Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1877-12-06

long since departed this world
Count Dolgrof took thee as a child
because his wife gave him no hope OF
becoming a father. These are the
portraits of thy parents which Bian-
ka gave to me-"
With these words he handed Lodo-
iska a letter and an open pocket hook
with two portraits. representing Il
young lady and an officer.
Like statue Lodoiska stood be-
fore Gregorius, her eyes staring and
fixed, and making fruitless attempts
to speak. Half unconsciously she
took the things which Gregorius han
ded to her and put them on the table
before her.
Finally pressing her folded hands
violently against her bosom she ut
tered with shrek of terror the
words: mot their daughterl-and
yet-Oh, Almighty Godl"
"Calm myself, my child" said Gre
gorius mildly. turn thy heart humbly
toward Him who wonderfully guides
the fate Of man. 1 have discovered
to thee what was most important and
most necessary. Read these papers
and thou wilt learn every thing furth
er to be known in this matter. /
must now leave thee. Let the first vio-
lent emotion subside which now la
bors in tumultuous pillows within thy
breast. When thou art alone thou
wilt soon regain thy self possession.
-Shouldest thou stand in need OF
me more, send for me-"
With these. words the old man left
the room. Lodoiska was unable to
give a reply; she staggered to seat
and rested her head in her hands.
1t was long before she was able to
open the papers which were to dis
close to her the secret OF her life. The
likenesses OF her parents lay before
her; with fixed gaze she looked up
on them, but the streaming tears
drowned her sight.
Finally she opened the seals OF the
letters addressed to her, and read
what Bianka had written with her
own aged and trembling hand.
These letters informed Lodoiska
that the Count Dolgrof had forcibly
extorted an awful oath from Bianka
never to disclose the secret OF Lodo-
iska's birth to any living creature.
They further informed her that she
was neither the daughter OF Dolgorf
nor OF the Countess, that she was
but few days old, when they adop-
ted her, after her mothers death, as
their own child. That at that time
the Count had been married already
six years. and had given up all hope
OF becoming a father, that while trav
cling in Germany with the Countess.
he became acquainted with her moth
er who was widow, and who had
son with her four years old, named
Henry. That her mothers name was
Louisa W; her husband was an
officer, and had been killed in a duel.
That while the Count and Countess
were staying at Pyrmont, this hand
some young widow, attracted the at
tention or the Countess Dolgrof who
proposed to receive her as COM
panion, IL she would undertake to
teach the Count and herself the Ger
man language. That her mother ac-
cepted the offer. That some four
months later while they were on a
journey to Switzerland and Italy she
was born. That this occurrence caused
them to stop until her mother should |
be fully restored, but that on the |
ninth day after her birth she died.
That Bianka was her attendant du-
ring the last hours OF her life. That
the dying woman entrusted to her
the care OF the children and her little
property, among which were two
wedding rings. That few days az
ter the interment, the Count and
Countess expressed their desire to
pursue their journey, and discharge |
their German servants. That one |
morning Bianka was informed, that |
1t was their intention to adopt the |
little stranger as their daughter, and
would provide for the brother In q
different manner, as 1t would have to |
remain profound secret, that the
Countess was not the child's mother.
That the Count made Bianka take
solemn oath on the consecrated Host,
never to divulge 1t. That after hav-
ing taken the oath Bianka left the
apartment, and went to the room
where the new born child and little
boy were. That being prompted by
within, she took one of
the rings, marked with the initials
II. w. and sewed 1t into the lining OF
his Sunday dress. That soon after
the Count entered and ordered her to
dress the boy for a drive. That the
Count In company with the boy en-
tered his travelling carriage, and
started OF. that was the last that she
ever saw OF the boy. That on the
next morning. the Countess and
herself followed the Count. That
three days afterward they met him
alone at Cologne. That 1t was three
years before they returned to Russia.
and that she was regarded as the
Countess Lodoiska Dolgorof, and as
such was brought up. That the ring
which Bianka had given her. and
prayed her never to part with was
mothers wedding ring,
with the initial letters Fl. w. and per-
haps by it she might find her brother
some day. The letter closed by say
ing: "But adiure thee impart these
secrets to no one. not even to thy |