The shears of destiny
by Leroy Scott (1875–1929)
- Free to read
- 5 hours to read
- 30 chapters
- Reading level: 6th grade
"The Shears of Destiny" by Leroy Scott is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story revolves around Henry Drexel, a young American businessman, who finds himself entangled in a web of political intrigue and romance during his visit to Russia, where his cousin Alice is set to marry Prince Berloff. As events unfold, Drexel encounters a mysterious young woman, whose presence not only sparks his interest but also leads him into dangerous situations involving revolutionary forces. The opening of the book sets the stage for Drexel's journey as he travels to St. Petersburg, reflecting on his business aspirations and family connections while ignoring the surrounding revolutionary tensions. Upon encountering a beautiful woman in his train compartment, their brief interaction turns into a moment of tension when a captain of the gendarmerie conducts a passport check, threatening her safety. In a display of unexpected courage, Drexel intervenes, claiming her to be his wife, which marks the beginning of a dramatic twist. As they share a fleeting connection, the young woman gracefully expresses her gratitude while subtly hinting at deeper ties to the tumultuous political landscape. This promises a tale rich with intrigue and romance, setting the stage for their intertwined destinies amidst the complexities of early 20th-century Russia.
- Adventure stories
- Man-woman relationships
- Americans · Russia
Read the opening
Chapter I
THE WOMAN IN BROWN
Instead of the week Drexel had thought his business would keep him in Moscow, two days sufficed. They were a pleasant two days, rich with promise of future profit, and it was with regret that he settled down in his compartment of the day express to St. Petersburg. He would have been glad had his business denied him a little longer the company of his aunt and his cousin Alice and the polished Prince Berloff.
Drexel gave little heed to the country through which his train shrieked and rumbled. And there was small reason that he should, for the land was monotonously flat, and made more monotonous by its vast blanket of sunless snow, beneath which it had been asleep these two months and which it would not throw aside with the awakening gesture of Spring for three long months to come. As far as the eye could reach there was only this gray-white, frozen desert—desolate emptiness, save where forests of spruce and hemlock lifted their myriad whited peaks toward the sullen sky, or a distant peasant village huddled low as if shivering with the bitter cold.
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About this edition
This free edition of The shears of destiny by Leroy Scott comes from Project Gutenberg eBook #73803, released 2024-06-10. It is in the public domain in the United States, so you can read it here in full at no cost, on any phone, tablet or computer. Genre: Romance, Adventure, Novels, American Literature.
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