The Sully County watchman. (Clifton, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1894, 1888-08-18

| Nos as present." said Mr.. Marston,
when he had listented attentively to her
story; "but I shsil think the matter
| over"
| The next day Mr.. Marston left for
London, having bade the countess cor
dial farewell, aud promised to write to
her at once il any idea should occur to
him with regard to the recovery of
her title and estates.
More than a month passed away, dur
ing which she did net hear from him, and
conseq uently, was beginning to think
ne mad probably forgotten all about her,
or ne would have written, when one even
ing the servant came up stairs to say
| mat Mr.. Marston was in the parlor on
the ground -four, and would like to see
her.
u nave been thinking ever since I lef.
you" he said, when they had greeted
each osher, "of the extraordinary history
you told me. And think now that see
my way to overcome your difficulties.
But you have to exercise great patience.
it Will take me probably year, perhaps
more, to carry out my plans. / shall
have to go to Russia and live in the vii.
lage of Narovel, and l shall want at least
1i0o at once, and probably another E400
In the course of six months. In the
meantime you must be content not TO ask
me any questions, and to remain in per
feet ignorance of what am doing. Nv
wovd Is the only gra. lntee you can have
that L shall be honestly doing my best
on your behalf
ut is sufficient" said the countess,
you shall have the money. When can
you start?"
Tomorrow" was the answer.
Accordingly mex day Mr.. Marston
started for Narovel which is q village in
the province of Minsk, in western Russia.
Here he took up his abode in the guise of
well to do Englishman, who wished TO
make himself acquainted with the Ian
guage and institutions of the couutrv,
aid who had no OF ection TO spend his
money pretty freely. He was n good
shot, was fond of riding, and, apart alto
gether from the necessity of acting a
pI-t which WAS involved by the business
he had on hand, he was really joyial aud
"ieasent companion. The consequence
was !hat he had soon became favorite
with everyo body in the district. The men
liked him because he was a capital sports
man and could take his bottle with the
best OF them; the women, because he was
good looking foreigner, who was always
paying them such com piimcnts Is C
cumstances permitted and who was very
fond OF children. Among others, with
whom ne shortly became very intimately
acqu ainted, was the new priest, Young
man named Nicholas Kohl. Kohl acted, rs
pi'ests very often do in Rnssia the part
both of priest and physician to the dis
trict. And since Marston was able TO
give him great deal of valuable advice
and assistance, they soon became fast
friends.
Oae day about five months after he
came to Narovel, he went with Kohl into
the Vestry room, or the chapel, where the
countess was married. He had been in
this room frequently before, and knew
exactly where the book IN which her mar
riage was registered lay among some
Others IN a sort of q cupboard. Already
he had, on the pretense of comparing the
Russian system with the English, examiu-
ed several registers OF births, deaths and
marriages, so that he was familiar with
the forms, and on looking at Il book of
such registers could easily find any par
tleular one he was in quest Of. As vet
however, he had had no opportunity OF
examining the book which contained the
record of the marriage of the countess
Now what he had been scheming for dur
ing the past five months was TO get this
book secretly into his possession for
about half an hour. Already he had form
ed a number OF plans for getting half nn
hour alone in the vestry room, but these
he had discarded one by one as being un-
suitable. At last, as often happens in |
such cases, an accident gave him the op-
poftunity he sorght On the occasion In |
question they were going for long walk, |
and had only gone into the vestry room
to leave parcel, which the priest had in |
his hand. Scarcely, however, had they en-
tered the room when they were followed |
by little girl who mad seen them go into |
the chapel. She had been 10 the priests |
house TO look tor him, as her mother. who |
was very i'll. wished TO see him for u few |
minutes.
II shall wait here for you," said Mar
stou, speaking to Kohl in French, when
he understood what the little girls errand
was. ~ can rsad until you come back"
There was some French and Latin books
in the room.
VERY weli,' said Kohl, "it's only few
minutes walk from here. | shall not be
more than half an hour"
When the girl and priest had left the
chapel Marston took out of the cup
board the volume that contained the
register of the countess marriage and
turned over the pages till he came to the
ontry he was in search of. Yes, there, in
black and white, was the record of the
of SOPHIA Uschakotf with
Michael Tokhtamish. Mr.. Marston
ooked at the register in.entiy for a min
lte or two, during which time he turned
rather pals. Then he got up and looked
,ut of the vestry room te sse that there
vas nobody in the chapel. Having salts
led himself that he was quite alone, he
,at down again aud examined the charac-
ers in which the name of Michael
rokhtamish Was written with the great
,st care for about miurte. Finally,
10 took out of his pocket a penknife, a
,ottle of ink ana q pen, which he had al
Ways carried about him in anticipation
IF an opportunity like the presnt. With
no penknife he carefully erased the
,ams ot Michael TDkhtamfsh. II took
.im about three minutes to do this, so
.nxious was he to- do the work neatly.
nd not 10 leave trace of the letters he
tb. SAT- Nhan | I