RASPUTIN AND THE EMPRESS
Adapted by BIANCO E. JONES from the M.G.M. Picture.
CHAPTER ONE
tive that you have lust.”
THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH. THURSDAY, AUGUST 3, 1933.
"No. It is the plight of Russia that brings me here."
Before a tumbledown house in one of the meanest streets in the
"What is Russia's plight?" he slum quarters of Moscow an cle- asked. "Isn't to-morrow the day gant earringe waited, glossy with that the court celebrates the three high polish and glistening with hundredth anniversary of the silver trimmings. Two blooded Romanoff reign? Surely there is horses, frutting and stamping in no need for grief at such a festi- aristocratic impatience stood before val
it, and a coachman and footman, "It is something I acuse. rather smart in new varies and cockaded than know," she told him. "Give hats, unt on the box. The sleek me some hope for the future, horses, dapper servants and bright Father Gregory." carriage were sorely in contrast Father Gregory, born a peasant, with the drab street and the miser-bred a monk, and practicing as a able house before which they were false priest and prophet in the poor standing.
est quarter of Moscow, felt a In room on the second floor of stirring of mounting ambition. the house an even more striking This woman was of the court. If contrast could be seen. Seated at he could practice his strange powera either side of a greasy deal table upon her, relleve her mind, then were two people. The first, young, perhaps she would bring others to beautiful woman of the court, a nee him. He could wring fat fees lady-in-waiting to the Empress.] from them. It would be better The second was a tremendous mun{than, flercing servant girls with a huge black beard flowing drunken horsegrooms. And, pér- over a massive chest.
haps, who could tell, Gregory
The Lady-in-Walting, Nataaba, would have stood out in any goth- ering, Sho was beautiful. Her pale blonde hair and the light bluc of her eyes were of the sort that the Russians describe As "St. Petersburg blonda." But unlike most fuir women there was char- acter, coutrage and dignity in her even features and Intelligeure in her eyes.
As for the nutn, it was the ferre.. compelling gleam of, his eyes that impressed one. And now there eyes, glowing as he spoke, were instoned on the eyes of the lady who sat opposite, him. Not once while he spoke with her did they waver or go down before her clear. direct gaze.
In a professionally paternal ione! which seemed to soften his gruff voice, he was speaking to her.
"Who sent you to me, my child?" "Maria Feodorovan. my old nurse," she answered simply,
"I see. And what did Maria Feodorovan say that I could do for you, my little one?" the black- bearded man asked.
"Nothing, Father Gregory,"
The man laughed with a short,
ugly catch of his breath.
"Few people come here who want
nothing from me," he said.
did you come here?"
"Why
"Father Gregory-belleve me—i
came only for guidance."
The sucer on the bearded lips was plainly evident to her when said:
lic
"Ah. An unfortunate love affair ch. Even the Indies of the court sometimes have their Re dir- ficulties, ha?**
"No. It was no unfortunate love affair that brought me here. I came because Marin Feniorovna told me that of all the Holy men she has known, only you could lift the clouds of doubt and sadness from one's soul.”
"And what sadness alliets you ?" he asked. "You look sound and healthy. Perhaps It is a dear rela-
Rasputin might even become a man As he said this, he turned to her of wealth and power. It was a and said in an impressive tone of long time before ho answered Natasha. Then he said:
"I can give you no hope for the near future. There is too much nisory in Holy Russia. The people ery out beneath the hard heels of their oppressors, I can give you no help and no hope until the Tsar and his Uncies give help and hope to the miseries of their people,'
"But he loves thom-I know," He interrupted her:
(voice:
"And what are you doing here?" the Interrogated, laughing.
"Ah, I have been keeping a ren- dezvous with such a handsome man," she tensed him.
"Now behold; God's lovel Bending over the boy, he waken ed him, spoke to him softly, then calling upon God, he bent still further until his eyes were no more than an inch from the eyes of the wounded boy. For a moment here nained this way, murmuring left.
monotonous phrases which Natasha
+
Paul, the commanding officer of Guards and himself the Prince Her Imperial Majesty's Chevalier Chegodieff, cocked a quizzical eye at the tendment which she had just
said,
could not overhear. Then he "Your lover lives in a palace," he (straightened up and motioned to
her to look at the boy. She did no She laughed, then-suid-in-a-law.. He was breathing easily, his eyes
voice: closed in a gentle sleep and already blood was flowing back Into the anguished cheeks.
It is a miracle," ahe 'exelnimed. "God be praised," the monk said simply.
"I love no one but you, Paul." "Not the Tsar, nor the Enipress, aia?" he asked. nor the Imperial children, nor Rus-
"Come with me." Parting a curtain hanging in a broken doorway, he led her into an- other room. There a young boy, no more than twelve years old, ny meaning on a pile of straw In the corner. A bloody bandage around
"Yes. I love them, too, I'd give Isis head gave a clue to his pain.
my life for them. But that's a dif- "There is how the Tear loves his A quarter of an hour later, Na-ferent sort of love. It's a love dear people," Rasputin said. "This tosha, firm in her belief that she (that's been bred in my bones, but boy was hawking papers on the had discovered a worker of mira.my love for you is all my own-it's Novalty Prospect. He brushed cles, stepped out into the street in my heart.” against a police offcor by accident. again. Her carriage was walling He pressed her hand tenderly. A Consnck alaahod at him with his for her, and drawn up beside it "And you love the people of Rua- anbre. Without God's aid the boy was a motor-cut. In it sat a young sla too, or else you would not come will die.”
man dressed in the grey fatigue to so foul a place to distribute uniform of the Chevalfer Guarda, alma," He smiled na he got out of the car and came forward to kiss hor hand.
"Oh," Natasha, exclaimed. "It can't be. There must have been an nccident."
"Se It was reported. But it was no accident. It was the Tsar's love for his people."
"Paul!" she exclaimed. "What Įare you doing here?"
Quickly, she corrected him, "That's not why I am here." "Ah, I forgot the handsome lover."
(Continued on Page 12.1
The city of Changteh in Hunan has recently experienced the most disastrous flood within the recollection of the oldest inhabitants, so far na destruction to life and property is concerned. The city was only saved from complete destruction by the city wall. Had this given way at any point on the river front the loss of life would have been very great. At its highest, the water in the Yuan Rivor must have been not less than ten foot higher than the city level. The pictures reproduced above give a good notion of the extent of the floods. Top left. Flood in the section just outside the city showing residents taking refuge on their housetops, Top right Street outside the East Gate with houses ruined by the waters. There is a gully here about 20 yards across and 15 feet or more deep. Bottom left-Section of the street looking towards the A.P.M. compound. The building in the centre represents the ruins of a Muhammadan mosque. Bottom right/After the flood waters had subsided in the fourth ward of the city.
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The most popular feature of the Shanghal celebrations of July 14, from the children's point of view, was the Fate organized for them in the afternoon in the French Park, and one of the most popular forme of entertainment was the rides given in the miniature train here shown. It was a busy, if not profitable, little, railway.
For the celebration of the _French National Day, the main thoroughfares and shops in the French Concession were profusely decorated and illuminated. Thros triumphal archas formed the out- standing feature, and our picture shows the one erected at the entrance to the French Park.
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Above photos are of twelve graduates of the Shanghal Dental Cellpils und vers „akanan, and bons neizded the degres of Bilir. TUE JE UMANE AMESTELLARIN Char bion, awarded for dental surgery?
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