Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-08-09

"You see," said Darrell. addressing
Mr.. and Mrs. Robert Gordon in Paris I
some weeks later. 1.-The dear girl found
out what had become OF me. and she
determined to divert the course of my
destiny. which seemed at the moment |
to be tending toward a stone wall and
a firing party I'm StavropoL Korna and
the amazon tried 10 restrain her. but
she slipped away from them at the |
minute when they were leaving Cred
skoy, secured q horse somehow and
rode after Getchikofr like valkyrie. |
lie overlook him az nightfail In that
village Of Meldek, surrendered TO him
privately and demanded my release
"Getchikon was in a quandary. He
was pledged 60 me for vera's safety.
He could not take US both to Stavropol-
He could not put her out OF the way
either by death OF captivity, for IL was
in my bond that I should have word Of
her, and he had certainly gone too far
to break faith with me, even supposing
that there had ever been q time when
he could do 1t.
Under these trying circumstances
he did the smartest thing ever done by
anybody. He made Vera promise that
IL my release and personal safety were
absolutely assured to her she would
play her part as Motman Khan abso-
lutely according to his wishes. For my
life, she gave that promise. She was
put under guard in another room OF the
house where 1 was first detained. Then
under cover Of the darkness we were
both transferred by men whom Getchi-
kOR could trust The bogus rescue
was easily managed through the aid
of squad OF Clrcassian prisoners on
their way to Stavropol for punishment
for various violations of the Russian
regulations In Gredskov. Their free
dom was their reward, and Of course
they afterward dispersed beyond the
possibility OF doing harm.
"As to Vera's promise, It was, OF
course. clear to her, though unexpress-
ed in words, that she must follow the
line upon the chart, the line that led to
Paris.
"Getchikoff dared not trust me with
the news that Vera was In the town
He feared l would not agree to his
plan, which put her so completely under
my power and direction, and 1 am
greatly obliged to him for his delicacy.
So 1 was drugged, and with touch of
the theatrical the dagger and the chart
were left for me- Vera also had a
sleeping potion with her supper and
was as much surprised as to wake IN
freedom.
There were horses for us In the barn
behind the house where found her, and
we rode that day to Botka, a village
not far TO the west. In the square de-
noting that village was a little cross In
the southwest corner as one views a
map. 1t denoted an American mission
airy station, and there, my friends. Vera
and I were married by a fine, earnest,
handsome young clergyman named
Perkins. who was born In the state OF
Maine. A quaint and beautiful little
wedding we had In that far corner OF
| the world. / shall never think OF Il
/ without tears OF purest happiness
And so we are here, Robert, after
our strange honeymoon journey. We
have heard Of Russia's great leniency
| TO the Circassians who remained under
arms after Gredskov's fall and Of the
| restoration of peace IN that country.
| There is nothing we could do there
even were we not pledged to keep
i away.
I'VE have heard OF Kilziar's death by
bis own hand in prison and OF the mer-
| cy shown to his associates.
'As for Getchikoff. he has laid me
under such obligations that, though he
had forged my own name for every
dollar ! possess, though he had slain
Ladislov IN cold blood and Ladislov
had been a good man and my friend,
must still have shielded the fellow to
the limit OF my power. I will surely
do 1t, and, upon my word, after his
courtesy to Vera In Meldek, almost
believe he is worthy of forgiveness for
his sins.
by the bye, to Botka, not long after
our arrival, came Colonel Korna, with
a few others of our friends, riding like
mad and put upon the trail by hint
cleveriy conveyed by Getchikor. They
were present at our wedding, and their
blessings followed us"
| THE END.