Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1915-05-21

sNGSSV SNaH FoFD0G tne nFilly InS
oVercame Me {
out OF sight for a. 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 am
right In my suspicious this creature,
whoever he may be, will infallibly re-
turn at the same hour another night.
Tonight, on account OF the presence OF
everybody at this ball, will be his most
favorable opportunity, as he may con-
fidently expect to find the imperial
suite deserted. 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 off duty, and II this mysterious
parsonage again presents himself, /
VIII compel him to disclose his
identity.
Boris welcomed this idea. could
see that he was secretly ashamed Of
the ridicule which attached to him for
his story of ghost-seeing, and that he
was anxious to re-establish his char
acter. The princess was good enough
to express her opinion OF my courage
and devotion in terms which 1t would
not become me to repeat to you. In
the end we arrived at an understand
ing, and departed to the palace to-
gether.
Throughout the progress of the ball
during which. the Grand Duchess
Olga condescended to become my part
ner in waltz kept my eyes and
ears open, and observed that Boris
adventure Of the night before was a
general topic Of conversation. The
more highly-placed officials were evil
IDENTIFY In a conspiracy to treat 1t as
a mere boyish delusion, but among the
general body of the guests / found
there were not few who shared my
suspicious. ventured to approach the
tsar'a confidential chamberlain at an
interval between the dances, and to
sound him delicately on the, subject
His reply was characteristic Of his ma
ton and government.
My dear baron he said sharply,
there Is nothing so detestable as court
gossip. 1t is most annoying to his
majesty to have his late fathers name
connected with the wanderings of a
moon-struck boy. Take my advice,
and dismiss the affair from your
mind
"His manner convinced me that
more Importance was attached to the
incident than he pretended. However,
feigned to be perfectly satisfied, and
returned to the grand duchess, who
was anxious to know whether her robe
would have been approved in Paris
But the hour agreed on for the rendez-
vous was approaching. and l had to
make the best excuse / could think of
to tear myself away from the imperial
lady.
Boris met me. as we had arranged,
in a small passage leading out of the
anteroom, and we made our way unob.
served up back staircase into the ia.
nous haunted gallery. The page on
duty was juet leaving as we arrived
Il had come armed with my re-
volver, which had loaded carefully
with my own hands. took advantage
of the interval, while we were waiting
for the approach of the apparition, to
make my companion provide himself
with similar weapon out of the pages
room. Lest our presence in the gal
lery should serve as a warning to the
mysterious visitor, and prevent his ap-
proach, we concealed ourselves in this
room, which was plunged In profound
darkness.
"Half an hour passed in this way,
without anything occurring. | began
to grow impatient, and to accuse Boris
in my own mind of having invented
some fable. But when limited this to
him he became SO indignant that was
compelled, in spite of myself. to be-
lieye that the boy had really some
grounds for his story.
AT last, tired of this useless per-
Torrance, | rose from my seat and
moved cautiously out into the gallery.
l glanced up and down It without per
ceiying anything in the least resemb-
ling the figure of the previous night.
All at once, however, did see some
thing which caused my heart to give
great bound Looking at the far end
OF the gallery. where the deserted
apartments of wiicn Boris had told
me were situated. distinctly per
ceived faint glow OF light along the
floor.
"Instantiy / turned to the threshold
of the room In which ] had left the
young prince. and beckoned to him to
come out into the gallery. He saw by
my manner that had made some Inn
portant discovery. and obeyed my ges-
ture with shaking limbs. No sooner
had be emerged from the doorway.
and followed with his eyes the direc-