Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1899-04-06

the first Importance, yet it was kept a
profound secret. No editor heard a
whisper Of what had happened, or, it
he heard, he did not dare to hint at
what he knew. The town was now
living in pwas in constant communica-
tion with the capital, being connected
with it by both rail and telegraph; yet
no one except myself, and possibly the
heads of the military and the police, so
much as dreamed that anything Wa9
wrong.
And not once, up to the day when. l
finally left Russia, did hear or read a
word that led me to suppose that the
secret had become known. Rumors,
! no doubt, there must have been. n Sc
cret like that could not be confined to
the breasts Of those who were in the
inner circle at Court. But such ru-
mors as got about were distorted, no
doubt, and incredible. At any rate,
none of the correspondents of foreign
journals then residing in st. Peters,
burg thought they amounted to more
! than silly court gossip: for, so far as l
ever heard. none thought it worth
while to reproduce them for the benefit
of their French, German OF English
readers Sometimes it was reported
that His Majesty had slight cold, or
was otherwise indispoSed: sometimes 1T
was said that he was too busy with at
fairs of state to have time for court
functions. and seldom left his apart
ments. But the truth never leaked out
"A fact that speaks well for the hdel-
ity, or the iron discipline, that rules The
lives of those who stand nearest the
person Of the Gar.
OF course, my sole reason for remain
ing in Russia was that | might go 10
Lovna and ascertain whether Prince
Kropenski had been released, ana
whether he meant to keep the promise
he had made me at the instance OF
Paul Won Mitschka. But | knew we'll
that the danger of going there was I'M
mense l was certain that DE NollleH
would expect that l would turn up
there sooner or later, and that he
would cause strict watch to be kept
at the village and at the castle itself.
Sometimes wished that l had had the
courage to go straight to Lovna after
my escape from Peterhof; but in my
caimer moments l recognized the fact
that to have gone there before the
Prince had returned and l could count
GA his powerful protection would nave
been little short of madness.
At length 1 could bear the inactlon
and the suspense no longer. l set out
on foot, and making long circuit, l
approached Iowa from the south. l
had decided that if l were stopped and
questioned by the police | would say
T o,,5 r of
at the CASTLE and was going there in |
search of work. l had taken care to
shave regularly since 1 left Peterhof,
and this alone made a. considerable |
change in my appearance; so that, in |
my workman's clothes, and carrying
bundle and a basket of tools, l fiat
tered myself that l would not be rec
ognized even if | met anyone who had |
known me when I lived at the castle.
l took care that my hands We're not
white or my clothes too clean; stayed |
only at the humber class of inns. and |
| avoided towns and villages as much
as possible.
1t was nearly a month after the alb
duction of the Car that | reached
town called Nironorsk, about twelve
miles from the castle. l took care to
time my arrival so that l entered the
wrctched inn after shutdown. Some
men We're drinking vodka around the
stove in a room which. in an English
inn. would be kitchen, and as I sat
there trying to warm myself while l
waited for the simple meal had asked
for, / heard someone mention Lovna,
and then my ear caught the word ''fu
neral"
who is dead at Iovna?' asked the
man nearest me.
who is dead? The Princess, to be
sure"
For the moment my heart stood still.
"The Princess!" I calculated.
Eyes. Some say she died of JOY at
the return of the Prince. her husband.
But l think it was more likely grief.
Grief kills, JOY does not. Besides, what
reason has she to be rejoced at a visit
from him? A beast! A tiend! l wish
he was deadr'
'.Be quiet. Nicholas" said one of his
1T is easy to see,' he
went on, turning to me, that Nicholas
does not belong to Lovna. or he would
be less free in his remarks. But per-
haps you belong to that district:7 he
1dded. With a suspicious look.
assured him that did not and said
that I was a carpenter. and hearing
that there We're repairs going on at the
castle. l was going there, hoping to
find employment.
CTo BE Continucd.)