Year: 1877

In one of the splendid palaces of the
Russian capital, fair young girl threw
herself upon the crimson cushions OF
the divan 10 the embrasure of large
window Alarm and anxiety were de-
picted on her features, and she con
stanlly clasped and unclasped her hands,
and nervously arose and looked out into
the street, and then reseated herself, as
if awaiting some painful intelligence -
1t was the fair young Natalie Radetski,
the beauty of the Russian court, upon
whom nature had showered every gift,
and for whom even the stern features
of the emperor would relax into smile
as be looked upon her beauty and grace.
Hastily the door opened, and a young
man advanced toward her.


II am to bid you farewell, Natalie, 4"
be said, in voice broken by emotion.


"Oh, Alexis what is it 2" cried the
girl


II have displeased the emperor, and
be has ordered my arrest"


1.-The emperor will pardon you-I
will go to him He will not refuse me.
He has always beer kind to me-"


Alas. my Natalie, he will refuse
you this The emperor believes me
concerned in conspiracy, and be never
'forgives. | am innocent, but he will not
believe it l know not what is to be
done with me. but if am sent to ST.
beria-"


ITO Siberia! Oh. Alexis : it can
not be-it.cannot be r'


For a moment neither spoke. At
length. with a powerful effort at self
control, the young man continued -


Natalie, let me place upon your
finger this ring, and promise me that
you will wear it always in memory Of
what NY love has been to you. The
emperor will force you to marry. dc
not wish the thought of me to make
you wretched."


He placed upon her finger a ring, in
which was single emerald Of great
brilliancy.


do not take it off nor read the in
scription until you hear certainly that l
have been banished," !" he said A shiver
of horror ran through her frame, but be
went on firmly "Then read it; it will
comfort you, Now l must go. The
emperor allowed me this interview, and
the guards are awaiting me-"


He clasped her convulsively to his
breast, kissed her brow and lips, and
laying her gently upon the divan, pass
ed out In the street the guards await
ed him.


The words of her lover did not deter
Natalie from attempting to save him.
She sent petition to the emperor, i'm
ploring an interview, but it was denied
her She waylaid the empress


My poor child. said the empress,
kindly, would gladly take you to the
even at the fisk of incurring
bis displeasure but it is too late
Alexis PotemkiBhas been sent to Sibe,
ria for the rest Of bis life"


Natalie heard her not.


Lift her up, said the empress she
must have tainted :"


But Natalie had not tainted Slowly, |
but resolutely, she rose, and making a
gesture of respectful submission to The
she begged leave to retire


When Natalie reached her own apart
nent, she drew from her finger the ring
that Alexis had put on it, and read the
inscription carved upon the inside in
French Death is the only consoler
We shall meet in Heaven %


There is no place more dreary, more
terrible, than the mines Of Siberia -
Among the condemned in large quick
silver mine in the centre Of the coun-
ry, stopped at his daily toll form
whose tall and noble proportions even
lis course habit scarcely shrouded His
delicate frame. unused to the rigor Of
IN Arctic climate, soon yielded to the
lnhealthiness Of bis occupation, and he
vas fast sinking under his trials. Yes,
leath would come-and his heart leap
ID with joy


The struggle was not long A few
lays of confinement to a hard pallet, a
ew nights Of suffering, and that fat,
which even an imperial decree could
lot stop, went forth The victim was
rec


Three months after this, the grand
chamberlain of Russia presented him
elf before Mile Radetski, and sum-