The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-04-19

body? No? Well, so it is. Just such
a wreath as some unknown hand
placed on his mothers coffin five
years ago. Unknown do / say?'
and he gave low, bitter laugh-"No,
not unknown.-Listen to me.
When was a young man 1 met
the mother of my children, and at
the first meeting loved her-as few
men love. But she was the affianced
wife Of Count Michael Petrovitch-
All! see you know the name. That
will make my story easier TO tell.
She loved him not-nay, she had
always loathed him, but he had
ruined her father. and Marie's hand
was the price of her fathers redemp.
ton. Ten months later we met again,
and when l learned the terrible story
OF her unhappy marriage deter
mined at any cost to see her free. 1t
was no difficult task; there was over.
whelming proof of his infidelity, and
the divorce court severed the hateful
bonds that linked her to him.
Then Marie and were married
and our happiness was complete
What cared we that the count cursed
US on our wedding day and vowed a
terrible revenge? All. how little We
knew.
Within year Count Michael Pc
trovitch was arrested on charge OF
attempting to kill the Gear. was
present at the trial; was, indeed
the chief witness against him. He
was sentenced TO the mines for TWEEN
~ years. When the terrible sentence
was pronounced the count, his face
distorted with fury. turned TO me and
screamed out curses at Inc and my
wife. Tell her, he shrieked, that
the day will come when she and
those who may be OF her Will wear
the yellow badge of my family-over
their winding sheet. /, Michael Pc.
trovitch, swear it. And with a yell
which struck terror in all that heard
1t he was led from the court down to
the cells. the first stage OF his Jour
ney to Siberia
All. now you see. You know now
the meaning OF the yellow wreath
that was placed on my dead boy'S
breast and on my wife's coffin. But"
and the general glanced at the case
of pistols-'the end Is not YETI"
Paul rose from his chair, and. plac.
ing his hand on the bowed shoulder
OF the stricken man, said: Let me
help you, sir. AS God lives. we will
lind this mainland kill him"
a few days later General Poklev-
ski was seated at his desk in his
library. In front of him lay packet
OF letters-the letters OF the wife he
had loved so tenderly and SO tragi.
cally lost. In his hand was photo
graph Of sigular beauty and sweet
ness. at the foot Of which we're the
words, Your wife, Marie
AS the old man looked on the face
he had loved best in all the world
scalding tear fell on it, Then he
pressed it passionately TO his lips,
and put it tenderly into the pocket
near his heart.
AS he was placing the treasured
letters in 4 drawer knock came at
the door. and in answer to his Come
in" his old ard faithful va'et. Alex.
ander. entc"cd.
"Well?" the general asked impa-
iicntly.
Il have done your bidding. sir.
though | have had to pay the old bag
handsome NriN". You are vel.
coined to the house at any time. and
II will remain empty of all other
dodgers"
THAT is WELL Alexander" an
swered the general grimly. And
the upstairs room-did you see 1t
YOURSELF"
Yes, siri The window commands
view of the whole street. No. is,
as you know, exactly opposite"