, 1904-06-22

a good friend of mine, and we spoke fire.
quently in other days of the pleasure II
would give US to see our only children
united. Therefore do your utmost to bring
about this most desirable marriage. l
shall not receive my daughter again until
she comes to me as the Princess Dell
nikof.
"What a kind and loving fatherr' ex-
claimed Alma as she crunched the let
ter in her hand. ""This is a threat-a
threat that my uncle preferred to have
me read rather than to tell me himself.
Let them threaten! But l will attend
the ball and will assist in entertaining
Prince D%ellnikoff, the most d~issolute
prince in st. Petersburg"
Have you received a letter at last.
mademoiselle 2" asked Marie as she en-
tered the room.
SAT last, Marie, l have been permit
ted to read a letter. 1t Is not, however,
addressed to me. 1t is n that was
sent by my father to my uncle with
some very interesting news. Prince
Dellnikoff is coming to Tifis."
Heavens! To be marrled?"
81 presume that is the real object.
Openly he comes as the inspector gen.
eral of prisons"
Inspector general! He will be a
proud one In that uniform"
why so, Marie? What distinguish
ing uniform does the inspector general
Of prisons wear?"
fine. l once knew the inspector gen
eral Of prisons for Perm. He was a
grand looking man in his uniform"
81 should like to see it," said Alma,
with a smile. II suppose l will have
the opportunity SOON"
81 have a book with all the uniforms
of Russia. Shall l get it?"
mo, never mind. Well, get it.. 1t
will serve to pass away a few miser-
able moments"
Marie brought a little leather cover
ed book.
"It is Alexander's, mademoiselle.
He hopes for promotion and is study
ing the fine uniform he will wear"
Alexander is noble and faithful. l
hope he will win his promotion and not
disgrace himself by assisting me-"
"He would die for you, mademoi.
selle."
Alma turned the pages of the book.
Many of the brilliant uniforms she
saw pictured were familiar to her.
The uniform prescribed for the in
spector general of prisons was a gor-
geous affair, all gold lace, shiny boots,
a cap and a medal that hung from the
golden sash. She closed the book and
sank back in the chair with her eyes
closed. Instead of returning the book
Alma rose from her chair and placed it
in a drawer.
81 like to look at them, Marie" she
said. 81 will keep the book awhile"
The approach of the governors ball
in honor of the new inspector general
Of prisons reused great interest. A
governors ball was always a grand
affair, but this one, coming at the close
of the fair, with so many notables from
all parts of the east in Tihis, was GER
tain to surpass in splendor any of
it's predecessors. The baZaars brought
out their best goods and displayed
them to the best advantage. Women of
all nations began feyerish shopping
and preparing. officers of the garrison,
Persian %grandees, Chinese princes,
Turkish pashas, Wed with one another
in their efforts to do credit to this great
occasion. Alma seemed imbued with
the same spirit of rivalry. One day as
she and Marie were going out Jurnieff
stopped Marie.
MARIE" he said, "what has brought
the great change over your mistress
Heretofore she has been morose and
sad; now she is smiling and cheerful.
What has caused it? She acts like one
who knew that her lover had come to
see her"
Marie started. Did he know that AL
ma was aware of the presence of Irons
in the prison?
at is not that, l think, Colonel Jur
nieff, but that perhaps n is coming"
do you mean-you cannot mean the
p~rince?"
at may be, though Mile. Alma say
little to me. Is he not a great oficerY
HE has a high and honorable posi-
ton. He is inspector general of pris
ons."
"Ah! That enlightens me, your ex
cellency. l know what she wanted II
for now"
"Wanted what for?"
1.-THE book-the pictures OF uniforms
/ saw her studying the uniform Of thu