River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1888-01-26
Horror-struok and greatly agItated, she

Horror-strnck and greatly agitated, she
fastened back to the chateau
(Fairfax once again was successful He
had not planned for nothing Ere bidding
adieu TO the steward Of the ssNamovna'' he
had placed in that reliable servants hand
an envelope, (which you win post from
Hayre," he added. II bore the postmark
Of that 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 eonfidante, she reso-
lutely kept the news TO herself, notwith-
standing the anxious questions of that kind
hearled body, who perceived that her young
mistress was unusually distressed.
Iydia's 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 glittered with a baleful glare
Of suppressed anger and distress.
The carriage actually arrived at the
chateau in somewhat less than two hours.
The storm was fast coming on, and the
belated lovers, Dimi.ri and Catharine, sud
denly aroused to tho fact Of its rapid APP
prOach, had also been making exertions to
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 involuntarily exclaimed;
THANK God trust it is so,n 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 beheld Catherine returning with a
scared, white face.
,sOh, my lady, she is not here, and Dim
itri says Medii is nowhere to be found,
either Where, o where can she be. And
this dreadful storm coming on, too. What
shall dol 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
tainty that the impudent missive had told
the truth.
Something must be done, and that quickly,
too.
Call Madame Y" said she.
The madame entered, greatly alarmed.
Already drops of rain were beginning to
fall-precursors of the now rapidly APP
preaching storm, ready TO burst overhead
in all its fury The winds sang dolefuny
through the trees. Flashes of lightning
played warningly in the distance, and spite
lV
upon the ear.
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
rescuing her. Every precaution has been,
and win be, taken to prevent the slightest
injury or insult to her No ransom viii 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 win receive the most courteous
and considerate of treatment Her favorite
authors and musical composers will be at
her hand. A maid will observe her every
wish. Aledji viii accompany her. From
week to week one or two notes will be
mailed 10 her parents, stating Ine coHultlOn
of her health and mind, eraeily as they are.
Should more speedy means of communica-
ton be found necessary, the telegraph win
be resorted to. Should her family desire to
communicate 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
u, 1 as 10, and so on, return to A, which, Of
course, will be 81; finish at F, whose number
will thus be 50: e. g.: 81, 10, l6-2i, 35, IL,
16'-'An WELL
sit will be utterly useless to even attempt
to learn the Princess whereabouts.
THE foregoing promises will be kept Selefy
o. condition that no effort is made either TO
rescue her Or TO discover any thing whatever
with regard to her.
las regards immediate communication, if
that be necessary, telegraph a cipher-dis-
patch to the same papers, with the request
to insert the eipher-message in their next
ssues.n
Both ladies were Mortified and astonished
at the enorInity 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 a district so
populous and carefully guarded. 1t seemed
impossible, and yet the proof Of it lay in Nat
allies absence and the two notes.