The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-11-29

Prince, whom he hated, will never be
| kuoWn for before he could execute if
he Nyas seized ~ the two officers Of the
| lattcr's Ietinue and held i'm their iron
! grip, poUCrless TO act or move.
| Pale and agitatcd, Prince Gregor Al
exander strobe quickly to the door, turn
ed the key in the lock, and approaching
the Prime Minister who stood with white
! lips and staring eyes, between his two
stulwart guardians regarded him long
and intcntly.
Miserable man." he said, at last. Il
require no confirmation from your lips
But, 10y the heavens above us, unless you
make full confession Of your uneXam-
pied viliauy | will have you torn to
pieces limb by limb without ruth or mer-
cy. You have heard me. Now speak.
| Nhat have You done with my brother &?
Heforc SastrUyitch conld answer. Sir
| John interposed respectfully.
Perhaps, Sire" he said. "since it has
fallen to my lot to disclose this lament
able history so far, you will permit mo
70 explain what remains to be explained
Count Sastrowitch can correct me where
may be at fault, and supply, if he SO
| will, such details as / in my ignorance
may omit. That your Majesty had been
| hlng OF Bahama for four weeks was
| apparent to me from the moment I spf
my eyes upon this sorry counterfeit of
royal Majesty. AS your Majesty is
! doubtless aware, four inmates of the late
! Kings hOusehould succumhed to fine
! epidemic malady which broke out within
! the palace walls two months ago. OF
! these, one apparently died with "a sud
denness unusual, if not unprecedented
/ IN the case Of this particular disease; a
Iact which passed at the time without
attracting attention for the supposed vic
tim was parsonage Of little consequence.
no other, indeed than the body-scrvant
OF the deceased monarch"
"MercifuI powersw the Prince broke
IN, gazing OF a sudden intently at the
wretched man in the chair. "Naletzki!
l see it all. 1t is Valetzk himself the
late Kings valet"
Precisely" Sir John resumed. "it
was his Majesty the King who died Of
FFphold fever not his servant. The
mans natural resemblance to his royaI
master. which vanity had led him to cul-
lvate by artificial means. no doubt first
suggested TO Count Sastrowitch the pos
slbitity Of the fraud which has now been
SO cpporfUney exposed How it was
effected, probably no one is better quail
fed 10 explain than Doctor Lobelieff. his
late Majesty's body-physician, who GER
tilted the supposed fact Of ValetzkTs
death, and arranged for the interment
Of he Kings remains in place Of those
Of his servants"
"Ah!' the Prince exclaimed. covering
his face and shuddering. My brother
buried in a Wallets grave The williams.
the Williams
As the whole details of the dastardlv
plot broke in upon his intelligence. he
seemed for the first time to realize the
loss Of the brother he had loved and re-
vercd so deeply and he gave way to
burst of grief which was affecting to
behold.
Your Majesty" said Prince Soratoff.
the Russian Plcnip0tentiary. stepping
Forward, after q pause. with an air Of
deep concern, win scarcely need NV
assurance that the august government I
have the honor to represent never enter
tanned the faintest suspicion of this vile
plot. This worthless parchment fling
ing the treaty upon the table with ges-
ture Of disgust-"proyes conclusively that
my Sovereign has been no less the dupe
Of Fonder craven schemer than your Ma
jesty yourself"
1T is WE'LL the Prince said, regain
ing in a cold and disdainful tone. Il have.
as YOU say, no need of your Excellency's
assurance. Nay, no more I have heard
sufficient. As for You. gentlemen" he
continued, addressing those around him
generally, ''yOu viii. I beg observe the
strictest silence ON what You have wit
messed here this evening. The punish
ment Of those concerned in this auda
cious crime, I preserve for my future
consideration
While the officers Of his snite will
the two wretched conspirators in thei
midst, passed slowly from the room. tn,
Prince turned impulsively TO Sir JOIN
Iempleton who, with the two Ambas
sadors, was preparing to follow them
All Sir John, " he exclaimed, ''yol
nave done we'll, marvelously wei.
understand now why you have acte,
thus, and not otherwise There wer
Weightler things to consider here. thar
the tender feelings of a brother: else
might perhaps have just cause Of con
PLANT that you did not employ gentle
means than these Of removing the We
from my eyes. But rest assured Of m
gratitude. l shall not forget what vo
have done for my country as well as fc
him who now rules it,"
lie waved his hand in token Of far,
we'll and Sir John Templeton howe
in silence and withdrew.
1t will be remembered that the suo
den accession of Prince Gregor AIexal
der to the throne of Bahama at one
the most critical moments of Europea
history, solving almost providentially.
men thought, a political complication. II
consequences Of which were incalculabl
took all the world by surprise.
OF the fate Of Count Sastrowitch. D
Lobelietf, and Yaletzki, the presel
writer can say nothing There are ce
tain things they manage very. ycl
quietly in Bahama.