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

this news to my poor mother, waiting
at this moment in joyful expectation
to clasp her beloved husband? God
grant the shock did not kill her!
i had no time to think or invent or
to arrange my scattered thoughts. l
rushed up to mothers room.
elias he comet she cried, meeting
ME, "Is he well2 Oh, Boris, what is
It."
"Be brave, mother, darling. and brace
yourself for a cruel blow" I began,
speaking 80 huskily that I wonder she
understood me.
''Tell me at oncel' she muttered,
suddenly seating herself on the nearest
chair. ''He is dead--is that it? He was
mad and
"No, no, dearest. not that, thank
Godp' I faltered. "This man is not ia.
Their. l have seen him, and 1t Ia not ia
therl'
"Ah, I can bear that, If that is it,"
she said, "But perhaps You are mis-
taken, Boris! Stop--I could not bear to
greet and speak to him if he were not
my Vladimir. What shall ! do, Boris?
Can see him and remain unseen!
Where could we 60, you and /? We
will make sure, quite sure, that we
must be disappointed before we will al
low our hearts to break over 1t,
"Dear mother, you are brave"
said, kissing her. 'Let us sit in the
porter's little room in the great hall
W. can peep through the window and
watch them arrive,
"Come!" said mother, and togethet
we made for the wide staircase that lea
down into the huge entrance hall. But
before we had reached the hall the car,
riage drove up. Mother heard and
grasped my hand.
"We are too late" she whispered.
''But now we are here, we will stand
our ground together
The hall porter, an old servant, ran
to the big doors and flung them open,
bowling low and greeting vladimir
Antonich" (my fathers patronymic).
A tall man entered with Percy and
Borofsky. He took no notice Of old
Gregory's greeting, which seemed to
surprise the porter, who looked panied.
Conversing with Borofsky, while
Percy followed, silent and depressed,
the new arrival came toward us. Moth
er's hand frightened over mine. She
gave me a convulsive grip and then
loosed me again. l saw her eyes bright.
en- as she caught sight Of his face and
quickly grow dull again. He was like
enough to father to flatter her hopes for
but one second; then she saw. as she
must inevitably see, how unlike was
the likeness. The little group reached
MS and paused a moment. Borofsky was
about to speak, but he suddenly realized
how matters stood and refrained.
Mother bowed and passed down stairs
with me. Percy turned and came with
us. Borofsky and the other continued
their journey up stairs. I distinctly
heard the fellow ask Borofsky who
the lady was. This man that was her
husband, forsooth, and my father
Poor mother sank upon a couch in
the hall and cried quietly. Thank God
that she did that! 7 could say nothing
to comfort her, excepting to blurt out
that we should yet find father and re-
store him to her n day.
Sat all events, he Is not mad, as we
feared, mother" I added. "Almost
anything Is better than that. Have you
the heart to 90 on hoping, in the face
Of this blow
Mother played the heroine that night.
Not only did she assure me that she
was still full Of hope and confidence,
but she comforted poor old Percy, who
was disconsolate, declaring that this
last miss fire and all the disappointment
Of 1t was entirely his fault (Which 1t
certainly was in a Way, by telling him
that If she and I could be taken in by
the portrait it wal surely no wonder
that he was taken In by the original.
"They are m~arvelously alike" said
mother, "and yet, oh, how unlikel
This is his brother, Of courser
"Mother, do you really think SOP" I
exclaimed. Elbow can he have escaped
from Siberia
"That Is another mystery" she said.
"Perhaps the mystery Of dear fathers
disappearance Is connected with this
one, and that with this wretched Andre
delivered thus, as it We're, into our
AuAus Wo NAY icuIA hO!lioLHIAS AlOuA
him."
"Bah! ! shall kick him out of the
house in ten minutes il | have to get a
couple Of policemen to help mel" I
raved.
"No, my son, we will allow him to
remain. We will give him shelter and
show him kindness, Then perhaps If he
knows anything and If there is any
particle of good in him he may help us
In some way to unravel our mystery"
"Mother, it's impossible!" / said.
"We can't have a brute of a fellow like
this numbering, nihilistical rascal sleep
ing in the house. I shouldn't feel that
You were safe. He would murder the
whole lot Of us for the price Of a din
ner."
HWa will take ~recantiona NJ coursa