The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-05

'ssssss. ,s talie journeyed in great state. the Rus sian fleet appeared in the harbor and the admiral, after communicating with Or loff. came ashore and hailed Natalie as Empress. It was spread all over Leghorn that Natalie was the real Empress of Russia, and the poor victim assumed the imperial title without hesitation.
 The time came for the embarkation The admiral came ashore in his splendid barge. accompanied by fleet of other boats. The guns of the fleet thundered as Natalie stepped on board the barge, and turning, she said in her slvery voice. Count Alexis Orloff. we await you" But Alexis came not at her call. He sprang into an officers boat without even giving her Il look. "He follows your highness.' whispered an attendant, 'it would be con trary to etiquette for him to appear in the same boat with the Empress" The boats moved from land and Natalie was drawn up to the deek of the admirals ship in a gilded chair which was let down for her. The chair was drawn up, the cannon thundered anew
 But suddenly it seemed as if through the sound of the cannon was heard a shriek of terror, prolonged. penetrating and heart-rending. What was that? What means the tumult upon the ad- mirals deck? Then all was still upon the admiral's ship. The fleet got under way and left the harbor. People on a boat, which impelled by curiosity had ap- preached near the flagship, declared that they had seen through a cabin window the pale princess wringing her hands in terror and loaded with chains. As the fleet moved out to sea Count Alexis Orloff stood on the shore smiling and said to himself: My beautiful empress will be satisfied with me-"
 She was satisfied, that sublime Elm press Catherine, with the work of Alexis Orloff and wben his messenger, Joseph Ribas, related to her all the particulars Of the affair from the commencement to the end she nodded her approval with a smile "Yes,' she said to Gregory Or loff, i've understand women's hearts, and therefore sent Alexis 10 entrap her. A handsome man is the best jailer for a woman-for she never runs away from him." And what does your Sublime Mai esty decide upon with regard to the pris- oner?" asked Ribas. "Oh, I had ai- most forgotten her-is she still alive?' "She is yet alive" The Empress for some time walked back and forth, thoughtfully casting her eyes from time to time upon two pictures-battle scenes. displaying in realistic manner the running blood, the trembling flesh, the age of the opponents and the death groans of the deefated Catherine loved such pictures.
 "That bleeding feminine torso," said she, pointing to one of the pictures, Ire minds me of the vengeance Elizabeth took upon Elenora Laputschkin. We'll, Elizabeths pretended daughter shall find me teachable; I will learn from her mother how to punish. Let this criminal the fair Laputschkin suffered, and as she was served, so let Elizabeths daugh- ter be served. Only the knout must be swung little more powerfully. We have no desire to tear out the tongue of the child, but whip her we'll and effectually; you understand. That is all''
 It was a dark and dreadfully cold night.
 
 silent and deserted. But there, upon the place where Elizabeth once caused the beautiful Laputschkin to be tortured, torches glared, dark forms were moving to and fro, and mysterious life was stirring. Nobody is upon the place but the eXecutioners and their assistants, mo- body except that pale, feeble and srunken woman who, in her thin white dress, kneels at the feet of the execu- | tioners. Alexis Orloff has murdered Ma talies heart, and now they were to mur- der her body. The light robe she wears Is | torn from her; the knout whistles as it whirls through the air; the noble blood flows in streams. She makes no com plaint--she prays. Only once. overcome by pain. she loudly screams: Mercy! Mercy for tho daughter of an Empress!' Next weeks one-page classic will be "Rienzi," by Bulwer-Lytton.