Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-05-14
THE BURLINGTON FREE PRESS, THURSDAY WAY H. 1896

condescended to become nv partner in
waltz kept my eyes and ears open
and observed that Boris adventure of
the night before was general topic of
conversation. The more highly-placcd
officials were evidently in n conspiracy
TO treat it as mere boyish delusion,
but among tire general body of the
guests found there were not few who
shared my suspicious. 1 ventured TO
approach the cars confidential cham
berlain at an interval between the
dances and to sound him delicately on
the subject. His reply was character
istic of his nation and government.
"'My dear baron he said, sharply,
there is nothing so detestable as court
gossip. 1t is most annoying to his
ma iesty to have his late fathers name
connected with the wandcrings of II
moonstruck boy. Take my advice, and
dismiss the affair from your mind
Ills manner convinced me that more
Importance was attached to the incl
dent than he pretended. However, /
feigncd to be perfectly satisfied, and
returned to the grand duchess, who
would have been approved in Paris.
But the hour agreed on for the rendez-
vous was approaching, and l had to
make the best excuse 1 could think of
to tcar myself away from the imperial
| lady. You are, of course, familiar with
her portraits
was obliged to confess my ignor-
/ ance of the features OF the Grand Ouch
css Olga, of whom l had never previous
/ " heard, though, of course, did not
/ say this.
The ambassador glanced at the chess
board for u moment, as If meditating 4
move, before he resumed.
"Ah. Well, will not attempt to de
scribe her to you. Boris met me "a
we had arranged. in small passage
leading out of the anteroom, and we
made our way unobserved up back
staircase into the famous haunted gal
lery. The page on duty was just leav.
ing as we arrived. He Prinned when he
raw Boris, who explained to him that
he had brought me to see the pages
room. Fortunately the other lad was
impatient to get down and take part
in the dancing. No sooner had the great
clock of the palace commenced to boom
forth the strokes of midnight than he
hastily departed, and Boris and wer,
left 10 possession of the gallery"
PART Ill
81 had come armed with my revolver
the ambassador continued, (which
had loaded carefully with my OWL
hands. | took advantage of the inter
val, while we were waiting for the APP
proach of the apparition, to make my
companion provide himself with sim
liar weapon out of the pages room,
Lest our presence in the gallery SHOULD
serve as warning to the mysterious
visitor, and prevent his approach, w
concealed ourselves IN this room, which
was plunged in profound darkness. w,
sat facing the door, which we had lief
open, SO as to perceive the passage y
anyone who should come along the gal
lery.
Half an hour passed in this way
without anything occurring. l begal
to grow impatient, and to accuse Bori
in my own mind of having invented
some fable. But when l limited TIL
to him he became SO indignant that
was compelled in spite of myself t.
believe that the boy had really som
grounds for his story.
AT last, tired of this useless per
Torrance, rose from my seat an
moved cautiously out into the gallery
glanced up and down it without pei
i a..
. the figure of the previous night. AL