The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1888-03-29
Rlanchn and M exclamation Of that ladrsa

Blanche, and no explanation Of that lady's
non-appearance. Whcrcupon tho energetic
girl set about solving this uer mystery.
Dashing of hasty telegraph message.
she babe her coachman hand il TO tho OPP
orator in the depot That official, the mo-
mcnt he glanced at Lydias signature. gave
the coachinan note that he declared was
intended for his mistress.
Tearing open the letter, Lydia read:
This il simply q rnse to draw the Lady
Lydia out Of the way. Her friend, the Prin-
cess Natalie. has been abducted. kindly
make known the news at Chateau Dor.
urging the usclessness OF any search for
her. The incloscd note IS for Madame x"
To explain the letters having been in his
possession. the operator quietly handed
Lydia large envelope, bearing the i'd
dress: Telegraph Operator. r. X. Station.
DOL On slip Of paper inclosed therein
was the following request:
please hand this envelope to Lady Lydia
Broadacrcs. If she comes to the X. r. Sta
ton. Otherwise, hold it for further direc>
tions."
That was all, but quite enough to en-,
tighten Lydia.
Horror-struck and greatly agitated, she
FASTENED back TO the chateau.
Fairfax once again was successful. He
had not planned for nothing. Ere bidding
adicu to the steward Of the .Namovna' he
had placed in that reliable servants hand
an envelope. (which you will post from
Havre," he added II bore the postmark
of nhat port. as Lydia observed.)
Uncertain whether or not she were the
victim Of cruel. practical joke. the poor
girl. in an agony Of suspense, kept urging
her coachman to speed the horses to their
utmost. Although accompanied by her
maid. usually great confidante. she reso-
lutely kept the news to herself, notwith-
standing the anxious questions Of that kind
hearted body. who perceived that her young
mistress was unusually distressed.
Lydias lips were firmly compressed. her
cheek was very pale. and determination ap-
peared in every lineament Of her face;
while that blue eye. hitherto SO tender and
melting. now glittercd with q baleful glare
Of suppressed anger and distress.
The carriage actually arrived ut the
chateau in somewhat less than two hours.
The storm was fast coming OH. and the
belated lovers, Dimitri and Catharine, sud-
denly aroused to the fact OF its rapid APP
proach. had also been making exertions to
gain the shelter Of the chateau ere its
breaking They reached the gates just
ahead Of Lydia.
The latter. subduing her agitation. in or
binary tones inquired Of Catherine where
her mistress was. The maid. in surprise
and sudden alarm. replied that she supposed
the Princess had been at the chateau for
some time. Lydia inyoluntarily exclaimed:
THANK God. trust it is so.' and began
to feel somewhat relieved. Her perturbation
might after all. be caused by some frightful
blunder She must keep the entire affair
secret until further developments. Re-
covering her self-control she quietly asked
Catharine to inform the Princess of her ar
rival.
After what seemed to her anxiety an age,
she bchcld Catherine returning with
scared, white face.
..Oh. my lady, she is not here, and Dim
itri says Medji is nowhere to be found.
either. Where, q where can she be. And
this dreadful storm coming on, too What
shall do: Perhaps. my lady. she went to
see you. | know she was greatly disap-
pointed when she read your note"
When Catherine made this announce
ment. Lydias heart sank within her and
she felt obliged to yield to the horrible GER
tanty that the impudent missive had told
the truth.
Something must be done. and that quickly,
too.
..call Madame x said she.
The madame entered, greatly alarmed.
Already drops of rain were beginning to
of the now rapidly APP
storm. ready to burst overhead
in all its fury. The winds sang dolefully
through the trees. Flashes Of lightning
played warningly in the distance. and spite
full muttcrings Of thunder frequently smote
upon the eur.
Together, the two women perused the
note that Lydia had brought from Dol. 1t
read as follows:
by the time Madame X. will read this
the Princess Natalie will be far distant from
Chateau D'Or-too far to even think OF
her. Every precaution has been,
and will be, taken to prevent the slightest
injury or insult to her. No ransom will be
asked or accepted for her release. She will
return certainly in six months time from
the date Of her abduction, and in all proba-
bility much sooner. In the intervening
period she will receive the most courteous
and considerable of treatment. Her favorite
authors and musical composers will be at
her hand. A maid will observe her every
wish. Medji will accompany her. From
week to week one or two notes will be
mailed to her parents. stating the condition
of her health and mind, erdctly as they are.
Should more speedy means Of communica-
ton be found necessary. the telegraph will
be resortcd to. Should her family desire to
with her. let their communica-
ton be mailed to each one Of the following
journals: The Paris Figaro, the London
Times and the New York Herald. Use the
following cipher:
beginning with the letter G as II. H as
Il. as f3. and SO on, return to A. which, OF
course. will be 81 finish at +. whose number
will thus be Ri: c. g.: 81, III, l6-g, s., 10,
l6'-'All we'll
ut will be utterly useless TO even attempt
to learn the Princess whereabouts.
1.-THE foregoing promises will be kept solely
on condition that no effort is made either to
rescue her or to discover any thing whatever
with regard to her.
..As regards immediate communication, II
that be necessary, telegraph q ciphcr-dis-
patch to the same papers, with the request
to insert the cipher in their next
ssues."
Both ladies were Mortified and astonished
ut the enormity and daring of this deeply
laid plan. They could scarcely believe the
evidence of their senses that such bold af-
fair had actually taken place in district SC
populous and carefully guarded. 1t seemed
impossible. and yet the proof Of it lay in Nat
allies absence and the two notes.
CHAPTER XII.
TOO LATE
The storm was now raging in its full
force. The rain, in perfect torrents, was
driving against the chateau walls. The
wind howled about the house-corners and
down the chimncys. Peal after peal Of
dcafcning thunder rang through tho
heavens. and the lightning in binding