The Washington times., 1903-04-26
CHAPTER XII.
THE CURTAIN RISES.

LIE LUX LAIN RlSES-
Reribution. Revenge. Justice! The
Fighting OF a great wrong, They all
await the rising of the curtain, each
ready to play its part in the last act of
the drama. The curtain is rising now
and the actors are at hand.
They have placed the poor woman in
an empty ward Of the Alexandra Hos
pital. Her gray head Is propped among
pillows as white as the bandage on her
temples The surgeon is seated beside
her and a table containing walls of med
icine stands near by. A clock on the
wall ticks away the hours, and from the
neighboring street comes the faint muir
muir of wheels ard hurrying feet.
A number of screens have been judi
ciousIy arranged about the bed-but
some distance from it.
Behind one Of these stand Colonel
Sudekin, Andre Dagmar, and Count
Vastly Dagmar-the latter an artistic
cratic old gentleman, but bowed and
bent with sorrow. What he is about
to hear will not restore straightness
TO his figure nor remove the wrinkles
from his brow, but it will gladden. his
declining years. The colonel has pre-
pared his companions for a great and
! joyful surprise, but they know not what
il is
Behind another screen stand Inspector
Jaroslav and Donald Chumleigh. The
latter. too, is in state of bewiIder-
ment. He knows that what he is about
TO hear will affect his whole future life
Behind the three remaining screens
stand Feodor Baranok. Pierre Waldorf,
and Serge Masloff, each concealed from
the others, and each guarded closely by
/ three Cossacks- Waldorf is quivering
with Impotence. He alone knows the
secret. His feHow-prisoners are filled
with dread and amazemeut.
The old woman opens her eyes and
converses in a low tone with the sur
geon. The latter beckons to the colonel.
You may come now. he whispers.
This was the summons tnut Colonel
sudekin had been impatlentIy await
Ing. He stepped softly from behind
the screen and approached the bed. fol-
lowed by Andre and Count Vastly. a
strange light cleaned in the old wom-
ans eyes at sight Of the count.
I'm sure don't know her. sudekin. "
said the latter, querulously.
Watt" replied the colonel Waltz
Andre said nothing, but he remem-
bered suddenly that this was the same
woman who had sought an interview
with him on the morning OF his arrest.
Suddenly she spoke. weakly, but in q
clear voice.
Count Vastly. have you forgotten
me? know you, and I know your son
there, knew you both many years
ago. I was nurse in your employ Tor
three years, from 1866 TO 1869. am
Anna Paradim."
! A smothered cry came from behind
one of the screens, and then a scuff1lng
noise. which soon subsidized.
The count did not hear it. His face
was white. and he leaned on Andre for
| support.
Yes. I remember you" he gasped
f.;r+I,- GO crr-,
7 have not long to live continued
the woman. but before die want to
make shameful confession. the only
atonement for nay crime that is now
possible
At this point another slight scuf1e was
heard. The Cossacks had gagged Bara-
nok. and he was struggling to regain
the use Of his voice.
The one for whose sake I committed
this crime dealt ne my death blow. "
resumed the old woman. bar FOR that
my lips should never have been opened
Now viii tell all It was in the month
of January. 1863, that your son Pau
was born. and the condition Of the
countess Dagmar was so precarfous thar
you took her away or a sea voyage
in your yacht, leaving The child Pau
at your house on the Court Quay IN my
care. Andre. who was then two years
old. accompanied you Do you remem-
Der all this. Count Vasily?"
yes. yes!" gasped the count eagerly
1T was exactly so Go on
He was sitting on u chair now, watch
ing every motion Of her lips.
"On the 18th of July" he resumed
your yacht returned to ST. Petersburg
and you sent a drosky 10 your mansion
with message that I should bring Tho
child and meet you at the docks Of
vasBiii ostron. as you were going OIL