The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1888-03-22
the nature Of the duties which were to fai

the nature Of the duties which were to fal
upon him.
After some time spent in writing, Fairfa,
examined the vehicle and found it in excel
lent condition. The harness ais, seemed
strong One trace was little worn. and
with an extra tug, might give way. A
piece Of stout cord quickly remedicd this
defect The horse appeared TO have entirely
recovered from his long journey Of the
night before.
| One thing the anxious observer did not
like. A heavy black bank of clouds was
rising III the soathwest-a low. dilatory
mass OF vapor that clearly betokened an APP
| preaching storm STILL he thought 1t would
scarcely interfere with the fulfiliment OF his
expectations and plans.
| He went to the roadside to watch Be-
| tween three and four, he saw. away in the
| distance, up the road carriage approach
ing. 1t contained Dimitri and Catherine. en-
route, no doubt, to make preparations for Ma
talie, who then could not be far behind them.
His heart began TO quicken its beats
when he distinguished a horse gallop-
ing down the highway Although strain
ing his eyes he could see but one,
and on that steel rode the Princess
He held his breath as she dashed by like
themselves superbly.
Again he felt the same inexplicable mis-
givings, the same mysteriously prophetic
warning, and again he flung is,ide the
emotion. The deed was begun and. were
the heavens TO fall. must now be done.
But how is it that lie behold but one horse
woman! Where was LYDIA! Alas. miles
away on wild goose GRAND.
Ere leaving Paris, .s.lirfax had left q
sealed and unaddressed envelope in the
hands of one of the Lead clerks. with in
structions to mail it to given address in
America. If no message to the contrary was
received, within five days.
IF. however, You get telegram bearing
the word send ask a message-boy to carry
it to the nearest telcgraphic station"
His instructions were followed to the
very letter. On receipt Of the message that
Roger had taken to the Dol photograph station
the previous evening, Fairfax envelope was
forwarded to its intended destination. The
telegraphcr who opened it found written
in wonan's hand, apparently, . telegram
to this effect;
LADY Lydia, Chateau Dor, village OF Y,
Cote-du-Nord. Meet me a. Dol, four o clock.
= BLANCHE HAYWOOD
This explains Lydia's absence. For, on
receiving the telegram, she dashed of a
nasty note Of regret to Natalie, ordered her
Darouche and FASTENED to meet her aunt at
Dol.
Fortune had so favored Fairfax that he
actually began to entertain feeling Of dis
trust toward the good dame. 1t made him
still more careful, and he resolved to spare
no pains in taking every precaution possible
to ensure success.
The Princess Natalie was putting the
fni.hing touches upon her picture. On the
morrow she expected to leave her beloved
village and summer home for Lake Mag
giore where her chief companion, q
brother, scarcely more than one year older
than herself, had been accustomed to spend
with her his summers.
A little more than two years previous to
the time when this narrative opens, on the
morning Of her birthday, he had, among
other gifts, presented his sister with a love-
~ palette-lSni-e. just as he was departing on
short hunting expedition into the valley.
But before going he took his seat at the
piano and began playing the .'Addo." This
song was great favorite with both Natalie
and himseif.1
Aroused by the many evidences Of her
brothers love and the fact that it was her
birthday she scarcely knew by what, it
seemed almost prescience she went over
to his side and sang rs she rarely had sung
before Otto was so much moved when the
song was ended that he put his arms about
her, and kissed her Goodbye" As the
words of the song have il, it proved Good
bye for ever
Two hours later in headlong chase after q
stag. he g.llopcd his horse down ravine.
The exhausted beast lost his footing and
against a rock The unfortunate youth
lived but Il few moments.
The shock to the Prin ess was even
greater than might have been anticipated.
Returning from horseback ride, while gal
Looping at full speed, as was her wont, and
laughing gaily Mt some remark of her old
goyerncss. whom her affection still retained
more as companion and chaperon than in
structress, she suddenly turned curve in
the road and saw before her rude, i'm
proyised litter, borne on the shoulders OF
four men. A fifth was leading two saddle
horses. A figure covered with mantle
lay upon the litter.
The impetuous speed of Medji carried his
rider nearly up to the party, ere she could
check him. AS he came to q standstill,
Natalie recognized the men and also her
brothers horse. For moment she doubted
the evidence Of her senses, and looked
again.
With overwhelming force the horrible
truth burst upon her. She leapcd to the
ground, rushed up TO the litter, tore the
mantle from the face, and saw her only
brother lying pale and cold in the sleep Of
death.
20 Otto, my brother dead.' she cried, and
swooned away
For weeks afterward she lay, lowering
oetwixt life and death. in wild deiirum Of
fever. All her physicians looked for death.
But one sunny afternoon a strolling harper
CHANGED to play under her window
peculiarly sweet air. In the midst of her
rawlings she stopped, and seemed to be
listening to the .Adaio,' and lay quiet
long time after the melody had died away,
falling finally into a refreshing slumbcr,
from which she aWoke in her right mind.
AS the Princess grew stronger, the old
scenes proving painful to her. she asked to
be removed to others; and when she once
more looked upon the fair waters OF Mag
giore, it was at the request Of her parents.
CHAPTER X.