| OCR Text |
Show "We Have Oiaaed. All Hurt by UerLert Quick acd Elena Stcpanofi Mac Malion. Copyright by The Bohbs-Merrill Co. W'NU Service CHAPTER XIII 22 When "InSuence" Failad Sirs. Krassin rose next morning her usual self, presiding with no explnna tlon as to her recent absence, over the Russian breakfast o coffee anil hremf and butter which as yet in the Kras sin household did not lack the old multiplicity of tasty appetizers distributed dis-tributed about the table. Sht now felt a lofty sense ot victory in that her prayers, her schemes, her vigils and her labors had provided for Ilya's liberation; and already her eyes were shut as to the price which she felt had been paid That was something which must be buried in oblivion among those darker things which she accepted as a part of the life of every family and every person. x There was the necessity for the mental denial thai anything had ever or would ever happen tint was all. She knew of Musia"s movements, and of her appearance when she had re turned. She would not allow herself to recognize the propriety of feeling sorry. She looked over t he silver and crystal crys-tal service still preserved to them, with her old Interest, and directed the movements of the servants with her usual calm authority. God was In his Heaven; all was well with the world; Ilya was safe! Musia 'iad not expected to see her mother at breakfast, and paused-whsn she saw her as If to return to her room, so averse ivas she to tier society; so-ciety; but an impulse impelled her to enter and take her usual seat, which she did with a cool nod to her mother instead of the usual kiss on the cheek. She would show that she could still Innocently look anyone in the face. She thought. She did not suspect that her mother knew of her movements last evening; and she was Incapable of realizing the thoughts In Mrs. Kras-sin's Kras-sin's mind In any case, since shecouid Dot conceive that her mother could believe be-lieve what was in the older woman's mind. Mrs. Krassin was talkative, In the manner of one who keeps up a rapid conversation to gloss over some unpleasant un-pleasant occurrence. In comparison with her recent grief and gloom, she was In good spirits. She looked her pleasantest, but Musia noticed how white her hair was becoming. The suhjects upon which they could converse con-verse were curiously limited. Musia didnot speak unless speech were im peratively called for. and the lead in conversation fell to her mother; and Mrs. Krassin could not speak of lyn. since that approached a matter upon which she and Musin could not with propriety engage in conversation. "How queer she is!" thought Musia. She had at times felt a strong dislike dis-like and almost an enmity toward her mother; but this was the most disrespectful disre-spectful expression which she had ever pe.'tnkted to enter her thoughts concerning con-cerning her: for Musia. too. was a creatur( of the "onventions of her circle. P.ut, curicusiy enough, she gave to her mother very little attention or thought. Her mind kept recurring to Ixr!s; whom every moment she told herself she desired of all persons most to forget. Forgetting seemed simple, at Hrst. if It were not for Ilya. It was like tearing from a bonk a page tilled with low, disgusting, dislionnrnhle filings; but her mind kept reluming to matters mat-ters connected wilh l.nris Willi which Ilya's deliverance had noihing ro do. In spile of her mother's nns!an stream of talk. She heard over and over everx word he had said to her. saw every go-1 are. felt every torch and the blood rushed 10 her chreks .Mrs. Krassin. who was watching her e ery ehan'e of expression, saw the blush and lon!;cd away she did not know that I he cause of the blush was Musin's inward eniliai-rassnieni by the fact that even in the hiltnilia lion lo which she had been suhiecte.l slie found a certain pleasure She liked to remember ihe pressure of Loris arm about hei waist, the vibrant tones of his voice as he plead ed for her love, the touch ot his lips to hers, ihe fact ihal he had nm lereil her. The lillle I'rinrpss I, ha horovsUu. a came in. teibhlirig over with news, before their lale hreakfas' was over, and Musia. n-u caring to lisien to iter, excused her. it ai-l weiii out of the room. "My dear cousin." rl,p princess ex claimed as soon as Musia had gene, "the P.olshevikl have linally gone he yond their limit eeti iheir limit. 1 am sure this will bring them to the end of iheir rope." "What is the new mmMe?" asked Mrs. Krassin politely "I thought they had committed every I magi na hie atrocity long ao. Is there nnuhing new ?" "Well." said the" princess "I cftuld net. of course, mention this before Musia: hut In the province of Saratov they have proclaimed the natinnaiiza-lion natinnaiiza-lion of women :"' "What can you mean!" ejaculated Mrs Krassin. "My dear.'' haif whispercrl the little cousin, wiih a glance at the door. "1 couldn't tell it before Musia. but In that province thr-y have done what I have said proclaimed the nationalization nationaliza-tion of women. Any woman !n the street or anywhere else to whom a Bolshevik takes a fancy, he may take. It makes no difference whether she Is married or not he may take her; and of course there is no such thing as marriage. Isn't It dreadful?" "1 think it is a canard," said Mrs. Krassin. "No. no!" persisted the princess, contending for the truth, of this rumor which was so widely circulated, not only over Ifussia hut all over the world. "This decree Is actually In effect in Saratov." Mrs. Krassin did not wish to believe be-lieve it. She was in ihe mental posl tion of one w-lw controls valuable holdings in mines, lands, machinery or ot! er things precious, when the news of possible confiscation is bruited abroad. The princess could not understand un-derstand why her cousin had suddenly become incredulous as to any rumor attributing new enormities to the Bol-shevikl. Bol-shevikl. and tactfully changed the subject. "And let me ask about poor ilya.'' said she. "Have you received any news since 1 last saw yor?" "Not for two days." replied Mrs. Krassin; "hut I hope he will soon be out of prison." "Oh! How happy you make me!" exclaimed the princess. ' "I have my reasons.'' continued Mrs. Krassin cryptically, "for expecting ids early release." Now that the Krassin house was so far as possihle Itself again after the days of Mrs. Krassin's seclusion, her friends were coming and going at all limes of flie day. The little princess stayed a long time, discussing with visitors vis-itors the fate of ilya. which was the great question in all minds, and was now more interesting than ever. Musia passed most of her time in her own room. To her Ilya's fate had passed beyond control. It was in Lorls' hands. But what about herself? She had fully decided that It was not possihle for her to continue living with her mother. If things were only as they used to be, she said to herself, she would, without a word to her mother, go to some friend or relative In Moscow Mos-cow or I'etrograd for refuge; hut as things were now such a tourney was to her mind out of the question. What could she do? She wished she were a man how freely would she venture her life for her country, and the old order of things which seemed the only safe and proper thing for her country. She would right the Bolshevik!: and she resolved in her mind the Irony of fate which offered her no refuge save with that strange, handsome, extraordinary, ex-traordinary, and she always added repulsive enemy of her class, l.oris the commissar. Musia knew little of what transpired from day to day Id her mother's reception room. There was a change In the atmosphere atmos-phere In Kazan one morning, a change felt by the ragged waifs sleeping In the parks, a change which brought more Jewels to the auction for exchange ex-change for clothing and fuel. The golden leaves were gone from the trees, now, and a north wind prophesied prophe-sied of winter with plague and typhus. There was a new atmosphere, too. In Mrs. Krassin's reception room, an ominous change felt by every one but the hostess herself. She was calm and more cheerful than she had been since Ilya's imprisonment. When Colonel Col-onel Boyarsky came in she greeted him eoriHnlly. hul did not as had been her custom ask him for news of Ilya. though he had been her chief Intel llgencp ollicct In 'he past. Now she led in the making of fore casts, and they were all optimistic Stie repealed to the colonel what she had only a day or so hefore told her cousin the princess: that she had every reason for believing ihal Ilya. hy reason rea-son of inlluence exerted in his favor in quarters which site could not disclose, dis-close, would very soon tie liberated. It was only a mailer ot a very brief time, she lelt sure. It might be t.-day. t.-day. even i T'.l P.K C IN'I IM.'UU.) |
