Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1885-03-27
CHAPTER \.
IN SEARCH or raE rRCrR.

Across Europe halfway across Asia
for the sake of an hours interview
with Russian political prisoner. Ii
was wild scheme. but | was deter
mined to carry il out, II my plan uas
mad one. would. nj least. insure \
chance of its SIcccSS by putting all the
method | could i'll my preparations, |
would not rush wildly 10 my journey
end and find it rendered fruitleSS by the
stupidity or suspicion of some one vest
ed with brief authority No; | must 70
armed with credentials which no one
would dare to dispute. Money, one Of
the most important of all, | had plenty
of, and was ready to Use freely; hut
there were Others which were indi>pcnS-
able; my first step would I've to obtain
these. | could go quietly and systcmat-
icallv TO work, for it would BE- days be-
fore could venture to leave Pauline.
Only when all chance of danger was 1T
an end could begin my journey,
So during those DAYS whilst the poor
girl was gradually, but very, very slow
", rrgaining strength, looked up what
friends possessed among the great peo-
Pile of the land, until found one whose
position was such that he could ask
favor of a far greater man than himself.
and moreover, expect that il should be
granted without DELAY. lie did this for
my sake with such efficacy that r.
ceived letter of introduction to tho
English ambassador AT ST. Petersburg.
and also copy of a letter which had
been forwarded him containing instruc-
tons on my behalf. Each of the letters
bore an autograph which would insure
every assistance being given to me.
With these, and the addition of a letter
of credit for II large amount on st.
Petersburg bank. | was ready 10 start.
But before left, Pauline ; safety and
well-being during these months Of ab-
sence must be considered The difficult
ties this presented almost made mo
abandon. or, Mt least. postpone. the exc
cution of my plan. Yet knew il must
be carried out to the very letter. or
Macari's lie would ever stand between
my wife and myself Better | should
go at once, while we were strangers;
better, if Ccneri by word or silence con-
tirmed the shameful tale, that we should
never meet again.
Pauline would be left in good hands.
Priscilla would do my bidding faithfully
and fully. The old woman was by this
time quite aware that her charge hal
awakened to both memory and new for
getfulness. She knew the reason why
for days and days | had not even enter
ed the room. She knew that | consid-
cred Pauline, in her present state. no
more my wife than when | first met her
in Turin. She knew that some mystery
was attached to our relations with each
other, and that was bound upon long
journey to clear this up. She was con
tent with this knowledge or sought TO
obtain no more than chose to give her.
My instructions were minute A
soon as she was well enough Pauline
was TO be taken to the seaside. Every
thing was to done for her comfort and
according to her wishes If she grew
curious she was TO be told that some
near relation, who was now journcying
abroad, had placed her in Priscilla's
hands, where she was to stay until his
return. Bnt, unless the recollection Of
the past few months came TO her, she
was to be told nothing as TO her true
position as my wife. Indeed, doubt
ed now if she was legally my wife
whether. if she wished, she might not
annul the marriage by stating that at
the time it took place she was not
in her right mind. When | returned
from my expedition If things were
right, as | told myself they must be. all
would have to be begun again from the
beginning.