The Green Forest tribune., 1915-11-12

turned to the vessel, all of them look Ing dark-faced and disappointed
 Woodfoffe whispered some words to the baron, after which went to Murle!s cabin and wished her good by, and we went ashore, taking the train first to Colle Salvetti, thence to Pisa, and afterwards to the beautiful old city of Siena, which I had so longed to see, One of my teeth gave me pair, and the baron, after a couple of days at the Hotel de Sienne, took me tG queer-looking little old Italian "a dentist who, he said, enjoyed an exec ient reputation l was quick to notica that the two men had met be- fore, and as l sat in the chair and gas was given to me l saw them exchange meaning glances. In 8 few moments l became insensibIe. but when I awoke an hour later I was astounded to feel curious soreness in my ears. My tonsae tco seemed paralyzed, and in feW moments the awful truth dawEed upon me. had been rendered deaf and dumb!
 The baron pretended to be greatly concerned about me-" 1t went on, but I quickly realized that I hau been the victim of a foul and dastardly plot, and that he had conceived it, 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 sl fenced me lest should reveal the ter rible truth concerning both him and his associates. He was not rich, and l have reason to believe that from time to time he gave information as to persons who possessed valuable jewels, and thus shared in the plunder obtained by those on the yacht.
 Prom Italy we travelled on to Der 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 1 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 hearing and deprived me of power of speech, he kept me aloof from every one. The fear that I 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
 "On the night of our arrival he called in his son, who had traveled with us from Petersburg, and 1T writing again demanded that I should marry him. I wrote my reply-a firm refusal. He struck the table angrily with his first and wrote saying that I should either marry his son or die Then next day, while walking alone out beyond the town of Helsingfors as I often used to do, I was arrested Hsssu the false charge of an attemp upon the life of Madame Vakurof and transported, without trial to tn, terrible fortress of Kajana, some 0 the horrors of which you have your self experienced. The charge agains me was necessary before I could b. fncarcerated there, but once within, i was the scheme of the governor-gen Lfoi fn hn r riage by threats and by the constan terrors of the place. He even wen so far as to obtain ministerial orde for my banishment to Saghalien ant brought it to me to Kajana. declaring that if in one month did not consen he should allow me to be sent to exile While I was in Kaiana he knew tha his secret was safe, therefore by ever. means in his power he urged me t, consent to the odious union.
 "All the rest is known to you-hov Providence directed you to me as m. deliverer, and how Woodroffe followed you in secret, and pretending to b. my friend, took me with him to Peters burg. He had learned Of my fortun' from the baron, and intended to marr. me himself. But now that. all is ove it appears to me like some terribl dream I never believed that so mucl iniquity existed in the world, or tha men could fight a defenseless woman with such double-dealing and cruel in genuity. An! the tortures l endured in Kajana are beyond human concer tion. Yet surely Oberg and Wood roffe will obtain their well-merited de serts--if not in this world, then in tn world to come Are we not taught b, Holy Writ to forgive our enemies Therefore, let us forgive"
 
 There my silent loves strange stor ended. A bald. straightforward narra tive that held us all for some moment absolutely speechless-one of tn strangest and most startling storie ever revealed
 She watched every expression c my countenance, and then. whi~h I ha finished reading and placed my arr tenderly about her slim waist, sh raised her beautiful face to mine to re ceive the passionate kiss I imprinte