Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-06-23
.mAsrrTIN NOT rnEsENT, 4
ATlTHE GRAND DAI.I

MI went along az scheduled. The
aHair "as one of the successes of the
srcYon. There were more jewels worn
Oh this occasion than had ever before
h""n seen At similar affair. and il
promised that the grand duchess had
promoted the most successful social
gathering Of the season.
Some one discovered that the most
powerful person In the domain was
absent. Then some one else discovered
that they knew just where the Holy
One could be reached.
An automobile was sent to a certain
address In certain street. where GER
tain people in the know-ail class knew
that Rasputin held court when not
otherwise engaged. The chauffeur mad
no difficulty In finding the place, but
he arrived at tho very heigh, OF the
ORGY. The man 10 whom all Russia
looked TO the Savior Himself was
hopelessly bcmuddled with drink. He
had forgotten all about the grand
duchess's affair. and it took consider
able persuasion on the part OF the
chauffeur to make him understand. II
was only after Rasputin had been
doused with several pals Of ice-colC
water that nc could be made to under
stand that he was wanted by the grand
duchess. He was still flushed with
the wines he had consumed when he
arrived.
His dazed condition was attributed
10 the fact that he had been com
muninG with the departed saints, as
would be the wont Of such holy
person as was Rasputin.
For many months he had cast long
ing eyes on Vera, who Is the Russian
personification of all that is beautiful.
Vera loathed his very presence. She
had shown him in many ways how
much she dctcsted him. but he had
been rcbuffcd by many others in 4
higher station in life than her own. bu,
always they had fallen under his hyp-
motto eyes. SO he waited like cat
waits for mouse. After the enter
;ainment, when the guests were sep
arated into pairs. Vera was left for a
moment alone. The Holy One had been
waiting for this very moment. Mile
Smirnova still believes ii was all pre-
arranged. Rasputin asked her to come
with him to the conservatory.
Unwilling to offend her hostess in
her own home. she followed. Then
there cnsued struggle between hyp-
notism and the wits of n strong woman.
All seemed to go i'm favor OF the Holy
One aud lie was already sloatinS over
another victim To be added to his scores
when Mile. S,nirnova broke the hypnotic
spell. Angercd beyond control by her
narrow escape. forgetting her surround
ings and the powerful parsonage she
was facing. she grasped Rasputin by
his flowing beard and rained blows
upon blows on him until he pleaded
i'ith her to cease 1t was only when
she was utterly exhausted, however.
that she did SO. Rasputins face was
marked almost beyond recognition
when he finally stumbled out of the
conservatory. When asked how he
came to be marked as he was. he ex-
planned that he had just been wrestling
with some evil spirits who were con-
trolling a poor girl.
Prince Yousoupov, the daring young
man whose name will &c down In his
tory az the one man who freed Rus
ala from the ruse OF Rasputianism, wa .
one Of the intimate friends Of Mile
Smirnova. His wife. the Princess Irene,
who had cxperieuced a similar affair
with the Holy One. was her closest
CONTINUED on Seventh Page.)