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

y
ing by the river and had been fishing.
L heard the cry of a child. l ran to-
ward the sound and saw the man tax.
ing off it's clothing. He cursed it and
struck it and said that it's voice would
soon be stilled knew he meant to
murder the child, and so | attacked |
him. was a powerful man then, |
though not nearly SO powerful as Nladi-
mir-as the prince-is now. We fought, [
and l severely whipped him. then
took the child home with me and re-
solved to restore him to his parents. for
supposed he had been taken for re-
venge by enemies. When | saw the
beautiful face of the princess, knew
it must be the boys mother, and so
began to think who among the mobiles
v ho lived near the Kama had such
woman l had heard of the beauty OF
the Princess Nesleroy, and so Went
to find her leaving the child at the
forge. saw her at Graslov and asked
to be alone with her. She ordered her
women away. | showed her the por-
trait.
My picture.v she cried-'the picture
that was on little Alexis! Oh, what
have you to tell me?'
II told her what had happened, how
! had taken the boy and that he was
safe and we'll in my house. She began
to weep tears of mingled joy and sor-
row.
"'Who are you? What is your name?'
she asked.
Michael Paulpoff, princess l told
her.
"'Oh. Michael Paulpoff," she cried.
and it seemed that her heart would
hreak-'can | trust you?
with anything, lady answered.
You are welcome to the life or death
of Michael Paulpoff.'
"I.istenr she whispered, turning
each way to see that we We're not
watched i am in the house of enc
mics. My husband, who was the heir
of the duke is dead My little son
would be the heir of tnis estate, but
the duke prefers that his own younger
son should inherit, and so they have
i plotted to destroy my child. Thank
/ God for placing you on this earth,
Michael Paulpotf! You were sent to
save my boy And now listen. Were
ne to return here or We're it to be
known that he was alive, no matter in
what part of Russia he might be, they
would manage in some way to kill him.
Even now | tremble lest some spy
,verhear our words and reveal this
ruth / do not wish to have you relin-
i;iish him and will give you something
low. but you must never come to me
some day | will come to you and claim
nv boy. Will you swear, Michael Paul
pofr, to cherish my boy and preserve
this secret?'
II gave the promise eNcellency, and
have kept 1t. Dut she alsc said. In
case die, Michael Paupoff guard my
boy as you would your own, for think
he will be HE his father-strong but
no match for the wicked aud desiSnin s
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 cur own. He was,
as the princess said. strong and Of an
easy gotng, simple temperament. He
grew up to help me IN the forge. Che
= princess did die, and 50 l hold my
tongue, MS she hade me. But Na<iimil
or Prince AleXiNWas talented, anG
he learned to paint. He discovered ontt
day the picture of his mother and be
came enamored Of It. he wished tt
;, paint 1t, and / permitted bin. Ther
;, one day Neslerov came and saw 1t.
was frightened, for knew he would
! suspect, and knew from his mannei
that we would soon hear from hin
= again.
I'VE weFe charged with conspiracy
: excehency, we who had honest heart
and had never wronged any one, IN,
ueIc bundled eff 10 Siberia We wer
sent 10 Tomsh where no doubt Nesle
= rov Intended to kill the young ma
! when he got an opportunity. Then on
!, day that American named Denton cam
:, to our hut in Tfvoloffsky In some wa
II he had learned of the picture. l do nc
a know why he was interested in Nlad
, mir but he asked to see the pictul
,t and questioned me.
!. 'Paulpoff,' he said Vladimir is n1
70 your son..
~ II shiyered for l did not know bt
20 he was friend OF the governor. Bl
&C he said he was going to learn WI
va Vladimir was, so l told him the Stor
He said that Vladimir could not be an
;, worse off than at present, and he coul
.. secure the help of the government
restore the estate to him and puniS
nh Nicholas Neslerov. He took the pi
~ ture, and some one came to our HI
% after that and whipped my wife
~ death. Vladimir swore vengea-ce, al
today he has killed Jansky and Un
gethop."
~ ~ This is strange story Of cruel
-, and crime" said the governor gener;
-, But, so far rs you are concerned
congratulate you, Prince Neslero
-, duke of Graslov. And this faithful O
- man, whose life ls almost run, how C:
show my appreciation Of what he b