The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-03-07

| crawl in the dust belore iei YIo1s+a,n
IA nephew Peter Ulrich OF Hois'e,n,
80 81 IN elder daughter OF Peter the
Great Yes one other than Alexis "os
= tho death room OF the Ehtpie1'
when her life left her -
| Paul RasczinskY.
little later a foam-coVered steeo
stood before the villa where ise" III.
dauehte Of an empress, ana from !,
.idicmonnted a horseman who knocheu
at the closed door. To the porter VINO
looked ont the horseman showed the
written order Of Elizabeth for MS al
mission. The porter opened the door
and with a loud cry of Natalie. Ma
taIie." the Count RasczinSkY rusheu
into the hall of the house. Issuing
from the villa the Count mounted
again. Like a wind he swept oVer
the nIain-but not toward ST. Peters
burg nor toward the city where the
people were saluting their new EN-
peror. Away, away, away ne fleu, ms
steed bleeding from the spurs OF the
rider and as the storm wind dflNes
him Onward the Count hits that
mantle that enwraps him ike d clouu'
and under hat mantle is seen an
face. the smile Of a little girl. .Wo
tender, childish arms clasp the form
of the Count, and a slight, elfish
form tremblingly repoSeS, against the
Counts breast. Thus was Natalie,
the daughter of an Empress, borne
away beyond the Russian border out
Of reach of those who would seek her
blood should knowledge OF her exist
nee come to their ears.
When Elizabeth had given the
Count the paper, which procured him
free admission into the villa where
| Natalie was concealed he had said to
himself: This paper is my taliSman
and my future. With his 1 will give
Russia an impress and make myself
emperor Natalie had learned to
love and trust Count Paul as an elder
brother, and when on that terrible
| night he had told her that her life was
in danger: that she must fly with him
| and trust him, she had unheSitatingIS
obeyed.
-Four Years later in a high-walled
garden of a villa on the OF
Rome a beautiful maiden sat on q
bench under 2 spreading myrtle whose
blossoming branches bent down to her
as if they would entwine that pure
and tender brow with a bridal wreath.
With her head thrown back upon
those branches she reclined with mi
mitabIe grace. A white transparent
robe held by a golden clasp fell in
| waves to her little feet, which were
incased in golden-embroidered slippers
Of dark red leather. A blushing rose
az III III Iofoo VI lS1 III 80
upon her budding bosom, finely con
trasting with the delicate flush of her
cheeks. A guitar rested upon her full
and rounded arm. She had been
singing. this fairy maiden, and was
now glancing up at the clouds, fol-
lowing their flight with dreamy,
thoughtful eyes. She was recalling
that childhood whose mystery no one
would explain to her. She was think
ing of the lonely villa in which she
had lived until she was II years old.
and Of the stately. beautiful lady who
used to come and see her, a lady whose
flashing eyes always became tender
when she looked upon Natalie and
whose glance always penetrated the
heart of the child.
Who was this lady and where was
she now? And where was that lonely
house which a been Natalie's home j?
The skies above it had been pale-nol
like those glorious italian skies-and
the winters had been long and very
cOld-not like this soft italian climate
But Natalie'S heart, somehow, lOnged
to see again the lonely house and the
stately lady. Why would Paulo never
speak to her of the matter? And
what was that language she used tc
speak in Paulo would never tel
her. But It was not so musical as
the Italian she spoke now, and she
lIdO 1OISollCH I"oIl1N AO" anu ltcI
remembering some words which She
did not use because they seemed tc
distress PaulO. Paulo, the good, kline
Paulo, who was her guardian and he1
Very best friend.
Even as she thought of her FRIEND
and protector he came along the alley
How charming that you have Come
Paulo.'' she cried. tell me what wa:
that language which we used to speak
| before we came here? Have you for
gotten that night when you came Il
me and said: Natalie. danger threat
ems; but l will save you or perish witt
you?' And, Oh! that Fabulous ride
that wonderful journey, until one da,
you said: Natalie, you are safe. Io,
can be free and happy here Tell me
good Paulo, what does 1t all mean
Why is it hat we have no visitors AM
go out nowhere? Why is this plac,
surrounded by such a high wall am
guarded with those fierce dogs an,