Grand Rapids Herald-Review Newspaper, December 24, 1898, Page 6

~memar ey ve E THE BLACK TERROR A Romance of Russia. By JOHN K. LEYS. * SELUTEVELUCLUCUSUCEU CESS! CHAPTER Iv. ‘The Blow Falls. Before the Prince left on the follow- ing morning, I saw him, and intimated that if it suited his convenience I would ‘y on the work he had begun—at all events, for the present. He acquiesced, with a nod, and there the mat er enced. In the early winter twilight, the sledge which was to carry the Prince southward drew up at the main en- trance to the castle. Severa sledges, with luggage and.«attendants, had gone on in advance. Nea whole population of the village a bled there to speed their lord on his way. Even the Princess Kropenski was there, looking like a pallid wax doll in the midst of her furs. The Princess Irene was there, erect and graceful as a young poplar, her eyes burning as if she wished that she, too, was going out into the great world, to take a share in the ruling of an empire. The servants were ethere, headed by Nicolaieff, the steward, and a few of the tenants. One of these latter, a great, hulking fellow of thi or thereabouts, had a petition in his hand—I suppose about some matter connected with his farm— and he was waiting for a favorable moment on which to present it. In his opinion, that moment came when the Prince, having made his adieux, was in the act of stepping into the sledge. He knelt on one knee, and, bowing until his forehead almost touched the snow, he held up the petition in his right hand. ‘o doubt the man’s importuni such a moment, annoyed the Pr ising his right foot, kneeling suppliant wi that the man lost his balan bled over headlong on the frozen snow. A loud laugh went up from the little crowd of sycophants, and the Prince, without much as a second glance at the moujik whom he had spurned from him, got into the sledge and drove off. like the wind. For myself, my cheeks flushed with indignation to see a fellow man treated with such contumely. It was the deep, iredical contempt thus displayed for a man of his own flesh and blood that made my gorge rise. In spite of my- self—for I did not wish to add to the moujik’s humiliation by staring at him —I glanced at him to see how he took his repulse. I was prepared to see an angry, flushed face, eyes in which the hot tears were starting—or a black, lowering visage and a mouth mutter- ing curses. I ne more disap- pointed in my 1 polish nile still rested on the simple fellow’ ani he did not so much as take the trouble to brush the muddy snow off lis sheepskin, as he began to discuss with some of his compnnions the mer- its of his rejected petition. Looking up suddenly, I met the eyes of the Princess Irene. She had, no doubt, seen the expression in my face, and I could only guess at her feeling in the matter. Yet she was blushing. Seeing that I was observing her, moved closer to me and said, in a low tone “You ueed not look so shocked. sil Idovna was not hur “I did not suppose he was,” I replied, as I turned awa Had I been speak- ing to anyone el I would have add- ed: “Except in his seul.” ‘The Princess beckoned the moujik to come to her, and, from his peeling down and kissing the hem of her dress when she had done with him, I had no doubt that she had been giving him money, or promising him some favor. “Could any power upon earth turn these poor creatures into men?’ 1 asked myself, as I went back into the castle. “If I am not mistaken, that fellow would gladly consent to feel the application of a man’s boot every morn: ing of his life, if he were to pocket af- terwards as much as the Princess has given him just now. After this, things went on at the cas- ale with a placid monotony, thas but for the Prine Irene would have been to me infinitely w some. In the morning I superintended the labors of stonecutters and sawyers see that all v going on well and that the Prince was getting something, all events, for his money. The mon was little enough, and I someti thought the work was even less. Yor an hour before luncheon, and an- other hour in the afternoon, I v with calculations, indoor toil; and g zi ond visit to the workmen befote night, that I might see how much they had done during the day. The F ss and her daughter dined early while the Prince was away, and it became a habit with them to invite me to help them get through the long winter evening. The elder lady was as much an invalid as ever she had been, but she had a nervous dread of going early to bed. She much prefer- red to sit beside the stove, or the great open fire of pine logs, and listen to ehr daughter's music or play a game of chess with me. She was a bright, cheery old lady in ‘spite of her weak health. For me, as anyone may guess, there ‘was no dreariness, no monotony in the fife I was leading. I was in Paradise. ‘For some time after the departure of the Prince I kept a strict guard over amyself, taking care that I should see sas little of the Princess Irene as possi- ‘ble, and avoid anything like confiden- tial conversation with her. But the ‘temptation of her daily presence, and, above all, of her changed manner, was too much for me; and by the end of the second week I had given up the useless struggle. What if Irene would never be more to me than she was now—what if I had to pay dearly, in ‘the agony of a life-long separation, for ve Ba- 1 other | every minute of the sweet, deceptive dreams that possessed my soul? I could endure it. What I could not en- dure was to keep up the stiffness of the last two months, now when the Princ- ess was willing to treat me, not mere- ly like an ordinary guest, but like a | cousin or an intimate friend. To aban- don my dreams, to stifle them with a forecast of the future, was impossible, when I had the testimony of looks and tones, of friendly chat and and yet more friendly laughter, to persuade me, xgainst my better reason, that some day these dreams might change to a sweet reality. All this time I heard nothing of the Prince, beyond the rews that he was well, or of the relations between him and the people he had been sent to govern. I did not dare to question Irene on the subject; and I doubted ) whether she knew either the character- | isties of her father’s rule, or the result- | ing peril to himself. It was on the 8th of April, a day of ' bright sunshine and springing flowers, when a carriage drove up to the castle at top speed. It had barely stopped when the door was flung open, and a short, pur: man, evidently swelling all over with self-importance, stepped out. Making his way into the hall of the castle, he demanded an audience with the Prince: It turned out that the Princess had one of her headaches that afternoon, and Princess Irene was.ce- puted to act in her place. She sent for me, and said that she would prefer that,I accompany her; so we went to- gether to the room where the govern- ment ofticial was waiting for us. “Who is that gentleman?’ inquired the officer, skarply pointing to me. “Mr. Heath is an Englishman,” ‘re- plied the Princess, flushing slightly as she spoke. “He has been in the habit of acting occasionally as my father’s private secretary, and he is a friend of the family.” “I may speak openly before him, then “Certainly you may.” “Then, Princess, I have one question to ask of you, and when you swered it I shall be ready to yours.” “Tam ready to answer any question ‘ou wish to put,” said Irene, looking ery pale. “When did Sti Petersburg “Return from St. Petersburg?” ech- oed the gi “My father has not come back from St. Petersburg. He has not been here since he left for Volotzka, some months ago.” “Not even in secret?” I do not think it possible that the Prince should have come here without our knowledge.” “Have you or the Princess Kropen- ski any idea where he is? Do you mean that he has gone somewhere without telling the govern- ment?” “The Prince ought to be at his own home in St. Petersburg, but I am sor- ry to say that that is precisely where he is not.” “But—where is he, then? Has he gone back to Volotzka?” “No; that is just what he has not done.” “Where is he, then?” “Your Highness will remensver that I advised— “Sir, I am not a child! swer my question!” “If you will have the truth, then’— and I could see that, with all his show of reluctance, the old fellow was burn- ing to impart his information—‘‘and without admitting anything in my ofli- cial capacity, I may say that the gov- ernment do not know exactly where Prince Kropenski is at the present inoment.”” The Princess turned a bewildered face upon me, and, reading in my face, I fancy, nothing but a grave anxfety, she went on: “Do the government attach azy im- portance to the Prince’s disappear- ance? Do you think it possible that some ill has befallen him?” This time the little man looked uinely unea “If it please Princess,” he stammered. “The truth, sir, if you please,” said the Princ and I started at the und of her voice. It was quite un- e her natural tone. “Well, I dare not conceal from your Highness, any more than I would have dared to conceal from your mother, the Princess Kropenski, that the gov- ernment entertain some sentiments of arm for the safety of the Prince. he malignity of the enemies of the government is great—and, in short, we are a little anxious about him. We thought it possible that he might have come down secretly, and I was sent to inquire.” “They think it possible that he may have been—murdered?” “Princess, everything is possible, But we must not jump to conclusions.” For a‘moment I thought the Princess was going to faint, but she mastered herself, and said, sharply: Vhat do the government propose to ve an- swer he Prince return from Please an- i it “The government? There is not much they ean do. They have made inquiries.” “Which have come to nothing .The official bowed. “And you mean to tell me that this neble, this head of one of the oldest families in the land, a general of the army, the governor. of a province, has disappeared, and left no trace, as if he had been a dog or a cat?” The police official sighed, turned up his eyes, met those of the Princess fixed on him, and immediately dropped them again. “Tell me how it happened,” said the Princess, and her voice was scarcely | louder than a whisper. . ye “It did not happen—nothing hap- | pened,” said the visitor, speaking in an aggrieved tone, for he felt that he haf been unfairly used. “One morning the Prince’s valet went to call him, and found that he was not in his room. The bed had not been slept in, though the Prince retired, as usual, the night before. That is all. He has not been seen since. His Highness must have ieft the house during the night, but for what object we cannot guess, and what can have become of him we haye no means of knowing.” “That is true,” said the Princess, in a gentler tone than she had yet used. “I am sure that the police have done all that was in the power of man to do. And my thanks—my mother’s thanks, I ought to say—are due to you, sir for undertaking the journey to Lovna.” She rang the bell, and I, having as- certained that refreshments were wait- ing for the visitor in another room, she begged him to go and get something to eat. No sooner was the official's back turned, than the Princess threw her- self into a chair, and covered her face with her hands and cried. “I will go to St. Petersburg!” she said, suddenly, controlling her tears. “y ny be able to learn something theso. It is plain that nothing can be done here!” Princess,” I said, taking her hand. “Your place is here, as your mother’s, the Princess’ comforter. Think what she would feel at being left alone with the servants! Besides, is a man’s work. I will go to St. CHAPTER V. What I Learned in St. Petersbarg. There was little wonder that I slept none that night. It was not merely that I felt that I had come to the be- ginning of a fresh stage in my life journey, one that would probably af- ford some new and strang eexperi- ences. My heart throbbed every time that I recalled a look I had seen on the Princess Irene’s face. Surely that look would not have been given to ev one! Surely it would not have been given to anyone but me! Surely she must know—surely she was thinking then—that it was for her sake that I was anxious to unravel the mystery of | the Prince’s disappearance, often as these thoughts would my mind I would call myself dolt, conceited ass, and repeat to myself that I was only performing an ious duty—that I w running no k, and that the task I had under- n, even if it should be successful, 1 recognition, no ex- Saordinary gratitude. That might be wue enough; but it was possible to kk at the matter from another point ot view. Is there any wonder that T was weak enough to indulge in dreams as fair as they were fleeting? Long before dawn next day I left the castle. To my surprise and delight Irene came down in time to see me off. She had, indeed, an excellent reason for seeing me—one that I had most un- accountably forgotten. She had s the night before to write letters, 3 ther had signed that morning— ker lette to the house steward of the Prine house at St. Petersburg; to the Prince’s bankers, authorizing me to draw such sums as I might require; and one to the chief of police, inform- ing that I had undertaken the s: after the Prince in behalf of the fami- ly, and begging him to give meill the ‘e he could. These letters Princess Irene gave me with her own hand; and—unless I grossly deceived myself—there shone for an instant in those clear eyes the look that liad set my heart beating so wildly the night before. On account of the state of the roads. it tcok me three days to reach the cap- ital. I found that the steward at Lov- na house—as the Prince’s town dence was called—was a grave, elderly mean, narrow-minded and stupid, per- haps, but palpably honest—the last man in the world to mix himself up with conspirators. I really felt relieved when I scanned the old man’s face, and found it free from those signs of secretiveness and obsequiousness which are to be seen so often in the faces of Russian servants. I saw that Ivan Ivanovitch was a man to be trusted, and I told him so, fray ly, thereby winning his confidence. ‘As soon as I had eaten something, I sent for Ivanovitch, and making him down opposite me, I began to ques- tion him as to the circumstances of the Prince’s disappearance. “In the first place,” sa the Prince arrive from Volotzk: Tvan counted on his fingers and and answered, “On the 26th of March.” “And when did you see him last?” “phe last time I saw my poor mas- ter was on the night between the 29th and 30th of March.” is “Then he has been gone about a fortnight?” I exclaimed. “A fortnight to-morrow night, sir.” “Why did you not writ eat once to the Princess?” The old man shufiled in his seat. “TI eculd uot tell that His Highness had not gone away somewhere -of his own accord,” he said; “and if so, he might have been very angry with me, when he returned, for interfering in his. af- fairs. I spoke to the police about it: and I was told that the Princess could do no good, that I should only be caus- ing her anxiety by writing, and that they would inform Her Highness when they thought it necessary.” ‘The explanation was, in the circum- stances, reasonable enough, and I went on with my questions. “Now we come to the evening of the 29th,” I said. “Did the Prince dine at home that evening?” “He did, sir.” “Alone?” “Quite alone.” “Did he seem to health and spirits?” “I think so. I did not notice any- thing remarkable about him.” “He-did not appea troubled or worried? “No; not at all.” “what did he do after dinner?” “He went to the library, smoked a cigar, and looked over some newspa- pers. Then he went to his. dressing room for a short time, and then he went to the ball at the French Ambas- sadar’s.” i 1 I, “when did at be in his usual a to be anxious, | “In his own carriage, of course. Who drove him?” “Alexander Romoyiteh, You can see him if you wish.” “I will, presently, man, I suppose?” “Yes. Nicholas Kousnetski.” “Very good.- When did the Prince return?” “His Highness returned between 2 and 8 jn the morning. Jules Ramaud, his valet, was ill in bed, and he begged me to attend the Prince that night in- stead of him. I saw the Prince come in.” “Did you speak to him?” “I did, sir. I asked His Highness if he would have anything. He shook his head, but a little later went to the buf- fet in the dining room, and helped him- self to a glass of something—I think it was brandy. He generally took a glass of spirits the last thing before going to bed.” “And then?” “Then“the Prince threw off his cloak and went up stairs to his bed room.” “You saw him enter his room?” “I did, sir—that is to say, I did not absolutely see him enter the door; but I saw him go up stairs, and followed him up. I heard his footsteps before me the whole way, and I heard the coor shut and locked behind him.” “You are sure that he locked the door?” “I am certain of that, sir. It was his Highness’ custom always to lock his bed room door at night.” “Is there any other door to the room besides the one the Prince we by?” “There is no other door.” “You heard no suspicious sounds during the night?’ “None whatever.” “Who called the Prince in the morn- in; ‘There was a foot- did, as Jules was still suffering greatly. I rapped several times, but there was no answer. Then I tried to open the door, but it was locked.” “Locked ?” 6 “Yes, sir. And then, after knocking several times, very loudly, I sent for the police and a carpenter. I knew there was no use sending for a lock sinith, for the Prince had had a special lock by a firm of famous makers put on his room door the last time he was in St. Petersburg, and I knew that no picklock would open the door. The po- lice were in the house almost at once, but we had to wait half an hour for the carpenter. When he came, he burst open the door, and the police en- tered the room first. I followed close behind them. I expected to see the dead bedy-of my master on the bed, or lying on the floor. But the room was quite empty. He was not there.” “And the window “The window—they are double, you know—was bolted, both the outer and the inner ones. Besides, they are near- ly twenty feet from the ground.” “I should like to see the room, ia I; and Ivanovitch took me up stzirs. it was a large apartment, luxuriously furnished. The key was in the lock of the door, which had been renaired. 1 examined the/key; it was ef peculiar trong. the key found?” I in- quid. “Ivanovitch lowered his voice as he answered: “That's the angest part ef the whole business, sir, The key found there!” and he pointed to a! spot on the floor near the foot of the rds from the door. “the bed, about two y. ‘ound ther I exclaimed: thing is impossible! When the Pr had left the room and locked the behind him, how could he come b to drop the y there without unlock- ing the doo “Lyanovitch slowly shook his head. “I declare to you, sir,” he said, “it really seemed as if my unfortunate master had’ been carried off by Sa- tan, for The honest man seemed to remember suddenly that this solution of the mystery wag not complimentary to the Prince. He stopped himself, and I saw him furtively making the sign of the cross with his thumb. “Who found the key there?” I asked. “One of the géndarmes.” “I see how it was done!” I exclaimed. “After the Prince left the room, in the middle of the night, he locked the door behind him, and then sent the key fiy- ing under the door. It would slide along the polished floor as far a thi easily—though what reason the Prin can have had for acting in such a way is more than I can conceive. I will see if I can’t make the key slide as far inyself.’ 6 Suiting the action to the word, 1 went out of the bed room, leaving the steward inside, closed the door and, Hending down to the floor, tried to p the key under the door. To my amaz ment, it would not go under the coor at all! It was too thick. I tried it at every point, but the thing was clearly impossible. I stood with the key in my hand, stupefied with astonishment. For the moment I could almost believe that me supernatural agency had been at work. Pulling myself together, I opened the door and called out to Ivanoviteh: “It seems that my explanation was wrong. It is impossible to push the key under the door.” I went down stairs, leaving lim to follow me. “There must have been a second key to that decor,” I said, when we had set- tled ourselves in our former places “J think that is hardly possible, sir, said Ivanovitch, shaking his gray head, “and I will teil you why. Some time ago there was a burglary here, when the Prince was in the house. The burglars were scared away, but they were not caught, and the Prince said openly that their real object was to murder him. If it had been only robbery that they intended, he said, they would have waited until he was out of the way.” (To Be Continued.) pap Re Tate: Base Ingratitude. “Some men are ungrateful wretch ” “cwhy?” “When I was passing old Rocking- ham’s packing house the other night, I saw that it was on fire, so I broke in- to the office, called him up by tele- phone, and told him about it.” “Well?” “Well, he called me all kinds of lard names for not ringing in a fire alarm instead of wasting time talking to him.”—Chicago News. HEAR the winds that sweep the moor, I know the waves are high, And far above the stormy coast doth bend an inky \ sky; ‘ ) I’m waiting still to WY = sgreet my boy who promised he would come I’ve longed and waited many years, I’ve watched the speechless sea, But somewhere in the distance sails the Seagull far from me; Each Christmastide I set his chair be- fore the chestnut fire, And wait for footsteps at the door to bring me my desire. The rose has faded on the mead, and winter crowns the wold, And in the village Christmas bells ring out the story old, But dear to all the world, how in the soft and scented hay, In Judah’s land beloved by all, gentle Christ-child lay. the I stir the fire and wait for Joe, for something unexpressed Tells me that I shall feel again hand so often blessed, That from the tropics far away, or from the lands of snow The missing ship will bring the boy who left me long ago. the The gulls are screaming where the waves in fury lash the shore, And Christmas finds me all alone with sorrow at my door, Yet in my heart there blooms a flow’r both delicate and fair— The rope of Hope which angel hands have sweetly planted there. Was that the storm king at my door? Or did I hear a hand? | Who comes to wish me well today o’er snowy sea and land? This Christmas I would wait alone within my little home For Joe, who told me with a kiss that some day he would come. It was a knock, I ope the door. What stranger guest is this?, Unlike the tall and gaflant youth whose cherished voice I miss. What! back at last? it cannot be, yet ‘tis his smile, I know, And Christmas brings my darling home despite the swirling snow. | Aye, thro’ the tempest and the sea he comes to keep his word, And now I know that far above the widow’s prayer was heard; There steals into my little room a light like that which fell Upon the plains of Bethlehem when watched the shepherds well. I place him at the table and I look in- to his face, The while the village bells ring out their hymns of peace and grace; And Joe gives back the same old smile so full of love and joy, The smile that made me happy when he was a little boy. I read of Christmastides within the palaces of old, Where kings and princes merry make beneath a cloth of gold; But I would rather sit today within our little home, And bless the God who brought me Joe across the crested foam. —T. C. Harbaugh. Joy and Expense. “Uncle Theodore, what is the Christ- mas spirit?” “Tt is that genial joy you feel when you discover that you have money enough to go round.” ‘ Meteorological Conditions. “What is a green Christmas, sister Madge?” “A green Christmas? Why, it is the time when a girl gets nine bunches ef holly and only one box of candy.” Effective. ‘Byer try electricity for your rheu- \ diferent matism, Uncle Josh?” “Should say I did. I was struck by lightnin’ two times an’ my rheumatiz seemed to thrive under it.”—Ex, THE HOPE OF THE CONTINENT. Western Canada the “Bread Basket of , the Empire.” « _ The attention directed to the wheat fields of western Canada during the past year has caused thousands of set- tlers from different parts of the Unit- ed States to make their homes there during the past few months. They re- pert that their experience corroborates what had been told them of that won- derful country, and they are sending back to their friends most favorable ® reports. During the past summer @ number of Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota editors visited western Can- ada, and the following extracts are from a very flattering letter written for the Germania of Milwaukee by its able contributor, Prof. Sheridan: “The numerous elevators along the line, towering so far above the sur- rounding country that they may He ‘seen for many miles distant, sufficient- ly indicate that the chief industry is the growing of wheat. At the village of Indian Head more than a million bushels of wheat were marketed last year. This was but a fraction of the amount of the same product marketed at the larger cities of Brandon and Re- gina. At Indian Head the representa- tive of the Germania was told by a farmer. that he was about to harvest his third crop of wheat from the farm upon one ploughing given it the fall of 1895, the crops of the current year and of last year having been sown upon the stubble of the preceding crop. This farmer expected a yield of not less than forty bushels to the acre. The farms are very large. The absence of hills and rocks contributes to making farming on a large scale an easy mat- ter. There was an abundance of evi- dence that the country surrounding the cities named above is an extensive re- gion of fertile lands, furnishing as great an opportunity for cattle-raising and dairying as for the growing of wheat.” “We-were surprised to find here a rich growth of nearly every species of cultivable plant known in Wisconsin. Various species of trees were growing, showing that its soil and its climate are favorable to the growth of forests. The writer had never seen a more promising growth of wheat, oats, and garden vegetables than was observed here. The experimental farm of Wis- consin, located at Madison, produces nothing better.” “The people along the line of the railroad, however, assured us that we were still far distant from the north- ern limit of the wheat-growing belt, and that five hundred miles farther north wheat and other agricultural products were cultivated with success. The inhabitants do not depend solely upon the growing of wheat, but utilize vast acres in raising cattle., The grow- ing grain, and vegetables showed that a plentiful supply of rain had fallen during the current year.” “From this city (Calgary) our party was taken north 200 miles to Edmon- ton, a town of 5,000 people situated on the north Saskatchewan river. The country at this point is beautiful, pre- senting very much the appearance of many sections in central and southern Wisconsin. The people are engaged in mining for gold, and in raising wheat, potatoes and cattle; dairying is also followed. This valley seems to be fa- yored with sufficient rainfall to pro- duce a luxuriant growth of grain and vegetables. The soil is very fertile and timber is abundant. Fields of wheat were observed that promise a yield of forty bushels per acre. The many good farmhouses seen from the railway are evidence of the prosperity of the settlers. Edmonton is the ter- minus of the road and the place where the overland expeditions start from for the Yukon, it being about 800 miles from Dawson City.” “The members of the association made the aequaintance of the Cana- dians of the Northwest and learned something of the vast extent of their territory and of its great resources, which are destined to make it our most formidable commercial competitor in the world’s markets for the sale of ag- rieultural products. We learned that the Northwest Territory of Canada, in- stead of being a barren waste, as taught by our geographies of a quarter of a century ago, is capable of sustain- ing an empire of fifty millions ot peo- ple.” tor further information apply to Canadian Government Agent, Depart- ment Interior, Ottawa, Canada, or residents-of Minnesota address Ben Da- vies, 154 East Third St., St. Paul, and residents of Wisconsin address T, QO. Currie, Stevens Point, Wis. Read the Advertisements. You will enjoy this publication much better if you will get into the habit of reading the advertisements; they will afford a most amusing study, and, will put you in the way of getting some excellent bargains. Cur advertisers are reliable; they send what they adver- Nearlygall of the new freight equip- ment ordered by Receivers Cowen and Murray, of the Baltimore & Ohio vrail- road, during the past few months, will be delivered by Jan. 15. 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