Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-10-09

"Old Boris!' cried Frances, lcaping
from the drosky. "Where is your hand
some master"
The hound, who remembered her.
placed his cold nose in her hand low
ingly. He seemed to feel that he had
found a friend.
Frances stepped to the door and push.
ed it open.
"Ohg" she cried.
She had opened the door on Prince
Nicholas Neslerov, who stood there,
about to depart. evidently, with a paint
ing under his arm.
"AIlle. Gordon" he said, with a bow
and smile.
"where are the Paulpoffs?" she ask
ed.
"why you have not, then, been In
formed of their misfortuneT
misfortune! I knew nothing Of any
misfortune. What has happenedT
"They are dead"
Dead! All the Paulpoffs dead! I'm
possible! Papa Paulpoff and Mamma
Paulpoff might die, they were SO old,
but Vladimir! Impossible! So young
end powerful! Nothing but the weapon
Of an enemy could kill him In this
healthy place."
II spoke as We speak, mademoiselle.
The Paulpoffs are not really dead. We
speak Of a man who is caught in crime
and sent off-exiled-as dead. He Is
dead to his friends and to the world.
You understands"
Frances stood rigid and white, the
package Of books forgotten in the
hands Of the drosky driver. Her nails
bit into the tender fesh Of her clinch-
ed hands. Her eyes studied the face
Of the governor Of Tomsk.
"Vladinir has not been caught in any
crime" she said. with a sort Of gasp:
Impossible! He was so simple and
honest! What crime!"
Conspiracy against his imperial
majesty the car"
"And where is he now?"
ION the way to Siberia"
"Siberia! Vladimir Paulpoff sent to
Siberia! And where are his pnrents?'
zone In a family taken red handed
condemns all. The old people are also
on their way to Siberia"
Frances swayed a little. She had
studied Russian customs and Russian
Justice and shuddered as she realized
the horrible torture in store for these
simple work people who had never, she
felt CONVINCED, harbored an evil thought
against n nan. To her they had al
ways spoken in terms Of loyalty ant
praise Of the car.
The face Of Neslerov was in%scrutable
He held the picture loosely and care
lcssly, and the girl caught a glimpse OF
the face.
THAT is Vladimir's picture" she
cried. "What are you doing with it,"
~ am sending it to him." was the re
ply of Neslerov. at so happened tha'
I had occasion to visit my chateau neal
Graslov and rode by here at the time
the inspector of police was making thu
, arrest. l remembered what you said Il
me at Moscow and tried to do what
could for the poor fellow, at first doubt
:, ing his guilt. But the inspector wa!
, certain, and so all that was left to M
was to ask Vladimir what favor
i could perform for him. He asked MI
to send hin this picture, and l have ar
ranged with the governor of Perm I,
:. permit it to be passed along to him"
: 1T is a beautiful face" said Frances
"Vladimir has the soul of a great art
, list in him. But in Siberia he
y She shuddered and ended her sen
temce abruptly.
l II have done more for him, for you,
q continued Neslerov. There is anothe
picture-he painted from memory.
have arranged to purchase it for a goo
a price, and he shall not lose the none.
l promised him. 1t was a beginning t
4 certain steps l had thought of to assis
him."
MY own face!' cried Frances in as
g constituent as Neslerov showed tn
e second picture.
+ Eyes, and the remarkable part Of 1t
n 1t took him but a short time. | descrit
ed you, and he remembered you, an
?. between the two he managed a yer
8 creditable work. shall cherish thi
l. picture while live.
"My picture!" mnrmured the gil
again. looking at the sweet yet stron
young face the blacksmith artist ha
g. placed upon the canvas. "And all fror
n memory"
e "Yes, from memory and M descril
tion," said Neslerov. Your face is S
e indelibly imprinted upon my memor
that l could describe each line. eac
d feature, with the utmos accuracy"
She looked at him in establishment.
e He had made frequent attempts
!. make love to her, but she had alwal
Is skillfully repulsed him. That this couI
be true-that this man whose life W.
- one round Of pleasure should have HI
face so impressed upon his mind seer
ed to her incredible.
But you will befriend him." she sal,
without answering his remark. "YC
p. are powerful in Russia. A large pa
of Siberia is under your control. YC
8. can make the life of the Paulpof
lie pleasant there if you wish"
He bowed, and his eyes were hiddC
from her.
"Believe me, I have already take
steps to befriend them. In TOmsk the
Or Is great need Of such ironworkers no
that the railroad has gone beyond Il
Obi, and have sent my petition to Il
minister Of Justice to have them Sc
)" to Tomsk. They will not be treated