Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-12-06

er," said Papa Paulpofr. IT, foo, have
my story. On that day was wander
ing by the river and had been fishing
heard the cry Of child. l ran to-
ward the sound and saw the man tax.
ing off it's clothing. He cursed 1t and
struck it and said that its voice would
soon be stilled. | knew he meant to
murder the child, and 80 attacked
him. was q powerful man then,
though not nearly so powerful as Vladi-
mir-as the prInce-is now. We fought,
and I severely whipped him. then
took the child home with me and re-
solved to restore him to his parents, for
l supposed he had been taken for re-
venge by enemies. When I saw the
beautiful face Of the princess, l knew
It must be the boys mother, and so l
began to think who among the mobiles
who lived near the Kama had such a
woman. l had heard Of the beauty of
the Princess Neslerov, and so / went
to find her, leaving the child at the
forge. saw her at Graslov and asked
to be alone with her. She ordered her
women away. I showed her the por-
trait.
"'My picturep she cried-the picture
that was on little Alexis! Oh, what
have you to tell meT
II told her what had happened, how
l 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.
"'who are you? What is your nameT
she asked.
"'Michael Paulpoff, princess I told
her.
"'Oh, Michael Paulpoff." she cried,
and it seemed that her heart would
break-'can I trust your
"'With anything, lady, answered.
You are welcome to the life or death
Of Michael Paulpoff.'
"'Listenv she whispered. turning
each way to see that we were not
watched. Z am In the house of enc
mics. My husband, who was che 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 this earth,
Michael Paulpoff! You were sent to
save my boy. And now listen. Were
he to return here or were It to be
known that he was alive, no matter In
what part of Russia he might be, they
would manage in some way to kill him.
Even now I tremble lest some spy
overhear our words and reveal this
truth. do not wish to have you relin-
qulsh him and will give you something
now. but you must never come to me.
Some day I will come to you and claim
my boy. VIII you swear, Michael Paul
poff, to cherish my boy and preserve
this secretT
II gave the promise, excellency, and
I have kept 1t. But she also said, In
case die, Michael Paulpoff, guard my
boy as you would your own, for I think
be will be like his father strong. but
no match for the wicked and designing
ones. Do not permit any one ever to
know this truth
Il have obeyed, excellency. The boy
was named Vladimir, and we soon
m mn to loyo him oo nur oun Ho wQa
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, and so I held my
tongue, as she bade 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 I permitted him. Then
one day Neslerov came and saw it. I
was frightened. for knew he would
suspect, and / knew from his manner
that we would soon hear from him
again.
1--WE were charged with conspiracy,
excellency, 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 Nesle-
rov intended to kill the young man
when he got an opportunity. Then one
day that American named Denton came
to our hut in Tivoloffsky. In some way
he had learned Of the picture. do not
know why he was interested In Vladi-
mir, but he asked to see the picture
and questioned me.
"'Paulpoff,' he said. vladimir is not
your son.
81 shivered, for l did not know but
he was friend Of the governor. But
he said he was going to learn who
vladimir was, so told him the story.
He said that Vladimir could not be any
worse off than at present, and he could
secure the help of the government to
restore the estate to him and punish
Nicholas Neslerov. He took the pic
ture, and some one came to our hut
after that and whipped my wife to
death. Vladimir swore vengeance, and
today he has killed Jansky and Uns-
gethop."
"Thls Is strange story Of cruelty
and crlme," said the governor general.
"But, so far as you are concerned, l
congratulate you. Prince Neslerov,
duke Of Graslov. And this faithful old
man, whose life Is almost run. how can
I show my appreciation of what he has
done for Russia? Paulpoff. you shall
name your own reward. and 1t is
yours"
ITO live with Vladimir" said the old
ef,, ~