The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1888-04-19

shaved OF from his face every trace OF the
thick beard and the mustacnc that had long
concealed his lips and chin His appearance
was so completely altered that his deares,
friend would have passed him on the street
| Is q stranger.
His face was somewhat clerical in appear.
ance. and yet. withal. had very stern look.
The closely-shut lips, the narrow but firm
jaw. betokened an ambition that the upper
part Of the countenance had hitherto con-
ccalcd
On his coming he had found number Of
New York Heraids awaiting him In each
paper was message in cipher from the
family Of Natalie. He read them all: then
sat down and at once dispatched the follow
ing letter TO his captive:
You are at Bar Harbor. on the island Of
Mount Desert, of the extreme northeast
coast Of the United States.
while you do not abuse. so loag you
may use your liberty. Medji. groom. car
riages. horses. every thing you desire, will
be yours Your period Of Imprisonment
will not be great. Escape il and will be inn
possible. Let that BE- understood ono: aud for
all. II YOU desire again 10 communicate
with your family, tell Blanche. delivering
all your letters into her hands. In the New
York Hera1ds. from time TO time, you will
find genuine messages from your family
Here are eight copies Of that journal, each
containing cipher dispatches from your fam
ily-dispatches that are TO be translated as
follows
Then ensued careful description Of the
key to the cipher.
Again. let it be said. Fear not Loving
hands care for you: watchfal eyes observe
your every want. and plan for your comfort
and pleasure. Trust, and all will be we'll
This remarkable note was conveyed 10 the
Princess in company with the Heralds She
pcrused them all, and although greatly per-
picked, was still more comforted by their
contents.
The message from home. while ac-
knowledging the anxiety of the family,
babe her be of good cheer. and all would be
well.
So much did Fairfax trust in this pure.
minded, honorable. independent. yet confid-
ing creature. that he determined to allow
her partial, and. eventually. full liberty.
Natalie really began to feel unusually
happy in living this singular life of free-re-
straint, if such conflicting combination Of
words may be allowed.
There was actually no reason why the
girl should be unhappy. Her father she re
spected, but certainly did not. and never
could, love. She had no friend excepting
Lydia; and now both Lydia and her own
family had sent her messages of comfort
told her to worry no more; that they felt
sure of her being in safe hands: that they
had received her own messages to them
that they doubted not. in good time, she
would return, and that from time to time
they would communicate with her
For the space of a week matters thus
went on quietly at Eld-Field. The Princess
took her daily walks, drives or rides about
the island; but she was invariably accom-
panied by a groom who never lost sight of
her. Once-as much for the sake Of amuse-
ment as TO test the watchfulncss of this
companion, whose constancy was CROWN z
trifie monotonous- she dashed down one
Of the steepest hills of the island at break
neck speed. But the groom. mounted on a
horse still f1eeter, soon caught hold of
Medjis bride, turned him around, and
made the Princess return home all this
without uttering single word Quite sat
isfied with the result of her experiment.
Natalie perceived escape. without the assist
ance Of others, was impossible. Her posi-
ton being SO unusually pleasant there was
really no necessity Of submitting to the
modification of disclosing its singularity to
any of her neighbors. She wisely decided
to keep quiet and await the turn of events.
In fact there was nothing else to do.
The first Sunday after her arrival upon
the island, the Princess attended service at
ST. Saviour's, the pretty ard quaint little
village church of stone.
Only a small number of the cottagers and
hotel guests were now remaining The
others had been taking wing and joining
the southwark flight. Those few that were
still constant to their lovely Bar Harbor
were surprised by the melodious voice that
sang SO sweetly and strongly. CHANGING
furtively toward the rear Of the church.
they beheld face even far more beautiful
and attractive than the marvellous voice.
One Of the male worshippers. during his
travels abroad, had once seen the Princess
Natalie. and. as he now caught sight Of the
lovely countenance of the singer, was
struck by it's resemblance to that of some
woman whom he had seen before, but could
not Mt once recall.
During the remainder Of the service and
Of that day the girls yisage continually
haunted him and kept his thoughts busy at
work. pulling out her identity. Suddenly.
at night-fall. he solved the problem and
joyously said to his wife:
Now l know. my dear. who it is she
looks lke-the young woman who sang in
church to-day. She resembles the Princess
Natalie Radziwill and the resemblance is
wonderfully strong.
Before granting the freedom of the ISL
and to his prisoner, Fairfax penned a note
that ran thus:
will the Princess Natalie. within three
days time. after the receipt Of this. send
her written promise that. ii allowed to
roam about at will, she will neither attempt
escape. nor inform an person or persons,
Us to her true situation here or her name |.