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