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

other holds him back and makes threat ening movement. His commanding glance seems to say: Be silent and observe" They whisper low together and disappear. That night two letters were handed to Paulo, one from the Russian legation and one from the Cardinal Bernis, ambassa- dor of France at Rome. Paulo shuddered
 as he saw the Russian arms on the
 packet. and, laying it aside, opened the letter of the cardinal It was an invita-
 ton to attend a great entertainment to
 be given in the cardinals palace. He read
 it to Natalie, and when she heard that
 the celebrated improvisatrice, Gorilla, was to be present, she said:
 "Oh, let us go, 1 should so like to see a roetess." "Yes. we will go." replied Pau
 To after a minute of deep thought, ''it Is time my Natalie was introduced into this circle of influential Romans that she may have other and more powerful friends than Paulo, who may watch over her
 when no longer can" "Oh, Paulo, you
 will never leave me, will you?" 'Who
 may guess what fate has in store said
 Paulo, kissing her. But it is now time
 for you to go to your slumber. Good night, my child"
 | When he was alone Paulo opened the other letter. When he had read it it fell from his hand and a deadly paleness | spread oyer his face. His faithful ser want, Cecil stood looking at his master Your presentiment is, then, fulflled?" asked Cecil. '.It is,'' replied Pauo. My property is sequestrated; they refuse to
 send me money; they require my imrDe-
 diate return to Russia And you are I lost, my lord, if you do not obey this
 command.' exclaimed the servant. And Natalie" said the count. "can l, dare I, | leave herr" "She is much safer without | you than with under these circum- stances" replied Cecil. "'They may not suspect who she is It is possible that
 you are recalled simply under the, absen- tee laws of Russia. which require that ev-
 cry subject must return after a certain number of years. Fulfill, therefore, this
 hard duty. Pretend that our return Is | only to renew your passport and pay homage to the Empress. Appear inno-
 cent and unconcerned and all may yet | | will ever go well any more.'
 It was the Empress Catherine who
 now reigned over Russia. Her hus-
 band, Peter IT.. who had succeeded Elizabeth, had Sbeen assassnated by
 her agents. and she had usurped the
 vacant throTfe. And one of those as sassins, who openly boasted of the
 part he had played in the death Of the Car was now come to Rome as Rus
 sian envoy-the Count Alexis Orioff
 whose brother. Count Gregory, was the reigning favorite ofsthe dissolute
 Empress. That the secret of Natalie's
 existence had become known to, the ' merciless Empress and that her place
 of refuge had been discovered was
 only too apparent to him who was I once Count Paul sRasczinskv and was now known as Count Paulo. The idea which he once had of giving l Russia an empress and raising himself I to be an emperor had long ago van ished. His only concern now was tc preserve Natalie from the dangers witl
 which the mere fact of her birth en- yironed her He had come to love Ma | talie truly and fervently. but knew tha she loved him only as a friend and pro
 tector so as. the time went 'by she sl became to him only as a dear and cher
 ished daughter. whose welfare was lii'
 first thought and duty. Except Pauls
 and the servants Natalie. in her closelS guarded retreat. had seen n Q men bfa' Il her music teache., Carlo. man sh! had come to have great affection for and who. alas. had at length found himself desperately in love with his pu