Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1885-11-28

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to preach this idea into Movitska's
head but l could not move him from
his insane determination, and / could
not conscientiously leave him.
Our fair escort led us off at right
angles from the pass, down through
a wooded ravine, and | soon found
that they were following a toIerably
well beaten trail.
BY this time | had noticed that the
leader Of the trio was the possessor of
a superb form, and that there was a
certain air of refinement and high
breeding in her manner, accompanied
by a grace and dignity suchasa queen
might envy. There was a slight for
eign accent in her speech, but not
enough to detract particle from the
delightful effect of her clear, sweet
voice. l began to feel strong curl
osity to see her face.
After riding about a mile we came
to a large log cabin. 1 knew the
place well. 1t was the abode of a
harmless old miner and his family.
Why had we been brought here?
We were ordered to dismount and
enter the house. l took the precau-
ton to draw my siX-shooter and hold
it in my hand as we crossed the
threshold.
The old miner and his wife were
there, but as we entered they imme-
diately passed into an adjoining room
and closed the door behind them.
The leader of the yelled riders went
to a couch in one corner of the room,
and took therefrom a two-year old
child, partially arousing it from
sound slumber. Holding the little
one in her arms, she turned toward
my friend, and in a strong, firm voice
said:
"Rudolph Movitska, l see by your
pale face and trembling hand that
you suspect who l am. In my des-
peration 1 have followed you to this
country to demand of you an open
acknowledgement before the world
that 1 am your lawful wife, and this
child your offspring"
AS she spoke she threw off the
black veil, disclosing a wonderfully
beautiful face.
Movitska uttered a hoarse cry and
staggered forward.
"Helena |! Helena my wife! Oh,
God in heaven, this cannot bereality.
am dreaming-I am mad ~
He. was. down on his knees at her
feet, clasping one of her hands in
both of his. He was terribly agita-
ted, and his powerful frame shook
like an aspen.
A surprised, half-incredulous look
came into the beautiful face.
"You are not-glad-to see me,
Rudolph ?" she said, in quivering
voice.
"Glad-" He rose suddenly to his
feet and stood before her. "The
PrinceW he gasped.
"The Princew she echoed. "And
what of the Prince? You left me al
themercy Of him and an irate father.'
"But-you-married himW
A lightning flash of scorn and in
dignatiOn shot from the splendid eyes
married him ?" she cried "wher
l was already married to you? How
could you ever believe me guilty O
so dreadful crime? l lOathed hin
i hated the very ground he walked
upon. l would have died before
marrying himv ~
"And the child"
els yours, of course. Look at it,
He snatched it from her arms ant
covered its face with kisses.
Light was breaking through tn
darkness now f; explanations followed
fast /; and soon a flood of sunshine dis
PEELED every vestige of gloom tina
had blinded the eyes of this long
separated couple.
1t appeared that Helena's father
after she had confessed to him tina
she was Movitska's wife, still deter
mined that she should marry tn
Prince. With this end in view h
formed a plot. He wrote two letter
to Movitska, at Paris. One of thes
was over his own signature, Stain
that his daughter was repentant an
desired to mary the Prince, and beg
ging Rudolph to stay away fror
Poland and to keep his secret. Blu
the crafty old man told his daughte
that he had written kind, fatherl
letter to Rudolph, telling him tina
: he could return to Poland at the en-