The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1913-12-20

Gus. but with saving sense of humor
which, together with a certain art
lessness of nature, attracted Paul.
And so you wish to investigate the
phenomena of the monk Apollodorus,
young man." he said, when he had
finished reading the letter. Lord
Tresham and | are very old friends,
dating from the days when he was
first attache at the Russian court. |
am sure that ! can obtain permission
from his majesty, and you have come,
luckily, at precisely the most favor
able time, for his majesty departs for
Nishikoff on Wednesday next, with all
the gentlemen of his court TO ques
ton his late father concerning an
important matter of foreign policy,
upon whose adoption or rejection. | !
may say in confidence, grave issues .
depend. His majesty is only too anx- /
| ious to make converts, and anyone for .
whom l vouch can accompany his
| gentlemen"
| His voice grew low and he bent for !
ward and began speaking earnestly.
1T will convert you, my friend" said
Count Gabel 1T is positively the
most wonderful exhibition ever vouch-
safe to man. / knew the late Tsar
Alexander. And. since his death, |
have seen him at the Nishikoff monas-
tery-seen him. touched his hand,
just as 1t was in the flesh. and spoken
with him face to face and heard his
own voice answer me. 1t is wonder
full, Imagine what 1t means to us
who have been privileged thus to
learn for surety that death is in truth,
only transition! Imagine what 1t
means tc the Tsar TO have the advant-
age of his fathers counsel upon mat
tiers of state!"
He suddenly became aware that he
was talking with utter abandon to a
stranger and sitting up In his chair,
resumed his severe manner.
"Mr. Lane, it will be necessary 10
make use of a very harmless decep-
tion," he said. You are not mar
ried?"
NO" answered Paul.
Good, Good" exclaimed the jovial
old man. Because of course you must
I have some sort of excuse for being
taken to Nishikoff You must be
! some relative of mine, for instance.
, You don't speak Russian? Ha! HIN.
: Then you can't be a blood relation.
/, Ha! / have it. You shall pass as
| the fiance OF my wifes cousin, a very
: charming lady of royal blood who is
! staying with US and is friend of the
{ Tsaritsa. She will. | am sure. will
, ingly accept you in that capacity for
r she loves jest. She is as convinced as
in the reality of these phenomena
e and so will you be too. Now you must
o send to your hotel for your baggage
s and come home with me-"
Paul was completely disarmed by
+ the old counts hospitality. In fact
!. nothing but a strong sense of duty
S prevented him from throwing away
h the dark lantern and calcium powder
s which he had brought in his suitcase
If But he conquered this impulse and a
d the end of the day waited upon the
r count again, entered the drOshky
which was waiting outside his office
O and was whirled away to Gabels resi-
n dence in a fashionable part of st
s Petersburg where he was warmly wei
e coined by the countess. A few word
N of explanation from the count in Rus
st sian vastly amused her.
"Clothilde will be here in a fey
!" minutes" she said to Paul in English
v. But wait, | myself will go and tel
/: her that her fiance is expecting her!
10 And she tripped out of the room, lea'
of ing Paul and the count alone.
Is Clothilde, II could not be tn
at same, unless she were ubiquitous
O. and yet the mere sound of the believe
SO name brought up the memory of hi
nd lost love. and the old wretchednes
as wrapped itself round his heart agail
lis Her name was like music. His low
re for her was measureless; and, eve
he though he despised himself for b
ms weakness. he knew that 1t was de
It tined to be eternal.
If, Yet Paul was hardly surprised whe
lis she came in. for fate seemed resolve
nd to link their fortunes together. tn
lis sight of her set his knees to tremblin
he and heart a-quiver. She was fairer tina
he ever in his sight, though more mature
It's but with the loss of the first bloom I
IS youth she had acquired somethir
rk which he had never read in her face
quality Of womanliness, an ava
-er ening of the soul that drew his oW
oil. in rapturous responsiveness.
us The strangeness of that meetir
ng filled him with a realization OF Il
ed dramatic nature of the parts thu
ng we're to play. He, posing as the !
of vestigator, yet pledged to tear Il
mask and trappings from the fal
,re monk, and she. the chief aid to Il
,rd impostor. we're bound to be compa
20. ions on that strange journey;
nd neither could denounce the 9th
div since both were equally guilty in
led ceiving their host and hostess. Pa
the went forward to meet her.
ent well. how do you like each other
I inquired the countess amiably. 81
you YOU think you can permit Mr.. La
Irg. to act as your fance for a day, c
-ith thilde?"
ex. She raised her eyes for an insta
cal Il think can" she murmured.
hnr rnnopEG