The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1900-02-02
CHAPTER XIII.

CHAPTER XIII.
THE COUNTS RETURN PROMISED.
Borofsky had done well-indeed he
could scarcely have managed better.
Nevertheless the whole Of the story
his letter told us, though undoubtedly
a true story, rang, somehow, In a false
key.
This picture Of father was not like
my dear old dad as l knew him, and !
could not help feeling, though I said
nothing Of it to mother, that II Borof.
sky had exaggerated nothing in describ-
ing his violence ard the eccentricity Of
his behavior, then my poor father must
certainly be irresponsible, for the pres.
emit. for his words and actions--in a
word, something Or some combination
Of circumstances had bereft him Of his
senses.
God grant Borofsky would succeed in
bringing the poor, dear old man safely
home with him The soothing influence
Of quiet home life and the loving at.
tention of his wife would be more likely
to restore him to himself than any 9TH
or treatment.
/ could see that mother felt much the
same as I about it. She looked at me
with tear laden eyes when I had finished
the letter.
lis that all?" she asked.
"That's all, mother" I said, and I
dared add nothing to this for fear Of
betraying myself. Neither did my
mother speak for some little while, and,
though I scarcely glanced at her, I
knew we'll that she cried quietly.
"Borofsky will bring him back in a
few days, dearest" said at length,
''and a little quiet home life will soon
make him quite himself again"
"God grant It'll" she said. "God
grant It'll Obi" she added suddenly,
with a burst of emotion. What has
my poor Vladimir ever done to be visit.
ed by so terrible an affection, and what
manner Of calamity could have occurred
to such a man that could be sufficiently
overwhelming to unhinge his mindP"
These were questions which I could
not answer for they were the very ones
that were vexing my own soul as well
as hers.
1--WE shall know all, mother, In Gods
good time, " I said. "Let us be patient
and face the trouble. When father comes,
We will make IL our business to rid him
Of these delusions and fears, as though
any one could possibly conspire against
dear old paterl He hasn't an enemy in
the world. I'm sure Of 1t. What can
possibly have put such ideas into his
head? He imagines he has written con.
stantly, you see, and that his letters
have been intercepted. He has not in
t~entionally left us without news even
in this terrible time Of mind unhinged
and Of many sad decisions"
It comforted mother to talk, and we
conversed In this way for an hour and
more, but without coming to any other
conclusion than that father was I'M.
doubtedly out Of his mind temporarily,
and that the sooner our excellent little
Sherlock Holmes succeeded in bringing
him home the better.
How anxiously we awaited the next
letter or telegram No words could
adequately describe the anguish Of sus-
pense we suffered. What II Borofsky
should have failed. after all, to induce
the poor. dear, delusion haunted old man
to accompany him home? He might
take fright at any moment and mis-.
trust Borofsky's good faith, or. worse
still, become violent and attack, per.
hnps even murder, the man In a par
oxysm Of madness. Mercifnl heaven
forbid it. what a terrible thing that
would bel l did not mention my fore
bodings to mother lest | should brighten
her, but l spoke to Percy, who said he
had felt the very same fears.
Then came Borofsky's third letter, n
very short one, but a letter that glad
dened our hearts and caused us to feel
that all was well, or nearly SO.
II have persuaded the count to
come" he wrote, land we shall start
tomorrow. / shall telegraph on Tues.
day from the frontier II we shall have
arrived so far in safety. Meanwhile, a
few words Of caution: Treat the count
as though nothing had happened, Do
not allude to his delusion. Further, he
has expressed a hope more than once
that you will not speak Of his return.
He would rather see and be seen by
none but his OWE household, and the
servants should be warned to say moth.
ing Of his absence or Of his home com.
ing. He imagines, you will bear In
mind, that he has many enemies. These,
says the count, should be left to sup
pose he is still absent from st. Peters
burg; otherwise he will not be allowed
TO dwell In peace"
Alas, poor old father. Well, at any
rate, he was coming home. The future
was in wiser hands than ours.
Tuesday found Ms all In a condition
Of unspeakable excitement. The Berlin
express would reach the frontier early
"a the afternoon. and our telegram
should arrive at about 4 or earlier,
How we got through the morning,