Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-11-16

"Thank you," she answered, with tne
same sweet, sad smile, "but you iorge1
that am now O thing TO DO avoided, ior
have L not lost all Father and fortune
have gone from mo-.
"But you have yourself, Olga, your
own beautiful self" urged L Inc
trials you speak OF arr terrible ones 70
bear" but q happy future may be In S'oro
for you."
"Neveri neverl" exclaimed she,
wringing her hands with piteous ses-
ture. 1.-THE brand Of the accursed Is on
my brow and for mo there is no redemP-
ton"
The old woman agnin approached her,
and taking her hand led her unresis'ing
from the room.
/ was deeply moved at the extreme
despair OF the beautiful girl, but re-
membered that had mission to fulill,
and after seeing that the comfort oil my
horse had been attended to, took
turn down to the saw-mill. saw groat
deal OF valuable timber lying about, but
it WAS all branded with the name OF q
well-known firm in Belize, and was eVi.
IDENTIFY only waiting for the swelling OF
the river by the tropical rains 10 DC
iloated down TO the coast. This notion
OF mine was confirmed by an employee
Of the firm who was in charge OF the
timber. lie informed me that 1t had
all been bought and paid for some SIX
weeks before, and that the sum thus oo-
tanned doubtless formed portion OF the
plumber which Vanicheff had absconded.
Wesried out and a good deal displrited
at tho certain heavy loss in which the
bank would be involved ] returned to
the house, and Oh being shown to my
room threw myself on the bed and soon
sank into a profound sleep, from which
l was only aroused by the summons TO
attend the funeral. A grave had been
dug at the foot of gigantic teak-tree,
and in it the remains of Serge Petroush
were deposited. AS the earth began to
fall with q rafting sound upon the I'D OF
the coffin, and Just as l was in the midst
Of our beautiful service for the dead,
Olga, with a faint cry, darted forward
and attempted to cast herself into the
grave, but was restrained by the Old
servant lima, who restrained her with a
force OF which l had not judged her
capable.
When all was over | prepared TO re-
turn to Belize, and as / was placing my
foot in the stirrup a servant put note
into my hands. written 10y Olga, inform
ING me that, Of course, her home belong
ell TO her fathers creditors, and that she
should leave it that evening and stay for
"A few DAYS at hotel in Belize until she
could make preparations for joining an
aunt, her only living relation, who re-
sided in New York.
| made my report to the manager and
on inquiry / heard that tho bank would
not get back q silver Of what had been
advanced 20 the dead man, A money
lender Belize held bill Of sale over the
furniture, and all that the bank could
touch was the mill and the home, which
when sold would not by any means
cover the debt.
Olga's beauty and misfortune gained
her a great deal OF sympathy, and she
received, believe, more than one pro-
posal of marriage. She, however,
turned a deaf ear 10 every offer OF the
kind and in a few days embarked on
hoard q veseel bound for New York, her
passage and that OF the old servant It
ma being betrayed by subscription
raised by some OF the residents OF Be
lie.
In due course We read of the vessels
arrival in port, and this was the last l
heard OF Olga Petrouski for many years
to come. ,
/ had been little indisposed and had
not occupied my usual seat at the bank
for two or three days. when, towards
evening, one of my fellow-clerks came
rushing into the room l occupied with
establishment depicted upon his coun-
tenance.
"What on earth DO you think has
happened, old man?" cried he. 81
will give you q thousand guesses and lay
YOU what you like that youwill never hit
on the right story"
"Do not worry me. Clqvering" an
swered /. shortly, for my illness had
made me languid and peevish. off you
really have any news, let me have 1t at
once. -
"Well, then" returned Clavering,
"they have found Ladeslas Vanlcheii.
"f'ound Ladeslas Vanichefi, " exclalm-
ed 1. languor vanishing in n moment
"Whero on earth had he been hiding
himself 2"
"Well, rather, who had hi den him. "
returned Clayering, with grim meaning,
"a native who was digging for land tor
toises found him in shallow grave. near
that lagoon Oh the way to Petrou-kl's
mill. OF course, the body was much
decomposed, but il was easy to see that
he had been killed by a shot fired ut him
from behind. OF course, no money was
found on him. Who the deuce could
have killed the follow? Robbers, l sup
pose. O."
With a shudder / recollected the
strange feeling which had come over me
during my night ride, Just as | reached
the lagoon in the forest, and wondered
whether the spirit of the murdered man
bad really stood before me- \ vague
and undefinable idea OF some hidden
crime Cltli oNtI me- bAb uoHAh H"e
frame it into form, and SO put 1t on one
side.
The discovery Of the body created a
good deal of talk, and many we're the
surmises as 20 what had become OF the
money of which Yanicheif had plumber
ed his employer, but after a time the in
tercst in the affair languished and at last
died out entirely.
CHAPTER ".
Five years had elapsed since the oc-
currence of the events / have just mar
rated. An unexpected legacy from q
distant relation had placed me in posi-.
ton to quit the bank, hut bad not re.
turned home but had taken a prolonged