Princess Zara

Yesterday, when a ship sailed away from its pier in the North

River, you accompanied me to the dock, amazed that I should ask you

to do so, and doubtless wondering all the while why I made no

effort to see, or to speak with any person, there. But when the

ship had swung into the stream, you saw me wave my hand in farewell

to some person among those who thronged her decks. That person was

Zara de Echeveria, the princess to whose presence in New York you

lately called my attention, but respecting which I was already

informed; for at the moment of your communication I had already

seen her, and talked with her, and we had parted as you and I will

do when I place this letter in your hands--forever.

You are going upon a mission, Derrington, although it may be that

you have not decided in your own mind to do so; but the decision is

there, awaiting your recognition of it. Your mission will take you

to Russia, to accomplish the great work I have suggested to you. I

have willed it that you must go, and go you will. You will serve

the czar as faithfully as I have done; but better, because you are

not a Russian, and you have not the inborn awe of title and rank.

And you will have been successful in that mission when you have

read these written words, for I shall instruct you not to break the

seal until you are ready to take your departure from that country,

which you will never do without having attained success. You are to

serve the czar, and for him and in his name, will achieve the

disruption of the nihilist societies of St. Petersburg, and

therefore of the empire. I know your thoroughness, and I anticipate

that very many among the prominent revolutionists will soon be

known to you. Among them you will find the name I have written

here--Zara de Echeveria.

I present her to you, Derrington, by this letter, as if we three

were standing together in the form of formal introduction. I am a

fatalist, and I know that you two will meet, and read your

destinies in each other's souls. If you are already together, there

will be no need of this letter, save to tell you how thoroughly and

how well I love you both. God has written your futures on the same

page of the book of destiny, and I have read the writing. You are

created for one another, and as surely as God's love watches over

us all, just so surely has He put the seal of enduring human love

upon you both. Why it will be so, and how it will come about, I

have not the skill to tell, but my prophetic vision looked into the

futures of you both, when I talked with you, one after another,

yesterday; and I saw you passing down the declining years of life,

hand in hand, and heart with heart, like one.