Tombstone epitaph., 1915-05-09

have I-paio such a communication with a knife-thrust The whole court is honeycombed
 While the prince was still hesitat- ing, he suddenly became aware of an unusual sound. coming from the far end of the gallery, where it ended in the disused apartments l have de scribed. The sound appeared to be that of a door slowly turning on it's hinges. In an instant Boris realized, or thought he realized. the situation. The parsonage of the garden had ar rived in the vacant suite by means of a secret stairway from the garden ! door. and was now about to pass | through into the gallery. with the ob- | ject. no doubt. of making his way finally into the imperial corridor. | There was not a moment to lose | Unarmed, as he stood there. Boris for tunately recollected that in the little chamber. which l have spoken of as | set apart for the use oi the pages, there were a pair Of loaded pistols and a sword. He darted in through the open door of the room, snatched up the sword and one of the pistols. and | had got back nearly as far as the threshold. when he was arrested. and his very limbs were rooted to the ground. by the sight of the figure which passed noiselessly along the corridor outside.
 l Imagine a tall shd somber appari- ton. with long black robes sweeping the floor, the head shrouded in deep 1 cowl, from whose recesses gleamed out, pallid and spectral in the light of the moon, the features of the dead monarch. Alexander III,"
 At this point his eXcellency pretend ed to perceive for the first time the | change which had taken place in the position of the chessmen.
 An, You have moved your king" | he exclaimed. and promptly shifted his attacking bishop so as to give me a fresh check. Then he returned 10 the narrative.
 "A moment passed The first shock of terror over. the awe-struck page ventured to the door of the chambe and glanced out into the gallery. The ghost had disappeared. as suddenly and as nysterionsly as 1t had come"
 Were there no other rooms of the gallery into which it might have passed?" l demanded, not 10 appear too credulous.
 There were none. The only other door in this part of the gallery was that which have already described as closing of the imperial corridor.
 Be sure that I put the same ques- ton myself when my young friend told me the story. His manner convinced me that he was not lying. and that he really believed himself to have seen the specter he described.
 As you know, am not believer in the supernatural l sought to shake the boys superstitious state of mind.
 What you saw was some illusion. some trick of the imagination l said 10 him.
 He shook his head mournfully.
 "I am as certain of what I saw as 1T it were before me now. he replied. My ! jsct to idle fancies.'
 The princess confirmed this state ment with a nod of her head.
 I am sure that my son must have seen something like what he de scribes,' she said to me, though 1t is evident to me that 1t must have been some living person. masquerading as l &, for what purpose such disguise could have been assumed, and on this point confess I feel uneasy. What do you say. my friend?'
 T shook my head.
 "I fear that the first suspicious of Boris were correct. replied, and that the enemies of his majesty have re- sumcd their internal schemes
 Both mother and son appeared struck by this view of the circun- stances But Boris was by no means prepared to abandon his belief in the supernatural character of what he had seen.
 Tt may very well be that this was merely first visit added a recon. ! the ground, before introducing some explosive machine or other. and the villain may easily have kept himself out of sight for few minutes. Doubt. less he returned immediately, only you had then left the gallery.
 But there is an easy way of put. ting the matter to the proof. If I am right in my suspicious this creature, whoever he may be, will infailibly re. turn at the same hour another night Tonight, on account of the presence of every body at this ball. will be his most favorable opportunity. as he may con fdently expect to find the imperial suite deserted. l propose to you that We repair to this little room of yours together, at the moment when the page who has replaced you tonight comes of duty. and if this mysterious parsonage again presents himself. will compel him to disclose his identity.
 Boris welcomed this idea. l could , ] hot ha ha ,ad n.