The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-01-18

IT told her what had happened, how
I had taken the boy and that he was
safe and we'll in my house. She began
to weep tears of mingled joy and sOr-
row.
"s'Who are you? What is your name?'
she asked.
'.Michael Paulpoff, princess l told her.
cob, Michael Paulpoff!' she cried, and
it seemed that. her heart would break
can l trust you?'
with anything, lady l answered.
You are welcome to the life or death OF
Michael Paulpoff.'
F." Listen!' she whispered, turning each
way to see that we were not watched. l
am in the house Of enemies. My hus-
band, who was the heir of the duke, is
dead. My little son would be the heir OF
this estate, but the duke prefers that his
own younger son should inherit, and SO
they have plotted to destroy my child.
Thank God for placing you on the earth,
Michael Paulpoff! You were sent to save
my boy. And now listen. We're ne 10
return here or were it to be known that
he was alive, no matter in what part or
Russia he might be, they would manage in
some way to kill him. Even now l
tremble lest some spy 0Verhear our
words and reveal this truth. 90 not
wish to have you relinquish him and Will
give you something now, but you must
SO--NO
to you and claim my boy. Will you
swear Michael Paulpoff, to cherish my
! boy and preserve this secret?'
| Il gave the promise, eNcellency, and
! nave kept it. But she also said, In case
l die, Michael Paulpoff, guard my boy as
you would your own, for think he VIII
be like his father-strong, but no match
| for the wicked and designing ones. DO not
permit any one ever to know this truth
| II have obeyed, excelelncy. The boy
was named Vladimir, and we soon came
| to love him as our own. He was, as the
princess said, strong and of an easy going,
simple temperament. He grew up to help
me in the forge. The princess did die, ana
SO l held my tongue, as she babe me. But
Vladimir-or Prince AleXis-was talented.
and he learned to paint. He discovered
! one day the picture of his mother and be-
came enamored of it. He wished to paint
it, and 1 permitted him. Then one day
Neslerov came and saw it. L was fright
| ened, for l knew he would suspect, and l
knew from his manner that we would soon
hear from him again.
1--WE were charged with conspiracy, eX-
| cellency, we who had honest hearts and
had never Wronged any one, and were
bundled Off to Siberia. We were sent to
Tomsk, where no doubt Neslerov intended
to kill the young man when he got an OPP
portunity. Then one day that American
| named Denton came to our hut in Tivol-
o1fsky. In some way he had learned of the
picture. I do not know why he was in
! terested in Vladimir, but he asked to see
the picture and questioned me.
'Paulpof,' he said, vladimir is not
your SON.
Il shivered. for did not know but
he was a friend Of the governor. But
he said he was going to learn who Vladi-
mir was, SO l told him the story. He
said that Vladimir could not be any worse
off than at present, and he could Sc
cure the help of the government to re-
store the estate to him and punish Mich
olas Neslerov. He took the picture, and
some one came to our hut after that and
whipped my wife to death. Vladimir
swore vengeance, and to-day he has killed
Jansky and Unsgethop.'
'"This is "a strange story of cruelty
and crime,'' said the governor general
But, so far as you are concerned,
congratulate you, Prince Neslerov, duke
of Graslov. And this faithful old man
whose life is almost run, how can
show my appreciation of what he has done
for Russia? Paulpoff, you shall name
your own reward, and it is yours
s'To live with Vladimir" said the old
man simply.
And this American! Where is hep
"Wounded; lying in the house of a
priest at Tivoloffsxy,' answered Vladimir
or, as he should now be called, Alexis.
nicholas Neslerov, what have You te
say?' asked the governor general.
1T is lie, said Nicholas.
"Your own face does not Indicate it
I believe this is the truth. You are {
prisoner! Call the officer of the guard
81 am here, your eXcellency!'
This lieutenant said Olga, Whose
name l do not know, assisted me in free
ing the prince from the dungeons undel
this palace. I told him he would be {
captain
your name?" said the governor gen
eral.
"Ormdoff.
"Captain Ormiaoff, conduct this prison
, err to the same dungeon in which he hat
confined the prince, and see that he i:
. treated as becomes a murderer and en-
envy Of Russia. This is enough, princess
l congratulate YOU
The eyes of De Muloff were moist, an(
he took Olgas hands and pressed them.
They heard Neslerov cursing as he wa
! led away. He was chained in the dun
geon and, in an effort to free himsel
that night, burst blood vessel and died
with no hand to help.
AS the governor general turned away
, Olga smiled at Alexis.
, You are not quite my cousin, yet W.
are in way related" she said. 81 an
glad that I have succeeded in giving 20,
: your own"
q Il am your slave forever he answered
. STOPPING, with his great shoulders almos
! covering her, and his lips met hers-ant
she did not resist.
= In the house of the priest at Tivoloffslz
e Denton was recovering from his wounds
0 His first feeling as he gradually came t
a himself was of great weakness. coo
s small hand was placed upon his brow
+ and he looked up into the face of France
d Gordon
g do you know me, Jack?''
;, Eyes, l know you, Frances. What ha
d happened?"
r. "You have been i'll. You were shot tw
e weeks ago in the house where the Paul