The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1903-04-28

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"
| ut was twenty years ago, your eX-
cellency," said Therese, speaking di-
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
he found close to the water. 1t was
believed that the child was drowned
end the princess grieved for her dead
Joy. The poor princess did not sur
rive 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 nev
ar settled and the two families have
since been enemies.
1t was not less than two years after
when. one night, while he was intoXl-
Gated. my husband said something that
aroused my suspicon-that he knew
what had become OF the young prince.
taxed him with it. and he was maud
lin enough to contide 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
nae to suspect. He told me. in his
tltllnlen fashion. that the Duke OF
G'raslov 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. Nich3sas.
THE two. the duke and Prince Mich
olas paid my husband to take tht
child and drown it. He was q wicked
man. my husband, and he agreed. Ht
. did take the child to the Kama an(
3 was about to take from it the telltalt
clothes when it cried Justify, and :
!. powerful man sprang from the bushes
: and took the child. There was figh
In which my husband was badly whip
/ ped. But he did not dare report to tn
e duke that he had failed and so he car
ried out the plans and reported tn
finding of the clothing at the river
I This was the clothing he had taken OF
| ii, f,, hn n
$ river To me this revelation was
:, great shock. but my husband threaten
\. ed my life If ever breathed q word Q
/. i! to a single person. ! knew he woul
: keep his threat, and SO l dared sa
" nothing, for the house of Gras}ov wa
A. Dch and powerful, and l feared
st speak even to the police.
"Thus l lived year after year wit
4 the shadow Of my husbands crime W
ri go mad Moved by an Impulse l coul
d not control deINrmined to learn
the child was aliJ1. / found it In til
house of the blacksmith PaulpOff {
Perm. Having learned that the litt
Alexis was well and happy l felt ca
III Ter, but resolved that when my oppo
ly tunity came | would reveal the trut
d; The old duke died and Nicholas b
~ came his heir and finally became go
4" ernor of To1nsk. A short time ago II
th husband died, and / was free to te
id There came to Graslov one day Il bea
he tiful girl, giving name that was n
rs familiar, but she WAS the picture
e. that lovely princess who had died. al
Sc watched her. | Knew she was scare
or ing for the truth, and told her VIII
rs | knew. We Went to st. PeterShul
ed where she told the car. and he ga
n her authority under his seal. We we
he back to Perm, but the Paulpotfs we
AT on their way to Siberia. The prince
m resolved to follow, and this meetil
I'm is the result"
Do 'How did YOU know the boy In Pa'
le. poff's house was the young prince
no asked the governor general.
Ter "I saw his mothers picture viii
had been around his neck. l recc
dy nized his face, his voice, his mann
ds. and Paufpotf told me how he came II
his possession"
las "This is strange" said the govern
os- general, turning to the old man stel
nd. ly. GLOW was 1t that you kept
vill young prince and did not disclose
hat fact that he was alive"
,ou '.It was the prayer Of his poor mo