The Black Cross

d, looking out upon a court; at the opposite end the door. On either side of the door stood a soldier in Cossack uniform, huge fe

hat were sharp and cold like steel, piercing as the point of a rapier and cruel. He was tossing the litter of papers impatiently, examining one after another at intervals, then pushing them back. He was evidently waiting, and as he waite

g any longer," he said

its hinges and two people, a man and a woman, were half led, half dragged int

d the offi

motionless, only the tassels on their helmets quivering slightly to show

nded the officer,

lled, a bright golden mass, curling about her forehead and ears in little rings and spirals like the tendrils of a vine

I am the daughter of General Mezka

is true that you are the Countess. I never saw her myself, but the Chief w

The General Mezkarpin." She repeated the name distinctly and her shoulders stiffened, her blue eyes flashed. "A frien

"If it is true, this report, I doubt if you leave here alive, Madame, unless it is for the Mines. You have an ugly crime at your door. How you ever escaped

loud laugh, leering at the slim, young figu

she said, "

kingly, and touched the figure beside h

ain. Mezkarpin's daughter, the great Mezkarpin, the friend of Nicholas! And

wife?" said the offi

is my

are the

in his breast pocket, the left, the

he stammered, "Where in the dev

be gone! What can have become of them?

aid the offi

ng. "You impudent scoundrel!" he cried, "She i

ing down at the litter of papers on the table; her fa

s are lost! God, they are

enly, ringing, clear as if the room had been large an

Monsieur is a stranger to me, until last night a perfect stranger. I don't know him at a

drop of blood oozed from her lip. She wiped it away and c

ife, I tell you, she is my wife! Th

. You will be imprisoned anyway for meddling in a matter that does not c

e is Ve

e musi

es

sco in Russia, as every one knows, and he isn

e is Ve

d of the bow! The one all Russia is mad over! Ye saints! I would give my old cavalry boots to hav

ng fiercely, shaking his fist. "No nonsense now;

e cross-barred window, half closing his eyes. Th

u answer

s becoming unpleasant. I will trouble you to send for my Stradivarius at once. Some of your men stole it, I fancy, last night. It is worth its weight twice over in gold. There is not another like it in the country, perhaps in the world. The next time his majesty, t

itch, go for it. No. 17,369, in the third compartment, by the wall. That isn't a bad idea!" He rubbed his hands together and laughed, showing his teeth li

be dreaming, his mind far away. The words fell on his ear l

again a drop of blood blotted the white; then she drew them in with her teeth and drooped her head we

, for a lark! Brr-Milikai, go for the Colonel, he is musical-ha ha! No, s

Gospo

mind, shut the do

ward, attacking the Cossack and tearing the case from his hands. His eyes were brigh

, you great hulking savage, if it is damaged or broken, I'll

silken and heavy. The violin lay swathed in them, the glossy arch of its body glistening yellow, golden and resinous

was the artist-temperament in full command. The man had vanished, the musician was in possession. He was rocked by it, swayed, overpowered,

and it was answering him, softly at first, faint and low, his fingers scarcely touching the strings; then the tones burst out, full, radiant, like a bud into bloom, rushing, soaring, echoing up to

ears the sound-the slight, swaying figure, the dark head bowed with his hair like a mane, the a

e sharp, steely look from his eyes. He was grasping the desk with bot

nother consciousness, subtle at first, scarcely heard, something fragile and weak, new born as if struggling for breath. He stopped and p

s swelled, his chin stiffened. He stood there gazing, struggling with himself; his one per

e came a knoc

went up to Velasco slowly and too

e world, who can play like that! You are marvellous, wonderful! All they said was too little. Monsieur-th

ck was

His voice was hoarse and he

stepped forward to meet them, bowing. All the assurance was gone from his manner; he was now the servant, the soldier in the presence of his superior. The General waved him aside. His f

tretching out her hands: "Father!" she cried, "Father!" And

turning to Boris. He spoke as if he were on the p

der arms, march!"-"

s, Ge

in the Du

e w

d her in

last night, w

he is an a

wn it for so

red like blood. He approached the girl and stood over her, his fists clenched

Are you mixed up with this infernal Revolutionary business? My daughter! An anarchist against t

and dark, gazing straight into the blood-rimmed ones a

al, turning crimson in blotches. His limbs seemed

wer me, on your soul-the truth. It was yo

of her hair fell about her, her lips were parted and q

hot the Gr

ed and she b

y; his tongue stammered, his limbs refused to move. Then he drew back slowly, in

"You are a murderess, a criminal! You have killed

er!-F

not your father. You are no child of mine. I curse you-w

her out of my sight. Send her to Siberia, to the Mines-anywhere! Let her pay the utt

and they sprang forward, one on eith

r!" sh

, I tell you." With a stifled oath the General fl

d a chill, and the roughness, the brutality of the words, the slamming of the do

! No matter what she has done, she is my wife. Let go of her you savages!-Kaya! Help her, s

; but the muscles of the Cossack were like iron, they held him in a vice. The Chief sprang

s. They were dark and blue, full of anguish. Her whole soul was in them; they were beseeching him, t

g back on its hinge

y came back fro

l to the other. He tried to speak and could not. The cry came back to him,

cial. "We know who you are, and

e with its wrappings, and led him to the door. He followed them out, up the

ere is nothing

his eyes on the ground. He clasped the violin in o

ears. Her eyes were gazing into his with a strange tens

low, it was faint, it was bro

Very