The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1902-12-11

PRI=N GET O.N . il y i
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
e. settled, and the two families have
since been enemies 'Rl
1T 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
princess to. inherit the title or estate.
AS the, father of the boy had died he
was the heir, but the duke preferred
his younger son, Nicholas. "a.z
''The two, the duke and Prince Mich
olas, paid my husband to take the
child and drown it. He was a wicked
man, my husband, and he agreed. He
did take the child to the Kama and
was about to take from it the telltale
clothes when it cried Justify, and a
powerful man sprang from the bushes
and took the child. There was a fight
in which my husband was badly whip
ped. But he did not dare report to the
duke that he had failed, and so he car
ried out the plans and reported the
finding of the clothing at the river.
This was the clothing he had taken of
preparing to throw the child in the
river. To me this revelation was a
great shock, but my husband threaten
ed my life If ever breathed a word of
It to single person. I knew he would
keep his threat, and so 1 dared say
nothing, for the house of Graslov was
rich and powerful, and I feared to
| speak even to the police.
'Thus I lived year after year with
the shadow Of my husbands crime up
on my heart, until thought would
go mad. Moved by an impulse I could
| not control, I determined to learn if
| the child was alive. I found it in the
| house Of the blacksmith Paulpoff at
Perm. Having learned that the little
Alexis was well and happy L felt cas-.
Ter, but resolved that when my oppor-
tunity came 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 my
husband died, and I was free to tell.
There came to Graslov one day a beau
! tiful girl, giving a name that was not
familiar, but she was the picture of
that lovely princess who had died, and
I watched her. knew she was search
ing for the truth, and I told her what
I knew. We went to st. Petersburg,
where she told the car, and he gave
her authority under his seal. We went
back to Perm, but the Paulpoffs were
on their way to Siberia. The princess
resolved to follow, and this meeting
is the result"
Glow did you know the boy in Paul
poff's house was the young princeY
asked the governor general.
II saw his mothers picture which
had been around his neck. I recog-
nized his face, his voice, his manner,
and Paulpoff told me how he came into
his possession" 49,.
'"This is strange" said the governor
general, turning to the old man stern.
~. "How was it that you kept the
young prince and did not disclose the
fact that he was alive" -"
ut was the prayer Of his poor moth
er," said Papa Paulpoh. II, too, have
my story. On that day 1 was wander
ing by the river and had been fishing.
I heard the cry of child. I ran to-
ward the sound End saw the man tax.
ing off it's clothing. He cursed it and
| struck it and said that it's voice would
soon be stilled. I knew he meant to
! murder the child, and so I attacked
him.. l was powerful man then,
though not nearly so powerful as Vladi-
mir-as the prince-is now. We fought,
and l severely whipped him. I then
| took the child home with me and re-
! solved to restore him to his parents, for
I supposed he had been taken for re-
| venge by enemies. When I saw the
beautiful face Of the princess, I knew
| it must be the boys MOTHER and so
began to think who among the mobiles
who lived near the Kama had such a
woman. 1 had heard of the beauty Of
the Princess Neslerov, and so 1 went
to find her, leaving the child at the
forge. I saw her at Graslov and asked
to be alone with her. She ordered her
women away. l showed her the por-
trait.
my picturev she cried-'the picture
that was on little Alexis! Oh, what
have you to tell me?' y
II 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.