Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1903-01-07

md severely
took the child hGhipped him. then
solved to restore hne with me and re-
I supposed he hahn to his parents, for
venge by enemi6a been taken for re-
beautiful face offs. When saw the
II must be the the princess. l knew
began to thinS boy's mother, and so
who lived ne'S who among the mobiles
woman. l lstr the Kama had such
the PRINCESS i'd heard of the beauty Of
to find her., Neslerov, and so I went
forge. | sa leaving the child at the
to be alonew her at Graslov and asked
women awfvith her. She ordered her
trait. y. showed her the por-
"tMy pic.
that was olre! she cried-'the picture
have YOU tol little Alexis! Oh, what
81 told hetell me?'
| 1 had takor what had happened, how
safe and N the boy and that he was
to weep well in my house. She began
row. cars of mingled joy and sor-
she ss sssslrs your What is your nansT
her. chael Paulpoff, princess told
l scr
ap6h, Michael Paulpoff." she cried,
I'D 1t seemed that her heart would
icnk-'can trust your
p"NWith anything, lady, answered.
You are welcome to the life or death
of Michael Paulpoff.'
fListenr she whispered. turning
each way to see that we were not
watched. 4 am in the house of, Ann-
mics. Ny husband, who was the heir
of the duke, is dead. My little son
would be the heir of this estate. but
the duke prefers that his own younger
son should inherit, and so they have
plotted to destroy my child. Thank
God for placing you on this earth,
Michael Paulpoff You We're sent to
save my boy. And now listen. Were
he to return here or were 1t to be
known that lie was alive. no matter in
what par of Russia lie might be, they
would manage IN some way to kill him.
Even now tremble lest some spy
overhear our words and reveal this
truth. do not wish to have you relin.
quish him and will give you something
now, but you must never come to me.
Some day | will come to you and claim
my boy. Wtll you swear, Michael Paul
poff, to cherish my boy and preserve
this secret?'
Il gave the promise, excellency, and
have kept it. But she also said, In
case die, Michael Paulpoff, guard my
boy as you would your own, for think
he will be like his father-strong, but
no match for the wicked and designing
ones. Do not permit any one ever to
know this truth
II have obeyed, excellency. The boy
was named Vladimir, and we soon
came to love him as our own. He was,
as the princess said, strong and of an
easy going, simple temperament. He
grew up to help me in the forge The
princess did die, and so l held my
tongue, as she babe me. But Vladimir
or Prince AleXis-was talented, and
he learned to paint. He discovered one
day the picture Of his mother and be-
came enamored of it. He wished to
paint 1t, and permitted him. Then
one day Neslerov came and saw it. 1
was frightened, for knew he would
suspect, and knew from his manner
that we would soon hear from him
again.
Eve were charged with conspiracy,
excellency, we who had honest hearts
and had never wronged any one, and
were bundled off to Siberia. We were
sent to TOmsk, where no doubt Nesle-
rov intended to kill the young man
when he got an opportunity. Then one
day that American named Denton came
to our hut in Tiyoloffsky. In some way
he had learned of the picture. do not
know why he was interested in vladi-
mir, but he asked to see the picture
and questioned me.
'Paulpoff,' he said, Vladimir is not
your son.
81 shivered, for l did not know but
he was friend of the governor. But
he said he was going to learn who
Vladimir was, SO told him the story.
He said that Vladimir could not be any
worse off than at present, and lie could
secure the help Of the government to
restore the estate to him and punish
Nicholas Neslerov. He took the pic
ture. and some one came to our hut
after that and whipped my wife to
death. Vladimir swore vengeance, and
today he has killed Jansky and Uns-
gethop."
This is strange story of cruelty
and crime" said the governor general.
'But, SO far as you are concerned, I
congratulate you, Prince Neslerov,
duke of Graslov. And this faithful old
man, whose life Is almost run, how can
show my appreciation of what he has
done for Russia? Paulpoff, you shall
name your own reward, and 1t is
yours"
ITO live with Vladimir" said the old
man simply.
"And this American! Where is he?"
Wounded; lying in the house of a
priest at Tivoloffsky," answered vladi-
mir, or, us he should now be called,
| Alexis.
Nicholas Neslerov, what have you
to say?" asked the governor general.
at is a lie," said Nicholas.
"Your own face does not indicate it.
believe this is the truth. You are a
prisoner! Call the officer of the guardy'
II am here, your excellency!'
"This lieutenant" said Olga, whose
name do not know, assisted me in
freeing the prince from the dungeons
under this palace. told him he would
be captain"
"Your name" said the governor
| general.
"Ormidoff."
"Captain Ormidoff, conduct this pris-
oner to the same dungeon in which he
had confined the prince, and see that
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