Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-10-26
THE WATERBURY EVENING DEMOCRAT, FRIDAY OCT 26 1888

poor boy when I described his terror and dis tress, and she forthwith began to consider how best to conceal the scene of his flight. did not then understand that this was more for my sake than for that of tho fugitiveS The "bliss" of ignorance was mine at that moment, the "folly" of wisdom came later)
 Susoete returned at once with me to my bedroom, for the watchman, she said, had luckily seen her as she entered it an hour be- fore, and he would think she had remained there all night, so we locked the door and lay down together Not long after we had done so we again heard footsteps on the bal cony, and as the moon was shining brightly, we saw the shadow of a man pass quickly across tho blind, and as it returned it fingered long enough at my window for me to recog- nize the spare form of the priest; but finding, Suppose, that everything was unsuspiciously quiet, and the window closed, the figure van- ished as cautiously as it had appeared; and although we listened long and atten- lively, we heard nothing moro. After while my nervousness calmed down, and Susette's propinquity giving me sense of security, fell asleep. The sun was shining brightly into the room as awoke, and overheard the file de chambre tell Susette that the Russians had all left the
 
 As soon as I was dressed I hurried to my mother and related the whole adventure. She was much excited, and proposed going at once to the British embassy to relate the story, which we did, and were admitted di- rectly into Lord Queensland's presence. 1 was terribly disappointed when the great man assured us nothing whatever had been heard of the fugitives, and equally lndig- nant when l discovered that both he and his attache discredited my storyi The ambassa- dor was barely civil, and ''thought' I had been ''hoaxed;' that my imagination" had "exaggerated the facts,n etc. He asked whether any person beside myself had wit messed "the alleged flight" and I fancied hc seemed relieved when replied in the mega tive, and my suspicious of his sincerity were still more aroused by his evident anxiety that wc should keep the story to ourselves, impressing upon my mother (who turned very pale) that we had better do so 'for her pretty young daughters sake" Being young and inexperienced, I missed the innuendo, but as tho minister had early let out that he was ''personally acquainted" with the Princess Lipetska; that she was "nearly related to the imperial family" and that such an unlikely story" as miDe might give great ofTense, shrcwdly suspected his anxiety for secrecy arose from some secret motive
 In few minutes Lord Queensland rose, thus, as ho thought, ending the discussion; but feeling my veracity was unfairly ill pugned I was not to be so summarily dis missed; besides, the ambassadors parting words did not tend to soothc my irritation. ''1 advise you, madam" he said to my mother, mot to allow pretty Lady Muriel to sleep alone in hotel again. Keep her to her dolls, dear lady. There are really no chil- dren nowadays"
 This was unbearable, so losing all self con- trol, said, angrily: 'It is Q pity, my lord, that some old men should be chosen to fill high positions who are little better than dolls themselves, especially when called upon to act in an emergency And oh!" I cried, bursting into childish tears, 'they are not so nice as dolls, for although their heads may be equally empty, dolls have hair, whereas old men very often have not" Need I say Lord Queensland was bald?
 My mother was mortified at my words, but the ambassador seemed tickled, and batting me on the shoulder, called me "a gold headed little spitf1rc." I was not, however, to be modified, and as I marched from the room said, maliciously: If you, my lord, will not take the story up, I shall spread it abroad as an instance of the incompetency of our off cials to defend tho friendless." To my sur prise perceived that my words ''at random sent had found a mark they never meant" for Lord Queensland. motioning to his attache to close the door, said to my mother 'May I ask you favorf 1 frankly G con fess I know something of tho story, and wished, for certain reasons, to Heep it quiet So will you-will your daughter-for the