The Washington herald., 1915-10-03

he had saved, but gift in the shape
of casket containing jewels of fab
ulous value. He took something else
back with him as we'll, and the jewels
were bestowed because of that Hav-
ing fallen in love with Mile. Olga
Bashkirtoff, niece of the court ply
sician, he married the lady-whom
the Gar elevated to the rank of
countess in honor of the union-and
| returned to his native land a con-
queror in more senses than one. One
year later, however, his name was
associated not with pomp and glory,
but with Grape and mourning His
| wife of twelvemonth had given him
| an heir and laid down her own life as
the price of that gift.
1T cannot be said, believe, Lady
Rivington, that the marriage was a
! happy one. Indeed, she had made
herself so distinctly unpopular that
Sir Maurice was obliged to retire
from public life to escape the friction
which her temper and her .tactless-
ness continually produced. After her
death, however, he returned to the
field of politics; again became fig
ure' in diplomatic circles. and, final
ly, at the end of three years married
a quite unknown and penniless girl
who was filling the post of nursery
governess to the children of one OF
his political colleagues. History re-
peats itself ever. This lady, too, was
a Russian; her name, Mile. Vera
| Strogoff She was an orphan with
out a relative in the world or a far
thing to bless herself; but what she
lacked in money she made up for IN
the dover OF loveliness, being Ger
tainly one of the most beautiful girls
in existence, and with an air that
seemed to belle her humble origin.
Evidently, the match was one made
in heaven; of true love on both sides,
and OF complete unity. for the lady
has not only proved to be a devoted
stepmother to Sir Mauricc's little son
and heir, but loving, loyal. and most
exemplary wife. That, your ladyship,
is all l know OF Sir Maurice Riving-
tons affairs"
And oh, what blessing if It were
al! there is to tell" replied Sir Maui
rice Rivington's mother. pressing her
hands together and squeezing them
hard. But it is not, Mr.. Cleek-it
is not" A tremor shook her and
her voice trailed of. She set her lips
together as if in the effort to repress
her feelings, and to regain the mas
terry of herself.
But we know-my nephew, Mr..
Valentine Charlock, and l. we know!
Dear heaven, yes! That is what
brings me to London in this secret
manner-that is what has sent me to
you! Mr.. Cleek. listen: | did not
approve OF this second marriage any
more than l approved of the first. In
the beginning, l did not like Vera,
Lady Riving.on-I did not like her
| at all. But. I am mother; l am
! grandmother-my boy and my boys
boy are dear to me; and when l saw
how happy she made the one, how
tender and how thoughtful she was
of the other, l forgot the old dislike,
| | buried the old resentment and l
grew almost to love her. | should
have loved her in time but that l
! found out the truth. 1t was his posi-
ton, his wealth that attracted her.
There is another that she cares for
more than for him-another mani
and she is killing my son just as
know that she has killed his heir"
Killed his what? Ny dear Lady
Rivington, what are you SAYING -,
''Nothing but the truth, Mr.: Cleek, y
she made answer. There is to be
another child at last-her child. She
wants no other child to inherit
means that no other shall inherit:
That is why little Eric had to go
that is why little Eric did go! 1t was
| she who wanted him put in the lilac
room: If was she who never rested un-
til he was put in the lilac room! II
Valentine and l had not seen other
things that leave no doubt-no room
| for doubt-we should know because
of that. The boy has not been kid
napped-it is madness for my son to
believe that he has. They have killed
him, tell you-that woman and her
lover have killed him"
Cleek rose to his feet, his lips
drawn inward, his eyes narrowed, his
brows in knot.
MY dear Lady Rivington, he
I said in short, crisp tones, let me
have this thing plainly. please. Am
| to understand that Sir Maurlces
little son has disappeared!
Yes. Three nights ago. He was
put in the lilac room to sleep by her
! orders-his stepmother's orders-put
| in there alone; without nurse or gov
erness to watch over him-and when
they came to bathe and dress him IN
the morning, the window was found
| open, the bed tumbled and the child
gone" -,
Good heavens! But why was this
not made known to the police: Why
have the newspapers said nothing
about it, Why has Scotland Yard
been kept in the dark"
"Sir Maurice would not allow any
report of the affair to be given to
ANYBODY. He believes what she tells
him-that woman he has married.
| And what does she tell him!
THAT it is the work OF the Italian
| Maha; that a man broke into her own
room that night-two men, IN tact;
that they woke her and told her at
the point Of the pistol she would be
killed instantly if she made any out
cry or did an ything but remain per-
| fectly still and listen to what they
said. Then, she says, they. told her
that the child had been kidnapped;
and that it would be held for ransom;
that, when they had it safely housed
and were ready to treat with Sir Mau.
rice for its restoration, they would
! make known to him the terms and
the time, but that if any word were