Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-07-26

But what of you. my darling girl,
my bravest7 You have sacrificed
yourself for me-"
~They dare not kill me-" said Alma.
"They would do anything. But l
cannot go like this. Give me just a
moment Let me take you in my arms!'
Charka, with fine sense of propri-
ETY.. walked back to his little box.
"Oh. If love could repay you, dear"
said Harvey, taking her in his arms,
III the devotion of life could pay you
for what you have done, how gladly
would I make you happy! But what
can do? 1t will be impossible for me
to see you now"
"Some day-some day will come to
you"
Come with me now" raining kisses
on her lips. II will not go without
you. 1 will go back and give myself
up"
Dear one, do not speak like that!
It is ungrateful!"
$50 1t is. darling. You have cut off
your hair. your beautiful hair, that 1
loved. How did you accomplish my
rescue? Tell me what you did|
Alma told Harvey the whole story.
Il even gave myself up to abandon
for your sake, dear one," concluded
Alma. II permitted his lips to touch
mine; allowed his arm to encircle my
waist. oh, the thought Of 1t burns,
but it was for you!"
Great heaven! What a woman!
And now you want me to leave you to
their yengeance! Russia does not for.
give. You will be sent to Siberia.
You must come with me or shall re-
main and fight for you"
"And be killed! You must 20 at
once. Kiss me, dear one! It may be
the last"
1T shall not! Hark! The alarm gun
Of the prisonv'
The dull boom Of a cannon smote
the air.
Here. we must get out of this" said
Charka, rushing from his box. 1.-THE
soldiers will swarm along the river in
no time"
my uncle has thought we were gone
too long" said Alma. trembling with the
weakness of reaction. "He has search
ed for us in the palace and, not finding
US, has gone to the prison. He has
questioned the servants and learned
that we We're there. Perhaps he has
even discovered that the prince is lock-
ed in q cell. My dear one, hide under
the hay. Charka, where can he hide?
He is your friend, and your enemies
are after him"
With a sweep of his hand Charka
showed them the immense cargo of
hay. 1t rested upon many long planks
that met in the middle of the boat and
extended some feet over each side.
Under the planks was vacant space.
"Under there" said Charka. "Therc
you will be safe. Hurry! The dogs Of
Muscoyites will soon be here"
you shall not 60 back to imprison-
ment or DEATH" said Harvey. "Come
with me! We will 60 to America,
where you will be safe and happy.
Come. my darling, come"
Alma hesitated. Again sounded the
alarm gun. Perhaps the thought of SOL
itary Imprisonment, perhaps the knout,
perhaps Siberia, came to her.
II will CO." she said simply.
The two crawled under the hay, and
Charka lay down on the boat as If
asleep.
Everything happened as Alma had
supposed. The ball had been deprived
of its most brilliant lights. With Alma
and Dellnikoff gone, 1t grew dull. A
half hour passed, and Colonel Jurniefr
got uneasy.
Where are your beautiful niece and
Dellnikoff| asked the governor.
"The prince said they were going to
find secluded spot and talk things
over. asked Alma, and she consented
to the announcement of their betrothal.
but said the prince had not asked her
to be his wife. sent him to her, and
they came to an agreement. But they
wanted to be alone to talk. do not
know what keeps them"
ut is not SO easy to leave OF con-
versation with girl like Alma. 1t is
almost time for the supper. hope
they will not forget"
The governor showed his anxiety as
tho time for him to take the highest Of
his guests to supper arrived.
II am filed with misgivings, your
excellency." said Jurniefr. ''There is
something wrong"
wrong! What can be wrongY
Something, know not what. The
girl bewitched us all tonight. had
never seen her 80 gay, SO reckless. She
acted as If she had drunk too much
wine, and she seldom drinks any, and
now, when she Is not here, with her
beauty and her wit to ensnare me, I
recall how she hated the prince. She
never said so, but she refused to marry
him. She was in love with an Amer
ican."
where is the Americana
"He is III our prison. He is impli-
Gated in the abduction of Koura Biar-
telkis."
"And you think--what do you think
Speak, man!'
y cannot think. am going to the
prison to see what has happened"
He called for his carriage. It was