Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-10-09
LIE BURLINGTON FREE FRESS: THURSDAY. OCTOBER 9, 1902.
"He didn't say very much-the usual

"He didn't say very much-the usual
thing. Said he loved you and was rich
and powerful and could give you a
good station in Russian society and the
world"
And you said what?"
"Why, I said you wouldn't marry the
best man on earth unless you loved
him. I said il you would marry the
man I wanted you to you would long
ago have been the wife of Jack Denton,
who
"Never mind Mr.. Denton. We were
speaking of Neslerov."
"Yes-but the deuce! You pick your
old dad up so short! am telling you
what I said. Don't you want to hearT'
"Yes," replied Frances, laughing and
kissing him. "Dear old dad, what did
you sayY
II said I liked Jack Denton better
than any other man on earth and that
you hated him worst. But l wanted
you to marry him because he was good
and noble and a rising man, a brave
man and altogether a.
"HerO and angel in one. What die
the prince say to thatT"
"He only repeated what he had sale
before"
"Then what?"
IT said-why-now, don't get angr!
at your old dad-I said you were a sell
willed creature and acted on your Owl
whims."
"That is nothing to get angry about
I do. But I fear hat between us w
have sem the Paulpoffs to their DOOM
For goodness sake, how"
at was natural that
at wasn't natural at all. What die
I say-what have you done-to caus'
Vladimir Paulpoff to plot against tn
czar?"
"Heavens! Are you 81 blind? TIL
Paulpoffs are as innocent Of this charg
as you or L. 1t was against Vladimi
the plot was laid"
II begin to catch your meaning. VIII
was it-Neslerov?"
ut is impossible to say whether h
did or not. but l suspect him. You re
member the day he was here. l me
him as l came home from the bazaars
where l had been buying books 70
Vladimir. I did not, of course, suspec
that he had been talking with yo'
about marrying me. Unwittingly
told him they were for Vladimir an,
asked him also to take an interest i
him."
II also told him Of a blacksmith i
whom you were taking n great interes'
He has put that and your independents
together and has imagined vladimir
Well?"
II Aad my fears that something wa
said about Vladimir. 1t was so clearl
a plot that l knew the jealousy Of NJ
slcrov had been aroused. When l lcarr
ed what had been done, l waited tw
days at Perm to see Governor Gusla'
but he was away, and l could not sc
him. 1t was the superintendent c
police who gave me the little inform;
ton I got. 1t seems that an inspectG
discovercd-sO they say-that nihilist
were meeting in the forge. Letter
were found on them which implicate
Vladimir. There was a trial, so
wes claimed, and Vladimir vas fodn
guilty. am sure Vladimir woul
have sent to us if he could"
II don't want to get mixed up in an
nihilist scrape."
"Rut you will help Vladimir. will 20
not?"
What can | do?"
"You can at least stop at Perm an
see the governor, 1t will not delay
long"
II will do that. certainly; out don
fancy there is much use talking
Gustav. He is a stern old soldier an
has no sympathy for lovers or plo
ters."
"But he is just and honorable"
Eyes, l am SUR of that"
"Then come. We will go to Perm t
gother and see him."
"Wcll, l suppose l must do as yC
say, but we are about ready to sta
for the Obi. We can stop at Perm II
a day"
, That will do"
Inc preparations were HdSlllE Hldu
and four days more saw them at PERI
!, The governor was at home and Iecei
: ed Mr.. Gordon. the name being q
open sesame anywhere in Russia. III
Gordon plunged at once into the ma
| ter Of Vladimir's arrest.
| THAT he was arrested, il the circur
, stances were suspicious, l grant, WI
proper enough" said Mr.. Gordon. OBJ
was there a fair trial? Pardon me
l speak plainly. Your institutions
justice here are quite different fro
ours at home. I have known wheI
men were hustled off to Siberia wi,
no semblance Of a trial"
. "But they were guilty" said the go
: ernor, with a smile.
"Yes; | believe in all the instance
that came under my observation the
were"