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About The gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925 | View Entire Issue (April 1, 1915)
13 HOME AND FARM MAGAZINE SECTION SERIAL. The Secret of the Night By Gaston Leroux THBILUXG XTSTEBY STORY OF HI SSI AX lSTRIGCB BY NtrTED FRENCH AUTHOR HOME AND FARM MAGAZINE SECTION btnomis orrgiyioijs chaf- Toung Joseph Roaletabllle, osten sibly a reporter for a Parisian news paper sal. In fact, deteetlve of re iiovca, U called la Huuia bjr the Czar to save lb Ufa f General Trebassof (KecMlor Feodorovitehl, who has been conaejnaed ta death sy the Nihilists. He la received by the Qenersl's ever falthfttl and ever-watehful wiret Mo dame Trebassof (Matrena Petro vlnal He meeta Katacha, the Gen erars daughter by a prevloue mar rlaje The General la at bii villa, surrounded by few tiithful friends. KouletaMlle learna of the first two attempts aialnat the life of the Gen eral from afadame Trebaaiol Oae of RnolfMahMee first anions t to dis miss lha aecret police ruardLns; th villa. BouSetabllle bean of the third attempt oo the General's life, by means of a clockwork bomb let in a vase of flowers ea his tabic It was frustrated by Madame Trebassof, whs was slightly Injured by the ex plosion. The detective learns that Natacha is la lovs with Boris but alia Is very friendly towards Mti'bael. He learns the secret of the niefcl the terrible nlshtmares that ar experienced by the seed Uea eral. Natacha is suspected of com plicity In the clow against the Ufa of the 'ieneral, but Ruulciabltlo stoutly affirms his belief In her innocence. Though a great warning tells Rou letaliille that ills ward, the General, will be dead In 48 hours, the detect ive surir-sts a promenade by ths sea, unattended, "W I HAT! You are going to lean ttsr she cried instantly, breathless. "No, no. I do not lsh it I am willing to do with out tha police, but I am not will ing to lv: without you. Everything might nappen in your absence. Every thing! Everything!" she repeated with lingular energy. "Because, for me, I cannot feel sure as I Bhould. pet pv Ah. you make mo say these things. Sueh things! But do not go.' "Do not be afraid; I am not going to leave you, Madame." "Ah, sou are good! You are kind, kind! Caraeho! (Very well.)" . "f will not leave you. But I must not be at luncheon. If anyone asks where I am, Hay that I have my business to look after and have sono to interview political personages in the city." "There's only one political personage In Russia," replied Madame Petrovna bluntly; "that Is the Tsar." "Very well; say I have gone to in terview the Tsar." "But no one will believe that. And when will you be" "I do not know myself. Hut I will bej about the house." Very well, very well, dear little domovoi." She left him, not knowing what she thought about it all, nor what she should think her head was all In a muddle. In the course of the morning Atha nase Georgevltch and Thaddeus Tehnit chnlkof arrived. The general was al ready in the veranda. Michael and Boris arrived shortly after and in quired In their turn how he had passed the night without the police. When they were told that Feodor was going for a promenada that afternoon they applauded his decision. "Bravo! A promenado a la strlelfca (to the head of the island) at the hour when all St, Petersburg Is driving there. That is fine. We will all be there." The general made them stay for luncheon. Natacha appeared for the meal, In rather melancholy mood. A little bo fore luncheon she held a double con versation In the garden with Michael and Boris. No one ever could have known what these three young people bad said if some stenographic notes In Roolctabille's memorandum-book did not give us a notion: the reporter had overheard, by accident surely, since all self-rcspectins reporters aro unite in eapahlo of eavesdropping. Tbe memorandum notes: Natacha went into tho garden with a book, which she gave to Boris, who pressed her hand lingerintdy to his lips. "Heri la your book; I return it to you. 1 don't want any more of tbm, the ideas surge so in my brain. It makes my head ache. It is true, you are right, 1 don't love novelties. 1 can satisfy myself with Pouchkine per fectly. The rest are all ono lo me. Bid you pass a good night';" Boris (Rood-looking young man about thirty years Did, blonde, a little effeminate, wistful. A curious appur tenance In tho military household of so vigorous a general). "Natacha, there ts not an hour that I can call truly good if I spend it away from you, dear, dear Natacha." "I ask you serjously If you have passed a good nlgl't?" She touched his band a moment and lookc-d into his eyes, but ho shook bis bead. "What did yon do last night after you reached home?" she demanded insist ently. "Did yon stay up?" "I obeyed you; I'only sat a half hour . by the window looking over here at the villa, and then I went to bed." "Yes. it is necessary yoo Bhould get your rest. I wish It for you aa for everyone else. This feverish life is ' impossible-. Matrena Pctrovna is get ting u all ill, and we shall be pros trated." "Yesterday." said Boris, "I looked at the villa for a half hour from my window.- Pear, dear villa, dear night when I can feel you breathing, living my heart "I could have wept because I could hear Michael snoring In bis chamber. Ha seemed appy. At last, I heard nothing more, there was noth ing more to hear but the double cho rus of frogs In the pools of the island. Our pools, Natacha, are like the en chanted lakes of tho Caucasus which are silent by day and sing at evening; there are Innumerable throngs of frogs which sing on the same chord, some of them on a major and some on a mi nor. The chorus speaks from pool to pool, lamenting and moaning across the fields and gardens and re-echoing like aeollan harps placed opposite one another." "Do aeolian harps make so much noise, Boris?" "You laugh? I don't find you your self half the time. It is Michael who has changed you, and I am out of it. (Here they spoke in Russian.) I shall not be easy until I am your husband. I can't understand your manner with Michael at all." (Here more Russian words which I do not understand.) "Speak French; her is the garden er," said Natacha. ' 1 do not like the way you are man aging our lives. Why do you delay our marriage? Wby? (Russian words from Natacha. Ges ture of desperation from Boris.) "How long? You say a long time? But that says nothing a long time. How long? A year? Two years? Ten years? Tell me, or I will kill myself at your feet. No, no; speak or I will kill Michael. On my word! Like a dog!' "I swear to you, by the dear head of your mother, Boris, that the date of our marriage does not depend on Michael." (Soma words In Russian. Boris, a little consoled, holds her hand linger ingly to his lips.) Conversation between Michael and Natacha In the garden: "Well? Have you told him?" "I ended at last by making him un derstand that there ts not any hope. It is necessary to have patience. 1 have to have It myself. "He Is stupid and provoking." ".Stupid, no. Provoking;, yes, If you wish. But you, also are provoking;." "Natacha! Natacha!" (Here more Russian.) Aa Natacha started to leave, Michael placed his hand on her shoulder, stopped her and said, looking her direct In the eyes: "There will be a letter from An- noachka this evening, by a messenger at five o'clock." He made each sylluble explicit, "very important and requir ing an Immediate reply." These notes of Rouletabille' are not followed by any commentary. After luncheon the gentlemen played poker Dntil half-past four, which is the "chic" hour for the promenade to the head or the island. Kouletabille had directed Matrena to start exactly at a quarter of five. He appeared in the meantime, announcing that he haJ Just interviewed the Mayor of 8t. Petersburg, which made Alhanase laugh, who could not understand that anyone would come clear from Paris to talk with men hue that Natacha came from hen chamber to Join them for the promenade. Her father told her she locked too worried. They left the villa. Rouletabille noted that the dvornicka were before the gate and that the sehwitxar was at his post, from which he conld de tect everyone who might enter or leave the villa. Matrena pushed the j-olllng- chalr herself. The General was radiant He had Natacha at his right and at his left Alhanase and Thaddeus. The two orderlies followed, talkins with nouletahilte, who liad monopolized them. The conversation turned on the devotion of Matrena Petrovna, which they placed above the finest heroic , traits in tbe women of antiquity, and also on Nataeha's love for her father. Rouletabille made them talk. Boris Mourasoff explained that this exceptional love was accounted for by the fact that Nataeha's own mother, tbe General's first wife, died in giving birth to their daughter, and accordingly Feodor Feodorovitch had been both father and mother to his daughter. He had raised her with the most touching eare, not permitting anyone else, when she was sick, to have the care of pass ing the nights by her bedside. Natacha was 7 years old when Feodor Feodorovitch was appointed Governor of Orel. In the country near Orel, during the Bummer, the General and his daughter lived on neighborly terms near tbe family of old Petroff, one of the richest fur merchants in Russia. Old Petroff had a daughter, Matrena, who was magnificent to see, like a beautiful field flower. 8he was always lu excellent humor, never spoke 111 of anyone in the neighborhood, and not only had the fine manners of a city dame, but a great simple heart, which she lavished on the little Natacha. The child returned the affection of the beautiful Matrena. and it was on seeing them always happy to find themselves together that Trebassof dreamed of re-establishing his fireside. The nuptials were quickly arranged, and the child, when she learned that her good Matrena was to wed her papa, danced' with Joy. Then misfor tune came only a few weeks before the ceremony. Old Petroff, who spec ulated on the exchange for a long time without anyone knowing about it, was ruined from top to bottom. Matrena came one evening to apprise Feodor Feodorovitch of this sad news and re turn his pledge to htm. For all re sponse Feodor placed Natacha In Matrena's arms. "Embrace your mother," he said to th child, and to Matrena, "From today I consider yon my wife, Matrena Petrovna. You should obey me In all thing. Take that re ply to your father and tell him my purse Is at bis disposition." The General was already, at that time, even before he bad inherited the Cheremaieff, immensely rich. He had lands behind Nijni as vaat as a prov ince, and it would have been difficult to count the number of moujiks who worked for him on his property, pid Petroff gave his daughter and did not wish to accept anything in exchange. Feodor wished to settle a large allow ance on bis wife; her father opposed that, and Matrena sided with him In the matter against her husband, be cause of Natacha. "It belongs to the little one," she insisted. "I aceept the position of her mother, but on the con dition that she shall never lose a kopeck of her inheritance." "So that," concluded Boris, "if the General died tomorrow she would be poorer than Job." "Then the General Is Matrena's sole resource," reflected Rouletabille aloud. "I ran understand her hanging onto him," said Michael Korsakoff, blowing the smoke of his yellow cigarette. "Look at her. She watches him like a treasure." . "What do you mean, Michael Nlko Ialevitch?" said Boris, curtly. "You be lieve, do you, that the devotion of Matrena Petrovna is not disinterested? You must know her very poorly to dare utter such a thought." "I have never had that thought, Boris Alexandrovlteh," replied the other in a tone curter still. 'To be able to imagine that anyone who lives in the Trebassofs' home could have such a thought needs an ass' head, surely." "We will speak of it again, Michael NiliolaieViteb.' "At your pleasure, Boris Alexandro vitch." They had exchanged these latter words tranquilly continuing their walk and negligently smoking their yellow toDacco. Rouletabille was between them. He did not regard them; he paid no attention even to their quar rel; he had eyes only for Natacha, who lust now quit her place beside her lathers wheel-chair and passed by them with a little nod of the head, seeming in haste to retrace tbe way back-to the villa. "Are you leaving us?" Boris de manded of her. "Oh, 1 will rejoin yeu immediately. ( have forgotten my umbrella." "But I will go and get it for you," proposed Michael. "No, no. I have to go to the villa. I will return right away." She was already past them. Ronle tabllle, during this, looked at Matrena Petrovna, who looked at him alBO, turning toward the young man a visage pale as wax. But no one else noted the emotion of the good Matrena, who re sumed pushing the General's wheel- chair. Rouletabille asked the officers, "Wag this arrangement because the first wife of the General, Nataeha's mother, was rich?" "No. The General, who always had his heart In his hand," said Boris, married ber for her great beauty. She was a beautiful girl of the Caucasus, of excellent family besides, that Feodor Feodorovitch had known when be was In garrison at Tiflte." "In short," said Rouletabille, "the day that General Trebassof dies Madame Trebassof, who now possesses everything, will have nothing, and the daughter, who now has nothing, will have everything." "Bxactly that," said Michael. "That doesn't keep Matrena Petrovna and Natacha Feodorovna from deeply loving each other," observed Boris. The little party drew near the "Point." So. far the promenade had been along pleasant open country, mong the low meadows traversed by 'resh streams, across which tiny bridges had been built, among bright gardens guarded by porcelain dwarfs, r In the shade of small weeds from 'he feet of whose trees the newly-cut irrass gave a seasonal fragrance. AH was reflected in the pools which lay like glass whereon a scene-painter had cut the green hearts of the pond lily leaves. An adorahle country glimpse which seemed to have been created centuries back for the amusement of a lueen and preserved, immaculately trimmed and cleaned, from generation to generation, for the eternal charm of such an hour as this on the banks of the Gulf of Finland. Now they had leached the bank of the Gulf, and the waves rippled to the nrows of the light ships, which dipped gracefully like huge and rapid sea gulls, under the pressure of their great white sails. Along the roadway, broader now, rlided, silently and at walking pace, the double file of luxurious equippages with Impatient horses, the open car riages in which the great personages of the court saw the view and let them selves he seen. Enormous coachmen held the reins high. Lively young women, negligently reclining against the cushions, displayed their new Paris toilettes, and kept young officers on horseback busy with salutes. There were all kinds of uniforms. No talk ing -was heard. Everyone was kept busy looking. There rang in the pure, thin air only the noise of the champ ing bits and the tintinnabulation of the bells attached to the hairy Fin nish ponies collars. And all that, so beautiful, fresh, charming and clear, and silent, it all seemed more a dream than even that which hung in the pools, suspended between the crystal of the air and the crystal of the water. tTo Pc Continual.) The Greatest Grass Grown in America ! Grown North Good for Hay Grain Forage Silafe Grown South GROW SUDAN GRASS THE MOST WOKDRRFIL GRASS OP TUB AGE introriarra aaa Indorsed by (fee V, S. Asritmltaral Department. Tested severely by tbe tamers l all parts af Texas aad arrMcly reewsasaeaded by. the Farmers' Congress. Never a pest. Will grow wherever sorghum does, from ths Atlantic to the Pacific Makes more and better bsy than any other plant known. Under ordinary conditions produces aUO to 0 pounds of grain and 3 to ton of choice hay per acre ths same season. Adapted to all sorts ( soil and resist drouth and stands that rate well. Takes i to 4 pounds at seed ta sow an aera in drills and 10 to ! rouads broadcast. Quality of hay equals timothy and all kinds of livestock prser it to alfalfa. Cattle fight for the hay and poultry fatten on the grain. Last Spring the seed sold for 12 to ft per pound and all who grew It than expect to plant more next year. It is now selling at $1 per pound and will (a higher before Spring, aa ths supply Is limited. We will send prepaid by parcel post pure Sudan seed for tl per pound in lots of (9 pounds and under not less than en pound considered. Larger lets by freight cheaper. Better rstar now and be sure of getting the seed and save money and then make more money another year, Kveryone who can should grow Sudan grass, la stractfea ken plant ttlta order. Circular free. Address, ELLAGEKH FAR, Boa 18, Aldinc. Harris County, Texas. More Sudan GratM Mtant Mot Monty Gained. Grown East Makes Money When Other Crop Fail Grown West Laughs at Drought Smiles at Rain near me. As If you had been against
