CanÌƒon City record. [volume] (CanÌƒon City, Colo.) 1883-192?, 1901-10-10
his own fair form. His chin-fhat

his own fair form. His chin-that
prominent chin-was no more hid
den, and he was but a small nan
not much larger than the bov Paul.
who stood near him. Next he placed
his hand to his head and tore away
the tight skullcap. and he ring of
gray hair came away with il, leaving
cluster of glossy hair floating
down over the neck and shoulders.
"Great God of mercy" gasped Sa-
votano, staggering back, sit is the
emperor"
AYE" cried Peter, turning his
darkly flashing eve upon the stag
gering duke, 81 am your emperor!
Paul, go and call the guard"
The boy fastened from the pal
ace, and when he returned he was
followed by party of the Imperial
guard.
'Mercy, mercy, sire" gasped the
duke, sinking down on his knees.
But the emperor answered him
not. He only turned to his guard
and bade them secure the duke and
the foul priest.
Rosalind yaldai gazed upon the
transformed man until the strange
truth worked its way to her strug-
Cling mind, and then she turned
once more to Ruric. She sazed up
into his face, and she saw the holy
smile which rested there. The joy
full truth came to her now. and. with
one long, low cry of frantic hope
and bliss, she sank upon her noble
lovers bosom. She could not speak.
She could only cling closely and
more close to her loved protector,
and, with her head pillowed close by
the heart that beat for her. she wept
away all the grief of her opened
soul.
"olga," spoke the emperor after
the nobleman had been firmly
bound, 'your race of iniquity is
run"
"No. no, sire,v the duke cried in
humble, supplicating tones. "Say
not SO! In this single thing may
have been wrong, but let nv mad,
consuming love be some palliation
for my oifense. oh, you will not
crush me with public shame for
this, Yon will not cast from you
one who loves you well,"
"0h, miserable man." uttered Pc
ter. with a look Of utter contempt
upon the base wretch, add not per-
jury to your already accumulated
crimes, Hark ye, some months
since | knew there was conspiracy
in my capital, and ] knew there was
much OF evil, too, which was never
reported TO me- ! resolved to ferret
it out. and to that end ] meant to
mingle among my people without
their knowing me. So ] had that
robe made and so stuffed and wad-
ded that could even hide my chin
in the seeming fat. assumed the
garb. and nv own master at arms
did not at first know me. Once in
awhile ] made my page assume the
garb and be seen in il about the
city. and thus all thought OF sus-
pectinc me was cut of. ] have been
at the work. Olga, and ] have found
out all | sought. II was mere acct
dent that first threw me in the way
Of this young gunmaker, and il was
by accident, too. that | overheard
the Count Damonotf and his COM
panion discussing the subject of
their mission TO the gunmaker's
shop. OF course | followed that
scheme up. and | should have
snatched our fair young countess
from your grasp ere this had not
been desirous of arriving at another
point first. Perhaps you know that
the Princess Sophia and the Minis
ter Gallitzin have planned grand
overturn of my throne? All, You
tremble! And now. nv noble duke"
the emperor continued in deeper
tone. Il have learned of your own
guilt in that affair. oh. you do love
me, do you' But ! know you now.
Two of your tools are in my hands.
They are named Toima and viska.
They have made full confession,
and now know all your villainies.
] know what you have planned
against this noble countess and
against her noble lover. know
what you planned against the Count
Damonoff, and | know, too, what
you have planned against your em-
peror. Not word, sirl You are
the Duke Of Tula no more. A more
worthy man wears the ducal coronet
from this hour. Ruric Nevel shall
assume the station YOU have dis