The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1898-06-10
CHAPTER xxxIv.
THE THRALL.

Dudley Ogle!" I echoed in blank
amazement. Are you certain that the
servants suspicious were devoid of
foundation"
Absolutely" she answered In quick
breathlessness. "In those days l was
supercilious and disdainful, being
taught to regard my dignity as Grand
Duchess with too great conceit to make
q mesalliance. My mother used con-
stantly to urge that in the marriages
contracted by members of our family
love was not absolutely necessary-po-
sition was everything. Well, the
months went by. We left Algiers, re-
turned to Petersburg, and soon after
ward my mother died, leaving me
alone. | found myself possessor of
great wealth, and when, after period
of mourning, l reappeared in society |
was courted and f1attered by all sorts
and conditions of men. In a year |
grew tired of it all and longed to re-
turn to England, the land wherein |
had spent many years of my youth;
therefore l engaged woman to pose as
my mother, and dropping my title
went to London and lived there as Ell
la Laing. Then-then l met you," and
she paused, looking earnestly into my
face with her deep blue eyes. To me
she had embodied everything that was
fair, honorable and pure, yet l had
dreaded some sinister peril from an un-
known souyce.
And we loved each other" l said
simply
Yes" she went on, fervently. but
from the first was fettered, being I'M
able to act as my heart prompted. I
loved you fondly, and knew you wished
to make me your wife, yet dared not
risk such a step without the permits
sion of our house l went to Peters,
burg, explained who and what you
were, and craved leave to marry you.
A family council was held, but the
suggestion was unanimously denounc-
ed as piece of sentimental folly.
pleaded to them upon my knees to let
me obtain happiness in your love, but
they were memorable and refused. At
length, when in moment of despair /
threatened, that if shut out from my
love by the barrier of birth l would
end my life, suggestion was made-a
horrible, infamous one, prompted by
Makaroff, Minister of the Household.
Yet was ready to commit any act, to
do anything in order to secure happi-
ness with you. Permission was given
me to marry you on condition that l
entered the Secret Service as a spy. l
appealed personally to the Car, but in
vain.
What followed was dark, mystic
rious tragedy, while all the time I
knew that you must suspect-that, aft
er all, you might forsake me. With
In week after binding myself ire
vocably to the Cars army of spies
made discovery that held me appall-
ed. l found that my master, the man
to whose will was compelled to sub
init, was none other than our discharg-
ed valet de chambre, the man who two
years before had declared his love- At
the time my mother had engaged him
he was already in the Secret Service
and had. no doubt, kent watch upon
us. He came to me at the Nook, ard ex-
ulting in the fact that had become his
puppet, renewed his protestations of
affection. When, frankly, | told him
that | hated him and loved only you,
he at once informed me, with grin of
satisfaction, that the department in
Petersburg found it compulsory to OBJ
tain possession of copy of a secret
convention az that moment being con-
cluded between your country and Ger
many and that l must get possession of
1t at any cost through you. 1t was in
order that l might betray you that the
Imperial permission had been given to
our marriage. In indignation l refus-
ed, whereupon he threatened to ex-
pose me to you as a Russian spy and
/ saw only too clearly that any such
revelation must end forever our ac-
quaintance. He cajoled, urged, threat
ened and explained all the elaborate
precautions that had been taken by