The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1888-07-18


ing the Russian system with the English, ex
anined several registers of births, deaths and
marriages, so that he was familiar with the
forms, and on looking at book of such
registers could easily find any particular one
that no might be in quest of. As vet. how.
ever, he had had no opportunity of examin.
ing tho 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 a number of plans for getting
half on hour alone in the vestry room.
but these he had discarded one by one as
being unsuitable. At last, as often hap
pens IN such cases, an accident gave him
the opportunity no sought. 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 entered the room when they were
followed by little girl who had seen them
go into the chapel She had been to the
priests house to look for him, as her mother,
who was very ILL.,. wished to see him for a
few minutes
u shall wait here for you,n said Marston,
speaking TO Kohl in French, when he under.
stood what the little girls errand was. "
can read until you come baclxp There were
some French and Latin books in the room.
VERY well, said Kohl, "it's only a few
minutes walk from here. I shall not be
more than half an hour
When the girl and priest had left the
chapel, Marston took out of the cupboard
the volume that contained the register of the
countess marriage and turned over the pages
I'LL he came to tho entry he was In search of
Yes, there, in black and white, was the rec
ord OF the marriage of Sophia UschakoR
with Michael Tokhtamish Mr.. Marston
looked at the register intently for a minute
or two, during which time he turned rather
pale. Then he got up and looked out Of the
vestry room to sec that there was nobody in
the chapel. Having satisfied himself that he
was quite alone, he sat down again and ex-
amined the characters in which the name of
Michael Tokhtamish was written with the
greatest caro- for about minute Finally.
he took out of his pocket penknife, a bottle
OF ink and a pen, which he had always car
ried about with him In anticipation Of an
Opportunity like the present With the pen
knife he carefully erased the name of Michael
Tokhtamish. 1t took him about three minutes
to do this, SO anxious was he to do the work
neatly, and not to leave trace of the letters
he was removing from the register. When
he had succeeded to his liking he put
the penknife in his pocket again. and having
carefully examined the pen to see that the
nib was in order, he proceeded to write over
the erasure the name Of -
Let me first ask If the reader has guessed
whose name it was that Mr.. Marston wrote
over the name he had been at such pains to
erases Some people of whom / have asked
the question bave guessed that ho wrote his
own name But why sos On a subsequent
occasion he did write his own name in n
marriage register after Sophia Cherasxi had
written hers. But on the present occasion
he could not have gained ANYTHING by SO
doing. And the same objection win apply to
his writing most other names over the eraslIre
No. Having most carefully erased the
name of Michael Tokhtamish, he proceeded
with the very greatest care to write the name
OF Michael Tokhtamish as nearly as possible
In the same place and characters that it had
stood in before When he had done this TO
his satisfaction he let the ink dry, and then
restored the book to its place. Kohl came
back presently, and they went for their long
walk.
About three weeks afterward Mr.. Marston
found that he had business which neeessi-
tated his leaving for England, and very
much to the regret of the inhabitants of
Narovel, he departed. From Russia he went
straight to Paris, where he called upon the
Countess Cheraski, with whom .le had held no
communication whatever during the whole
time ne was living at Narogel.
"You have placed implicit confidence in
me" he said, land you will find that it has
not been abused. / have told you before that
You must not ask any questions and tell
you so again. You must do Exactly as 1
direct you without asking why. Commence
proceedings at once for the restoration Of
your title and estates; and mark me, when
the register is produced, insist ON having
every word that relates to your marriage
most carefully examined. Do exactly as I
tell yon, and you will find that the result
will be satisfactory And now good-by.
must get back to London to sec il cannot
get my patients again.
The countess did as he told her to do. She
an action on behalf OF herself
and her children for the restoration of tho
title and estates. The register of her mar
rage was produced, but WREN IL was exam
med 1t was found that the name Of Michael
rokhtamish was written over an erasure.
This destroyed the value Of tho register as
evidences of a marriage between Sophia Uscha-
koR and Michael Tokhtamish. The natural
In fact, the moral certainty was
hat somebody else's name had been erased
from the place where the name of Michael
rokhtamish was written, and further, that
,he somebody else was the man who mar
lied Sophia Uschakoff. Under these cir
the evidence of Michael Toxin
'amish himself and the two other witnesses
who were present ct the marriage, together
With the evidence OF q number Of French
witnesses, that the late count had lived with
- for years as man and wife, was held to
establish fully tho csims Of the countess and
Ter children 10 be the lawful wife and issue
II the late Ivan Cheraski. Tokhtamish, |
nay mention, gave his evidence very will |
ngly, as 1t was perfectly certain that the
countess would never marry anybody else |
While she was supposed to be his wife.
On the morality Of the transaction I pro- |
lounce no opinion, and abandon that prob |
EN- to such casuists as may be still extant.
The countess left Russia shortly after she |
lad gained her lawsuit, and was married /
bout year afterward to Edwin Marston, \
who, partly through his own abilities and |
,artly with the assistance OF her fortune. |
,ecame ono of the leading physicians In |
london. wv. Fl. Stacpoole in Time.
A Remedy for Fetid Feet. u
A Chicago correspondent writes us for |
remedy for perspiration of the feet, com. |
planning that this trouble makes him ,induly |
sensitive. Frequent washing, he asserts, does
II.