Warren sheaf., 1901-09-12
@ e e. BY SYLVANUS COBB. Jr. !;

run" ~,....tg 81
:tsNo, no, sire!~ the duke cried in
humble, supplicating tones. sSay
not so! In this single thing may
have been wrong, but let my mad,
consuming love be some palliation
for my offense. Oh, you will not
crush me with public shame for
this! You will not cast from you
one who loves you well!" "
| "Oh, miserable man." uttered Pc
ter, with look of utter contempt
upon the base wretch, 'Fadd not per-
jury to your already accumulated
crimes! Hark ye, some months
since I knew there was conspiracy
in my capital, and I knew there was
much of evil, too, which was never
reported to me. I resolved to ferret
it out, and to that end I meant to
mingle among my people without
their knowing me. So had that
robe made and so stuffed and wad-
ded that 7 could even hide my chin
in the seeming fat. I assumed the
garb, and my own master at arms
did not at first know me. Once in
awhile I made my page assume the
garb and be seen in it about the
city, and thus all thought of sus-
pecting me was cut off. I have been
at the work, Olga, and I have found
out all I sought. It was mere acci-
dent that first threw me in the way
of this young gunmaker, and it was
by accident, too, that I overheard
the Count Damonoff and his COM
Panion discussing the subject of
their mission to the gunmaker's
|shop. Of course I followed that
scheme. up, and I should have
snatched our fair young countess
from your grasp ere this had I not
been desirous of arriving at another
lpoint 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, my noble duke" :"
the emperor continued in a deeper
tone, II have learned of your own
guilt in that affair. Oh, you do love
me, do you? But I know you now.
Two of your tools are in my hands.
They are named Totma and Viska.
They have made a full confession,
and [ now know all your villainies.
1 know. what you have planned
against. this noble countess and
against her noble lover / know
what you planned against the Count
Damonoff, and I know, too, what
you have planned against your en-
!peror. Not a word, sir! You are
the Duke of lula no more. A more
worthy man wears the ducal coronet
| from this hour. Ruric Nevel shall
assume the station you have dis
graced, and I know he will ennoble
it once more" ~ :
! AS Peter ceased speaking he wav-
ed his hand to his officers, and they
bore the prisoners from the room.
The priest said not a word, but Olga
cursed loudly and bitterly.
When the dark villains had gone,
Peter stepped forward and took Ros-
alind's hand. There was tear in his
eye, and his neither lip trembled.
FsFair cousin" he said in a low,
soft tone, 'SI could not promise thee
that thou shouldst not wed with the
Duke of Tula, for I had even then
planned that you should do that
thing. But it will not be very hard,
will it?''
The countess gazed up, and a
murmur of thanks was upon her
lips, but the gushing flood started
forth anew, and she could only look
the joyful blessings she could not
speak. Peter imprinted a kiss upon
her pure brow and then gave her
hand to Ruric, and as he did so he
said, with a warm smile:
"You must be her guardian here
after, and should you tire of the du-
ty your emperor will be ever ready
to grant her the asylum she needs. -
-
A week had passed away from the
time of the strange scene just re-
corded. 81 The former duke, Olga,
had been convicted of treason and
was now on his way to the eternal
wilds of Siberia. But let me say
here he never reached the land Of
| his banishment. His proud heart
broke on the road, and he died, un-
known and uncared for, in peas
ants cot among the rugged noun
tains of Uralia. He had begged OF
the officer who guided him not to
| tell his station, and the peasants
supposed they were burying com
mon traveller when they laid away
the mortal remains Of Olga in the