He was aware of a curious sensation, a kind of dizziness and confusion, which seemed, however, purely mental, • for when he looked around he perceived every detail of the snow-clad road, and of the trees in their garments of ice and snow, with unusual clearness. From th© centre of this kind of mist of dizziness that had enveloped him he heard his own voice saving : “ Oh, I didn’t know . . . Boris . . yes, awfully decent chap . . one of the best.” She appeared enormously relieved, and when she turned to look at him two teardrops sparkled in her eyes, of which he felt that till now he had never realised the clearness and the beauty. “ I’m so glad you guevSßed,” she murmured. “ I wanted to tell you . . you see. w.e are both English, and you have always been so kind and such a good friend.” He felt himsejf wince. ** Kind.” A good friend.” That was how she had thought of him all the time. Suddenly it swept over him t hat half an hour ngo he would have denied having anv other thought of her, or any wish that she should think otherwise of him. He could not. understand in the very least this extraordinary change that had come upon him. “ I congratulate you,” he stamffiered, and then he remembered that that was the phrase with which Count Pskov had replied to old Anton’s declaration of equality, and the words seemed to him cold and ironic. But for the life of him he could say nothing elfie. F.ortunately Sybil seemed to notice nothing. Her hands were clasped nervously together in the big sleeves of his coat she was wearing, and she was looking straight ahead, tears still shining in her’eyes. “ Boris doesn’t know yet himself.” she went on. “ Doesn't that sound funny i? He asked me last week. I . felt I couldn’t say for certain. I told him it would have to be ‘ No,’unless he would give rae time. .So he went away to Troitsa, to stay there, and T promised that if it were to lie 4 Yes ’ I would come to Troitsa within two weeks. But if I didn’t come, then ho was to understand that meant 4 No,’ and he was to go away. “ But,” exclaimed Michael, a little eagerly, a little as though catching at a faint glimpse of hope he had just perceived, “ you are only going to Troitsa . - . because . . well, aren’t you?” he asked. tl Because of the fire, and the peas- j ants’ rising?” she said. 44 Yes, I j know. Princess Greigh said it seemed ! as if it were intended . . a sign. 1 | thought that rather a horrible idea at ; first, but she didn’t. Slv> said it was ! quite a consideration to her that the j burning of their home was like a guid- * ance to me . . of course, it wasn’t ! really, because I had made up my mind I before, but that's what she said.” Michael did not answer. He seemed j to understand that the kindly inientioned Princess had been doing all in her power', to bring about" this engagement. . which. "she probably thought would b© a’ very good one for the lonely and frieudless girl. But Michael had a feeling of irritation, and of wonder at the way in which some women will plot and plant and strive to bring two people together m marriage, taking lightheartedly, and smilingly, the immense responsibility of linking two lives for ever. How does she know Boris will make Sybil happy?” be thought moodily. <4 What docs she know about him?

. „ liow can she toll someone else ’ His silence seemed U> trouble Sybil s I little, and she gave him again a quick glance. “You don’t mi ad my telling you all this,” she said. “You *ee. yon are almost the only person l know from England, and I wanted you to understand, because you ee©, Boris . - • wnen he sees me, will know nothing of thn tire, and he will suppose . - broke off. Hushing rosily. ‘ T nope ho won't he Killy, 1 * she added, with severity, and continued: " The thought you had better know. As she spoke Princess Orelgb looked round from the foremost sleigh, and waved her muff to her friend, as though she guessed what the girl -had been sayI ing. and wished +o encourage her. and ; Sybil waved her hand in return. * “ She thought it would be better if you knew,” Sybil repeated _ Michael murmured something rndistinct in reply, and he had an intuition that the Princess had wished him to be told, so that he might know Sybil was engaged before there was any of his saying anything that might disturb or unsettle her. But when ho took his scat by Sybil in the sleigh he had been himself conscious of no intention of saying anything) of the sort, to her, and if, therefore, Princess Greigh had divined that the possibility existed it followed that she knew him better than he knew luroself. It was nn idea he found exceedingly disconcerting. With an effort he shook off mich thoughts, and turned again to Sybil. Boris is one of my best friezjda, he said- 11 l hop© you and lie will be very happy together, Miss Grove.’ She thanked him gently, and afterwards they were both a little pi lent, till at last Michael roused himself., and began to talk in what he tried to make a cheerful, lively tone. The "Revolution aud all its possible consequences for the country, the war and the world, was of course the topic readiest to hand, but now all Michael* e previous Lightness of heart and buovancy had tied, and he found, that in spite of himself his views had become depressed and gloomy, “If it will only last.” ho sajd. li Russians can do any mortal thing if only they can. do it in." jerks. It's the long steady pull that tries them, and that long is exactly what is wanted just now.” Sybil defended her future countrymen with vigour and animation. All at once in the mid©t of an energetic speech fihe stopped abruptly, as though embarrassed by the way in which he was watching her shining eyes, aud the colour that had crept into her usually pale cheeks. “Well, don’t you think so, too. Mr Welt-on? ” she asked, laughing a little. “'I think Boris is a- fortunate man,'* he said. gravely. She Hushed, and did not answer, and they did not speak again for some lime They were near Troitsa now, and sweeping through the village and crossing the river they entered the park round tho house. Michael was a little relieved to see the house, for a fear had been in his mind that they might find Troitsa only a. heap of &\noking ruins. But the whole scene was as quiet and peaceful as ever and c.nly one figure was visible, that of a woman, a peasant apparently by her dress, who was walking with lagging steps, like one nearly exhausted' towards the house. She was not <>n the main track the sleighs wore following, so they passed her at some distance, and without noticing her much, and when they were a little nearer the figure of a man appeared from the house and came Tuning at full speed to meet them. “ Boris*’* said Michael. f * He has seen ft is you. . ” “ Yes. Of course, yea,” murmured Sybil, nervously. “He ought to have waited. . . naturally he thinks. To spare her embarrassment Michael stopped the sleigh, and got out. She followed him not quite certain what to do. Bareheaded, excited, heedless of all else, Boris fled down the trank to meet them. Stretching out liis arms Michael moved forward to stop him, vexed with him for a display of feeling and excitement that was 3ure to disturb Sybil. “Steady on, steady, old fellow,” lie said. “ Congratulations, of course, but don’t make an exhibition of yourself. * “ Oh. you English icebergs,” cried Boris, and as dexterously as ary footballer, dodged under Michael’s arm, and rushed up to Sybil. “ What, joy! TThat happiness!” he gasped “It is really you. lam not dreaming it is you? ” “Oh, yes. I think so, Mr Ticker,” she answered laughingly. “ The peasants burnt the Prince’s house down yesterday, so I had to come, you see. lb was necessary.’’ ‘“Blessed necessity! admirable peasants ! fortunate fire!” cried Boris, and stoooed to kiss her hand, when, as he was pressing it to his lips, they all heard a cry. and turning saw the peasant woman they had passed by, and : who had now broken into a run. and was calling out, and running towards them. ‘•lt is Vera,” Michael cried, the first to< recognise her.