The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1888-07-06


contracted g very sincere friendship
for each other. Finally, on the night
before he left, she told him her story,
and asked him if he could see any way
in which she could establish the rights
of herself and children.
"Not at present." said Mr.. Marston,
when he had listened attentively to her
story; but / shall think the matter
over. One sometimes, after reflection,
gets ideas that would never come from
mere ratiocination, though it is ratio
cination which afterward makes them
practical-ideas that seem at first to
have no bearing on the subject Of
thought, while in reality they contain
its full explanation. / am not very
hopeful of being able to give you any
advice that would be of use to you in
this case; but shall try, if possible,
to think of something that may guide
you.''
The next day Mr.. Marston left for
London, having babe the Coun tess a
cordial farewell, and promised to write
to her at once if any idea should occur
to him with regard to the recovery Of
her title and estates.
More than month passed away,
during which she did not hear from
to think that he had probably forgot
ten all about her, or he would have
written, when one evening the servant
came up stairs to say that Mr.. Marston
was in the parlor on the ground floor,
and would like to see her.
II have been thinking ever since
left you," he said, when they had
greeted each other, .of the extraor-
binary history you told me. And /
think now that see my way to over
come your difficulties. But you will
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
village of Narovel, and / shall want at
least f400 at once, and probably
another E400 in the course of about
six months. In the meantime you
must be content not to ask me any
questions, and to remain in perfect ig-
norance of what am doing. My word
is the only guarantee you can have
that / shall be honestly doing my best
on your behalf"
cit is sufficient" said the Countess.
"You shall have the money. When
can you start?''
Tomorrow, was the answer.
Accordingly next day Mr.. Marston
started for Narovel, which is a vii
lage in the province of Minsk, in
Western Russia. Here he took up his
abode in the guise of a well-to-do En-
glishman, who wished to make himself
acquainted with the language and in
situations of the country and who had
no objection to spending his money
freely. He was good shot, was fond
of riding, and, apart altogether from
the necessity of acting a part which
was involved by the business he had on
hand, he was a really jovial and pleas
ant companion. The consequence was
that he soon became a favorite with
every body in the district. The men
liked him because he was capital
sportsman and could take his bottle
with the best of them; the women, be-
cause he was a good-looking foreigner
who was always paying them such
compliments as circumstances permit
ted and who was very fond of children.
Among others with whom he shortly
became very intimately acquainted was
the new priest, a young man named
Nicholas Kohl. Koel acted, as priests
very often do in Russia, the part both of
priest and physician to the district.
And since Marston was able to give
him great deal of valuable advice and
assistance, they soon became fast friends.
One day, about five months after he
came to Narovel, he went with Kohl
into the vestry room of the chapel
where the Countess was married. He
had been in this room frequently be-
fore, and knew exactly that the book
in which her marriage was registered
lay among some others in % sort OF
cupboard. Already he had, on the pre-
tense of comparing the Russian system
with the English, examined several
registers of births, deaths and mar
riages, so that he was familiar with the
forms, and looking at book of such
registers could easily find any particu-
lar one that he might be in quest of.
As yet, however, he had had no oppor-
tunity of examining the book which
contained the record of the marriage
of the Countess. Now, what he had
been scheming for during the past five
months was to get this book secretly
into his possession for about half an
hour. Already he had formed number
of plans for getting half an hour alone
in the vestry room, but these he had
discarded one by one as being insult,
able. AT last, as often happens in
such cases, an accident gave him the
opportunity he sought On the oc.
casion in question they were going fol
a long walk, and had only gone into
the vestry room to leave a parcel
which the priest had in his hand
Scarcely, however, had they entered
the room when they were followed by
a little girl who had seen them go into
the chapel. She had been to the
priests house to look for him, as hel
mother, who was very i'll, wished to
see him for a few minutes.
81 shall wait for you here" sale
Marston, speaking to Kohl in French,
when he understood what the little
girls errand was. 81 can read unit
you come back There were some
French and Latin books in the room.
Every WE'LL" said Kohl, ''it's only
a few minutes walk from here. / shall
not be more than half an hour"
When the girl and priest had left the