The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-02-04
By niodor 1.-THE mad Monk'')
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CHAPTER III.
(continued from Last Sunday

8Contfnued from Last sunday
t by weekly Rights
r asst week explained how my influence in the
imperial palace of the Gar suddenly upset
by the most tragic and fateful chance meeting
in hstory-when the worried and impressionable
Czarina met the Holy Man" Gregory Rasputin AS
they both knet at prayer in the early morning hours
in the Kazon Cathedral in old st. Petersburg.
When the secret police Of tire Car. had finally
searched out and found the filthy pilgrim, and had
brought him to the palace the Czarna recalled the
circumstance of hearing Rasputin pray that the Gear
should be given son and heir and said with trem-
bling lips:
ooh, Holy Father, can you tell me-will i have a
SOM"
'The Heavenly Father has never denied me. For
those who walk in the paths of recttude and follow
my guidance my prayers have never failed of fulfill
ment," Rasputin replied with solemnity.
The dirty, illiterate wretch was led to the Cars
private study and the Emperor and his wife begged
him to give up his wanderngs as pilgrim and &C.
cept room in the palace With much mock reluct-
the promised to consider the request, and
the Gar and his wife waited in trembling anxiety
until, next day, Rasputin announced that nothing
could be accomplished unless the Car and his wife
gave themselves over wholly to his guidance in all
matters-and if they did this then he would consent
to remain in the palace and with prayerful commun-
ion each day with God he could make certain that
the next child would be boy.
In due time Rasputin had the good luck to see
his promise fulfilled for surely enough, the child was
boy.
The main anxiety of the imperial couple had
been relieved and, of course, there was no longer
any why Rasputn should be retained In the
palace.
The pilgrim quick to realize this, and he
lost no time in making it plain to the Car and his
wife that the health and future destiny of the heir
to the throne in Rasputin's hands. So long as
the Gear and the Czarna walked in the path marked
out by Rasputin, God would that the little
prospered he told them.
And thus it about that Rasputin made
of the unfortunate infant to maintain his grip upon
the imperial household, and when from time to time,
the powerful forces opposing him seemed to be gain
ing ascendancy, the scoundrel caused the poor child
to become ill., and in frenzy of anxiety he sent
for to restore the little one to health
This campaign Of Rasputins knew no bounds,
and spared neither the health nor stopped at
pretended attempts upon the life of the little Care
witch. OF at least two Of these attempts am quite
familiar.
One of these the pretended poisoning of the
young heir with infected needles placed in the mat
tress of his bed. This happened at the Winter Pal
ace, in Petrograd. The other the abduction of
little Alexis from the grounds of the palace at Tsar
skoe-Seloe He kidnapped and held for several
days. while Russia thoroughly combed for news of
the child. Then he was suddenly found and re-
turned, but only after the Czarna his mother, had
recalled Rasputin the "holy saint" to help find the
heir
Gregory Rasputin, counsellor and priest of the
Czarina. the author of both plots. He made
these two attacks upon the little Czarevitch to