Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-10-30

ness made him haggard. Therese,
white Tipped and shivering, came in.
Neslerov looked from one to the other.
He knew that something was coming
the end of his career. The governor
general waited, looking chiefly at Olga.
for from her he expected the FIRST
bomb.
Look at that man, Thereser' com.
manded Olga.
It was a dramatic scene as the girl
stood with perfect poise and pointed
her finger at Neslerov.
II see him." faltered Therese.
"Who Is hep
"Prince Nicholas Neslerov."
"Prince Nicholas Neslerov, let me tell
you what the governor general already
knows" said Olga. and her voice was
cold and steely. For many years my
youth prevented n clear understanding
Of things. was born after the death
Of my unfortunate cousin and so did
not fully take in the significance Of the
mystery Of Graslov till a few years
ago. But when 1 did learn Of 1t I re.
solved to sift 1t to the bottom and make
certain that the one who caused her
death should be punished. For years
my efforts were unavailing. pursued
every line of investigation that occur
red to me, and in them all I had the
sanction and assistance Of the car At
last, during a so1ourn at Graslov in an
other name, l met this woman whom
you have heard me call Therese. Do
you know who she is? She Is Nine.
Dendoff, widow Of that Dendoff who
was the slave of your wicked father
and yourself"
Neslerov was too crestfallen already
to show further effect of her words.
He made no answer.
"For twenty years this woman has
lived with the truth locked in her bos-
ON because she feared her husband.
The governor general is here and will
hear this case at once, and from that
moment when he hears the truth you
are in his hands. Therese. who Is that
MANI?
She pointed at Vladimir as she spoke.
"That-is-the Duke of Graslov" said
the woman firmly.
Tell your story"
at was twenty years ago, your ex-
cellency," said Therese, speaking d.
rectly to the governor general. that
the little Prince Alexis was lost. He
was missing from the palace at Graslov
one evening, and the poor princess was
beside herself with grief and anxiety.
A search was made. and my husband.
who was in the service of the duke, re-
turned from the Kama and reported
that the child had been seen wandering
on its banks, and he brought back a
portion Of its garments. which he said
Inc found close to the water. 1t was
believed that the child was drowned,
and the princess grieved for her dead
boy. The poor princess did not sur
vive the shock long, and when she died
there was trouble between the two
branches of the Neslerovs. Her fam.
lily claimed that the duke had misused
her and caused her death. 1t was new
er settled. and the two families have
since been enemies.
ut was not less than two years after
when, one night. while he was intoxi
Gated, my husband said something that
aroused my suspicion-that he knew
what had become OF the young prince
taxed him with It, and he was maud
lin enough to confide in me. He had
been poor, but since the loss of the
young prince he had not worked, but
had plenty Of money. This also caused
me to suspect. He told me, in his
drunken fashion, that the Duke OF
Graslov did not wish the son of the
AS the father Of the boy had died be
was the heir, but the duke preferred
his younger son. Nicholas.
THE two, the duke and Prince Mich
olas, paid my husband to take thu
! child and drown it. He was a wicked
man. my husband. and he agreed. HI
did take the child to the Kama an(
was about to take from 1t the telltal'
clothes when it cried Justify, and {
powerful man sprang from the bushes
and took the child. There was fgh
in which my husband was badly whip
ped. But he did not dare report to thu
duke that he had failed, and so he car
ried out the plans and reported thu
finding of the clothing at the river
This was the clothing he had taken Of
preparing to throw the child in thu
river. To me this revelation was ,
great shock, but my husband threaten
ed my life if ever breathed a word o
II to single person. knew he would
keep his threat, and so l dared sa.
nothing, for the house of Graslov wa
rich and powerful and l feared t.
speak even to the police.
THUS l lived year after year will
the shadow Of my husbands crime up
on my heart, until l thought l woult
go mad. Moved by an impulse coul'
not CONTROL l determined to learn /
the child was alive. l found 1t in thu
house Of the blacksmith Paulpoff a
Perm. Having learned that the littl
Alexis was well and happy I felt cas-
Ter, but resolved that when my oppor
tunity came l would reveal the truth
The old duke died and Nicholas be
came his heir and finally became gov
ernor Of Tomsk. A short time ago m.
husband died, and ! was free to tell
There came to Graslov one day beau
tiful girl, giving a name that was no
familiar, but she was the picture o
that lovely princess who had died, an,
l watched her. knew she was search
To- a.. H.. Il tAII hnr 1,n