The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1915-09-24


finished packing, the three men re-
turned to the vessel, all OF them look
ing dark-faced and disappointed.
Woodroffe whispered some words to
the baron. after watch 1 went to
Muriers cabin and wished her good
by, and we went ashore. taking the
train first to Cole Salvetti, thence to
Pisa, and afterwards to the beautiful
old city OF Siena, which had so
longed to see. One OF my teeth gave
me pain, and the baron, after a couple
of days at the Hotel de Sienne, took
me to a queer-looking little old Italian
"a dentist who. he said. enjoyed an
excellent reputation. was quick to
notice that the two men had met be-
fore, and as l sat in the chair and gas
was given to me saw them exchange
meaning glances. In few moments
/ became insensible. but when awoke
an hour later I was astounded to feel
a curious soreness in my ears. My
tongue, too, seemed paralyzed, and in
few moments the awful truth
dawned upon me. had been rendered
deaf and dumb!
'The baron pretended TO be greatly
concerned about me-" 1t went on, but
l quickly realized that I had been the
victim OF foul and dastardly plot,
and that he lad conceived 1t. fearing
lest might speak the truth concern
ing the Privy. Councillor Polovstoff,
for OF exposure he lived in constant
fear. To encompass my end would
be against his own interests, as he
would lose my fortune, so he had ST.
fenced me lest should reveal the ter
rible truth concerning both him and
his associates. He was not rich, and
| have reason to believe that from
time to time he gave information as
to persons who possessed valuable
jewels, and thus shared in the plumber
obtained by those on the yacht.
From Italy we travelled on to Ber-
lin, thence to Petersburg, and back to
dreary Helsingfors. journeying as
quickly as we could, yet never allow
ing me opportunity Of being with
strangers. Both my ears and tongue
were very painful, but l said nothing.
He was surely fiend In a black coat,
and my only thought now was how to
escape him. From the moment when
that so-called dentist had ruined my
speech, he kept me aloof from every
one. The fear that / should reveal
everything had apparently grown to
haunt him, and he had conceived that
terrible mode of silencing my lips.
But the true depth of his villainy was
not yet apparent until I was back in
Finland.
ION the night of our arrival he
called in his son, who had travelled
with us from Petersburg, and in
writing again demanded that should
marry him. wrote my reply-a firm
refusal. He struck the table angrily
with his first and wrote saying that
l should either marry his son or die.
Then next day, while walking alone
out beyon the town Of Helsingfors.
as I often used to do, I was arrested
upon the false charge of an attempt
upon the life Of Madame Vakuroff
and transported, without trial, to the
terrible fortress of Kajana, some of
the horrors of which you have your.
self experienced. The charge against
me was necessary before | could be
fncarcerated there, but once within, 1t
was the scheme of the governor-gen.
eral to obtain my consent to the mar.
riage by threats and by the constant
terrors of the place. He even went
so far as to obtain ministerial order
for my Punishment to Saghalien and
brought it to me to Kajana, declaring
that II in one month did not consent
he should allow me to be sent to exile.
While I was in Kajana he knew that
his secret was safe, therefore by every
means in his power he urged me to
consent to the odious union.
"All the rest is known to you-how
Providence directed you to me as my
deliverer. and how Woodroffe followed
you in secret. and pretending to be
my friend, took me with him to Peters
burg. He had learned of my fortune
from the baron, and intended to marry