Mexico weekly ledger., 1889-07-25

PIaY THE ZOO. AND LEARN THE TRCTH
When Lydia ana the Old Marquis had
concluded that nothing further could be
done toward rescuing the Princess, they
held consultation with Louvait. The re-
suit Of this was the unanimous decision that
not only was it better, but also absolutely
necessary, that the news of the affair should
be kept from the public-espccia from
the newspapers.
To Lydia and the Marquis this seemed i'm
possible. But LouTait assured them that if
they would place the matter entirely in his
hands he would guarantee that the story
would soon die natural death.
With his usual cievernesS and unscrupl-
lousness III distorting the truth, he imme-
diately circulated q report which, on the
face of it. appeared So plausible and proba-
bic. SO satisfactory explanation of the
extraordinary disappearance of the Prin-
cess, that all who had heard about it at once
accepted it as truth, laughed at themselves
for their unnecessary interest and horror,
and under the supposition that the Princess
was with her family at Lake Maggiore,
dropped their talk and soon forgot entirely
about the supposed abduction.
Natahe's family. with rare good sense,
acting under the advice of tine detective
and of Lydia, kept the secret so well that
no one outside of the palace knew any
thing at all of the Princess disappearance
And soon to those who had heard of IL, at
all, the abduction of the Princess Natalie
Radziwiu was II thing of the past.
This was just what Jean Louyait wanted.
Not single newspaper even referred to
the supposed false report which died shortly
after its birth. Louyait rejoiced.
The sound advice of the Frenchman and of
Lady lydia, the receipt of the bulletins, whose
place OF mailing it was impossible 10 even
guess at-bulletins that bore the most SOM
fortiug news, told in a most chatty and con-
tidential style, which was simply impudcnt
together with dainty note from Natalie
herself-all these united to produce q watt
ing policy.
Natales missiye was short.
II am allowed she wrote, ''to say that I
| am well and treated quite like a Princess;
| although why l am prisoner is more than
| can tell.'
| Lydia, after recovering from the excite
ment naturally occasioned by her friends
| disappearance, suddenly became very ab
| sent-miuded and distrai y very unwel-
come suspicion had flashed across her mind
| and deeply burned itself thereon. She held
| with LouVait another consultation so skill
| fully managed as not to awaken the clever
| detectives suspcions. The result of this
| interview was the unwilling, yet almost in
| evitable formation of a theory upon her
| part theory that her whole heart was set
| upon rejecting, if possible. Still she was
| forced to recognize it as 50 probable as well
| as plausible that peace of mind could never
| be hers until 1t We're disproyed.
Accordingly, one day she went TO her
ckaperon and constant companion, wild
| owed relative, and abruptly proposed q trip
| to America.
| The TountpCS stared in SIlrrrisp
| my dear, what can you be thinking of!
| Nobody but the Princess Louise, and the
| wives of such officials as are obliged to go
| to Canada, ever set foot in that benighted
| land.'
.sUell, my dear aunt, l am sorry to dis
agree with you, but l am gofn g
| there, and as you surely can't let me
go alone, you, too, are going" said this
| spoiled young woman.
| The Countess locked aghast and groaned
| feebly. She knew well the manifold Whims
| of her niece and the utter futility of oppos-
| ing them. That young woman having taken
| into her head the extraordinary notion Of
| going to America, there was really nothing
| TO do but 90.
Her aunt inquired the time of departure,
| supposing that, as matter of course, it
| was so distant that there might be a remote
| possibility of her niece altering her mind
| meanwhile.
''lHa ehere tante," answered Lydia, in a
| quiet, decisive tone, Il have engaged pas
sage for our party-ourselves. maids and
couriers - in the 'Servia.' That vessel
sails from Liverpool day after tomorrow
at three p. m. We must leave here early
tomorrow for Craigie Castle, and the next
| morning for Liverpool
The Countess sat down on the nearest
couch and gazed at her niece as if she con-
sidered the latter bereft of her senses.
But that imperious, yet shrewd naneuver.
er sailed magnifcently out of the room,
and soon her clear, firm voice was heard
issuing orders as to the disposal Of her be.
longings.
There was no mistaking it all.
The Countess was in straitened circunl-
stances, and depended solely on Lydias
warm heart for the necessaries Of life,
and, moreover, she simply adored the girl
After quiet and comforting cry, all by
herself, she dried her eyes and resolved to
put the best face she could on the matter
In experimenting the packing of their