Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 58, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 March 1914 — CHAPTER XVII. [ARTICLE]

CHAPTER XVII.

The Fifteenth of July. July 15, the marriage day of Astra and Napoleon, had been declared a continental holiday. Prom near and far came congratulations. They had not planned a gorgeous ceremony, but they could not stop the expressions of love that came from the loyal citizens. The whole capital was alive with color, and the messages that came and the sincere joy of all, made the day one to be remembered for years to come. Astra had missed Rositta very much. She had been unable to attend the wedding, as she had been ill on the Island of Ciryne for the last few weeks. When Napoleon heard that the countess was unable to attend their wedding on account of her indisposition, he thoughtfully shook his head. It seemed incredible that Rositta, who was so full of vitality and energy, should be ill. He only said: ‘‘Every illness has a remedy.’* fee did not give the matter further thought. He spent the last day before his marriage In his aerodromone, the American Eagle. Where he was, or what he did, no one seemed to know, and he'did not volunteer the information. y? After their wedding luncheon Astra returned to her presidential office, as there were things that she wanted to attend to personally. Especially the criminal case of Nikolay Mozrak. The Criminal Court of the continent Lad decreed capital punishment for at tempted assassination of the President of the United Republics of America, Astfarread the document carefully. and instead of signing it, she wrote: "Pardoned, and shall be instantly released.” (Signed) ■ "ASTRA PRUDENT EDISON.” She dispatched the pdrdon by a special messenger, and then took up other matters. At seven o’clock she was at the Crystal Palace, to dress for the banquet of the Continental Commercial and Industrial Association, one of the most powerful societies organized to promote the welfare of business people. She and Napoleon drove to the new Capital Hotel in an open car. The banquet was arranged for 4,000 guests and the whole upper floor was thrown open for the purpose. At eleven o’clock the presidential pasty left and threaded its way toward the Crystal Palace. At the Palace Judge Scanlan of the Continental Court awaited them His miseion was to deliver a heavy looking letter to the President. “Your excellency will pardon me for taking this liberty, but Mr. Mozrak, the prisoner you so kindly pardoned, insisted that this letter is important, and would not leave the prison until I promised him that I would deliver it personally." Astra took the letter and thanked him for Its safe delivery, then diemissed him with a few kind words. Napoleon Moorteri hts mother‘lo her rooms, then returned to . the library.

where Astra awaited him. Her oa» did, beautiful face was pale and tears glistened in hhr eyes. Her whole being expressed sorrow. “What is it, dear?" asked her hue band, sympathetically. Instead of replying, she handed him a letter. He recognized the fine handwriting of the Countess Roslny. It read: “My dear Friends and Protectors: “I am writing this to you both, as I know you will be married when you receive it, I know you will receive all kinds of presents, surprises and congratulations, as you are both the beloved of your followers. But in order Jo gfve~mdre value to the kind wishes, I have decided to tell you the truth, the unvarnished, cruel truth. “I wonder if it will .surprise you to find that I am. and have been in the service of Count von Werdensteln. You have been the kindest of hosts, indeed, so good that you made my task really despicable but much easier. “Don’t take this very seriously. Life is made up of an equal portion of bad and good, and the end is always the same. Death gathers us all— tar and puts in our places others who may find pleasure in destroying all that we have created. You both dream of world peace—l wieh I could create peace in my own heart! “I admire you both, especially Napoleon, and for that reason, I bate yon both, being unable to love you,—aa there are no middle streams in my ture. “There is no use of my telling you what I intend to do; you will know tt soon enough, and you both will be sorry that you ever met the unhappy person whose name was, once, Rositta Rosiny. “And now, I wish you all happiness, until we meet again. “ROSITTA, Napoleon quietly folded the letter and handed It back to Astra. He d)d not seem disturbed at all. He picked up the envelope and saw the New York postmark. “It is clear. The countess has the secret of cirynith and, very likely, of the aerodromone.” “But how did she get It?” “That remains to be seen. Werdetistein evidently thinks that everything is fair in love or war.” “Will you read me that other letter, the one the judge brought?” asked Astra. “Of course, dear. This is Mozrak’s communications I wonder what he has to say.” He opened the heavy envelope and a number of sheets fell to the table. “To the President of the United Republics of America: “Since that unhappy event, in which I was selected by Pate as the instrument of Death, I have had many hours to think clearly and to learn from my inner self that it Is the rule of Love, and not the rule of Force that should rule the world. I have set down the following facts, so that your ladyship shall know all the motive powers that may govern human actions. “The fact that my bullet went astray is due, not so much to the quickness of the great humanitarian and American patriot, Napoleon Edison, as to the fact that I beheld the Countess Rosiny In your company. A moment of hesitation is enough to frustrate plans. Her influence naturally, unintentionally saved your life, as my hand and eye are always,true. I am happy that things turned out as they did. "Before I explain why the countess' presence saved you (she has done, however, involuntarily, at least one good act in her life), I want to tell you that my name is not Mozrak, and 1 am not a Russian. "My name is Aetzel von Kothenberg, ard some years ago I wore the uniform of the famous Red Hussars “Years ago, when on a vacation trip, I traveled through Italy; at that time I could enjoy the greatmarvels of Nature. 1 was young and noble-thinking —and free. On the shore of the Lago di Maggiore I found destruction. “I was tramping through the country with a sketching outfit and let people think me an artist In a secluded and beautiful spot, from where I had an uninterrupted view of the snow-covered peaks of the Alps, and a wide vista of surroundings pine-cov ered land, I struck my easel and began work. A girl emerged from the only path and walked toward me. I Say a girt but I oughL to- say a vlslon— She was the most bewitching creature I had ever seen. .. - - - - -. ; “She cam« to me fearlessly and greeted me In a friendly way; I sketched her in my picture. Inside of an hour my fate was sealed, as I had fallen in love with her. “One day near the end of my vacation, I received an invitation to visit the castle of the Rosinys. There 1 found her. She was married and had a beautiful little girl about three years old. She told me that she loved me. .that her husband was cruel to her, and 1 believed everything. We eloped—and she mad& me a traitor inside of a few weeks. I was entrusted with important secret* and I entrusted them to her. 1 loved her so! (TO BE CONTINUED.)