The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-04-30

ment with nod of her head.
Il am sure that my son must have
seen something like what he describes,
she said to me. although il is evident
TO me that il must have been some living
person, masquerading as the ghost OF
the car. The question is for what pur-
pose such disguise could have been
assumed, and on this point confess
feel uneasy. What do you say, my
friendT
III shook my head.
"'I fear that the first suspicious OF
Boris were correct replied, and that
the enemies of his majesty have re-
sumed their internal schemes. IL APP
pears that they have obtained key 40
the garden door, and who knows that
they have not secured another to the
door of the imperial apartments, that
door from which the guard was to have
been removed last night for the first
time? Surely ii is not by mere coin
cidence that this strange figure presents
itself in the corridor Immediately after
midnight, that is to say, at the hour
when the conspirators had every reason
TO expect that the page on guard would
have just quilted his post?'
Both mother and son appeared struck
by this view of the circumstances. But
Boris was by no means prepared To
abandon his belief in the supernatural
character of what he had seen.
~ can understand that il is difficult
for my mother and you to share my
opinion he remarked, but / cannot be-
lieve that any conspirator could have
succeeded in assuming so close a re-
semblance TO Alexander Ill, with whose
features l was so well acquainted, Be
sides, if your theory were correct, and
he had disappeared through the impe-
rial corridor, why is it that nothing has
happened, and that no one seems To
have seen or heard anything of the in
trusion?
ut was of course difficult to answer
this objection but l reiterated my de-
termination to take a common-sense
view of the occurrence.
at may very we'll be that this was
merely first visit added; "a recon-
noissance to discover the nature of the
ground, before introducing some ex-
plosive machine or other, and the VIII
lain may easily haze kept himself out Of
sight for few minutes. Doubtless he
returned Immediately, only you had
then left the gallery. But there is an
easy way of putting the matter to the
proof. If L am right in my suspicious,
this creature, whoever he may be, will
infallibly return at the same hour an
other night. Tonight, on account Of
the presence of everybody at this bail,
will be bis most favorable opportunity,
as he may confidently expect to find the
imperial suite deserted. l propose TO
of yours together at the moment when
the page who has replaced you tonight
comes off duty, and if this mysterious
parsonage again presents himself / viii
compel him to disclose his identity
Boris welcomed this idea. | could
see that he was secretly ashamed of the
ridicule which attached to him for his
story of ghostseeing, and that he was
anxious to reestablish his character.
The princess was good enough to ,x.
press her opinion OF my courage and de-
votion in terms which it would not be-
come me to repeat to you. In the end we
arrived at an understanding and de-
parted TO the palace together.
Throughout the progress of the bail
during which Grand Duchess Olga
cnndescended to become my partner in
a waltz--I kept my eyes and ears open
and observed that Boris adventure of
the night before was general topic of
conversation. The more highly-placed
officials were evidently in a conspiracy
20 treat il as mere boyish delusion,
but among the general body OF the
guests found there were not few who
shared my suspicious. I'ventured TO
approach the cars confidential char,-
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
majesty to have his late fathers name
connected with the wanderings of IA
moonstruck boy. Take my advice, ard
dismiss the affair from your mind
"His manner convinced me that more
Importance was attached to the incl
dent than he pretended. However. 1
feigned to be perfectly satisfied, and
returned To the grand duchess, who
was anxious to know whether her robe
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 | could think Of
TO tear myself away from the ,inperiai
lady. You are, of course, familiar with
her portraits
was obliged TO confess my ignor-
ance OF the features OF the Grand Ouch
ess Olga, of whom had never previous