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About The Falls City tribune. (Falls City, Neb.) 1904-191? | View Entire Issue (July 1, 1904)
i DARKEST RUSSIA " - " ' BY II. on.\TTAN DU\ tELLY. , Copyright , 1896 . by Street & . Smith , All rights reserved . 'I _ . _ _ , , ft.--ft-- " -ft - " i - " " . , . . . . . . ----.v------.v- n t : < > ' . CHAPTER VII. , - : : , . . . Iida Barosky. , . There appeared for a moment a . young : girl , bearing a violin and bow . -it was only for a moment-between " ( < < , . ' the two servants , Azof and Hannjlta. s With n quick gesture she threW , . ' aside the servants , and with flashing . eyes and head erect she advanced ( to . , . , the center of the room. "Who Is responsible for this out- - rage-this insult ? Who is master here ? " she demaitcled , in quick , Impas- sioned tones , while her face Indicated the terrible excitement which IJOS- sessed her. . - Paul Nazl1noff advanced qulcleh' "Stop , girl ! You forget yourself and _ . who you are. You were commanded here by me-Paul , Count Nazlmoff- " , " _ 'Vho and what Is Paul , Count Na- / " " ' , ' 7.lmoff , that he should command me ? " , ' , < : ' : . . : , was the imperious answer. "Am I " " . - ' your servant , your serf , your child , 01' your debtor I am 11. frec.born : ' ; . . Russian ' , no slave , and I shall not " . . ' ' , . : . obey you ! " r , ' , J. ' : , , " . Count Nazlmoff , by his command tJ' : : : , , " : : , ; had thrown down the gage of battle , , , . , , , , . , . , . . . : , , . ' , " and I1da Baroskr-for it was the exile's daughter-had taken It up. Two strong natures were In conflict. On the one hand stood Paul Nazlmoff , rich , powerful , noble , accustomed all his life to command and to bo obeyed , . . and now humiliated , If beaten , In the presence of all his guests. Onn the other , the young girl , proud , . haughty and unbending , her woman's pride stung to the quick by being " ,4 ' . , . . ' thrust like a serf Into the midst of " " , the brilliant throng , and commanded to play , as a master commands a sla ve. It was not hard to see that hers was a nature that never would , ' . yield to force , not even if resistance . . , , ' . ' . ' -.f' ' , . meant the loss of life itself. 'i' ; - . " " How- was the battle to end ? , ' , ; i 0 d , "I shall not obey you ! " The words that ended the young girl's speech kept rInging In the ears . of Paul Nazimoff. "I' shall not obey . ; -ou ! " No such words had ever been addressed - , dressed to him before. Could he be- hove the , evidence of his own senses ? , ' " . , . ' ' ' ) aFs 'i'y4 - \ WI I . ' " : : , : ' " . . . . . , , : < - . - ' ' \ IIIllu1ff ! l1 ' " , ; 1. , . : " , 1- : ' , ji " UUftiiEL ( ! ! ! , . , - . . " - , ' . ; . . . . ' ' * ' h : : " . t > ISf LL ! ! t'7 Of. ' YJ7X ! " Surely everybody In St. Petersburg ' " ' ' ' . knew that he , of all the great nobles . " , ill lie capital , wa ! ' t'lO one whose b , , autocratic ways weru nest lmown. All - _ " ' his guests knew It-and yet here , an , i. . " , . . . unknown girl , an humble musician , dared to stand before him , under his . . own roof , and to fling In ! his face the bold defiance , " 1 shall not obey you ! " Paul Nazlmoff's face , flushed be- ' : . ; : - fore , now turned to a ghastly white , t. . : : . and his eyes seemed to turn to coals of fire. Ho no longer shouted. He appeared calm , but It was the calm- ness of the tiger about to spring on , 3' his unsuspecting vIctl1n. : , " > "And I swear"-tho words came - . ' slowly , with a hissing sound , from be. . -i. : ; : : : ; " " ; tween the IIps-"and I swear 'ou ; : . ! J ; , you ' . .v----- , , " " - - . . . , . . . . - . - . ' " ----.J shall obey me. You forget who I aID. I am Paul , Count Nazimoff " "And I swear I shall not obey you. I am l1da Barosley , the daughter of an exile , and I shall not play 'God Save the Czar I ' " No one spolto. The strain was fearfully intense. Paul Nazlmoff shook for a moment as the tree shakes when it feels the first blast of the hurricane ! The storm was now beyond control. Ho forgot himself , his guests , his position , manhood . ' . With hood , nobl1lh'-al1-evprythlng. an oath ho snatched the whip from the hands of Hanajlm and raising it advanced a step toward the girl. "Father ! " "Count Nazlmoff ! " The two expressIons rang out as one -the first by AlexIs , the other by Cobb. Alexis was first-he seized , the up- lifted hand. "Father , you must not ! " 1\1ust not ! must not ! " shouted Nazlmoff. He fairly thundered now. Rage had dethroned Reason. "Stand back ! " ho shouted. "Stand back ! , for I swear this girl shall play or she shall suffeer. Let no one come between - tween us. " lIts voice grew louder. "She has Insulted me , my guests , the czar-I swear she shall suffer. No power on earth can save her. Hanajlm , Azof-selze her ! Seize her ! " The servants obe 'ed. They would have strangled her there and then had they been so commanded. "Now , girl , for the last time , " ho raised the whip , "pla , or I swear to degrade you by the lash. There is nothing can save 'ou. Now what think you of defying Paul , Count Nazlmoff ? " The lash was uplifted. It was 11. lace distorted by insane rage and fury that , with eyes aflame with devilish resolve , looked Into the face of IIela Barosk She never moved. There was no , ' sign of fear , whatever she may have feit. She looked defiance "Tako hold of her arms and compel . pel the bow to cross the strIngs ! " fairly screamed Nazlmoff , as he again raised time whip The servants obe 'ed. Paul Nazlmoff held the whip up- lifted. "It Is tlrn last time , " ho' ' 'el1ed. "What will save you now ? " "This will ! " The answer of I1da Barosley , shrill and clear as a trumpet . sound , rang out , as with a quick mo- tion she raised the violin far above her head , and , before anyone could prevent , dashed the instrument Into a thousand pieces at the feet of Na- zlmoff ! He was cd-beaten. There was a gasp as ho made a mo- tion with the whip Cobb and Alexis sprang forward to avert the blow , but It was needless. The whip fell from his hands and ho fell - forward. The strain had been too much , and the next moment ho was unconscious. With a quick motion Alexis sprang to the side bf the girl. "Qulc ! , come with me , " ho said In a low voice , as ho grasped her by the arm. In all the confusion , Cobb seemed to keep his mind. "Get her away , " ho urged Alexis , and at time same moment ho supported the stricken count to a low couch where several physicians among the guests attended him. A moment consultation and the } ' decided that It was nothIng serious. Paul NazlmolY was suffering from the effects of a shock and overtaxed nerves. It n : : all right. A few hours rest and ho would be quite himself again With a word of apology to the guests for the unhappy affair that had brought the festivities to such an unpleasant - pleasant termination , Alexis bid' good night to such as remained. Cobb ho aslect' not to leave him. Alexis Nazlmoff , ImmedIately after the departure of the last of the guests , retired to his own room , accompanied by General Cobb. He was laborIng under intense emotion , ant it was some minutes before he became BUm- clentty composed to trust himself to speale. When ho became somewhat calmer ho turned to the American , . rtml putting out his hand as tr to asIC for friendship and s'mlmthy , said , In a voice that 8tlil Indicated the intensity of his feelings : "Cobb , my Cato was decided to-night ! " Cobb was about to answer , when , with a movement , Alexis stopped him , and In an impassioned strain broke out : "You do not lmow-you do not know that she who stood before my father to.nlght-sho whom ho would have degraded by the lash-Is the woman I love-tho only woman who will over bo my wire " . To say that Cobb was nstounJcd mildly expresses It. Ho sat amazed and expectant , not . knowing what to sa ' . Alexis wont on : "Threo years ago I first met her , when she was a pupil at the Conser- vatory. She had appeared before 1\ brilliant assemblage , and won the admiration - mlrntlon of all by her wondrous beauty II'I ' I I I , ( , IIIuI I IIP i - , "lLOYtl ElZR 7MiV Ai l' J.OE".lZQ lYJn" ' and her genius. I sought and obtained nn Introduction to her through the Baroness von Rhlneberg. I loved ! her madly . passionately , devotelly-I ! loved her then as I love her now. I offered her my name , I asked her to become my wIfe. " , . Cobb started. Ho had anticipated a different avowal , and In his mind had framed a reply to Alexis. But . he was not prepared for his. i "lIda refused , " continued Alexis , I "unless I could gain my father's con- sent. My marriage with her , she I , urged ; would he a blow to my fondest I hopes of military distinction : would ostraclso me In St. Petersburg , and would alienate the affections of my father. All this was true , but I cared I nothing for It. I begged , implored her to listen to me-to give her con- sent. I offered to resign my commis- sion in the army , to leave Russia with her , to make , In short , any sacrifice -but all In vain. My father heard of my love for her and wo had a stormy scene , whIch ended In my leaving the house. I went directly to see IIda.-sho was gone ! In vain I sought her everywhere : she had disappeared - appeared as If she were no longer on earth. A week later I received per emptory orders to proceed to the frontier and join the Don Cossacles for a campaign In 'furleestan , and a short , t-me after my arrival In Asia I received a note from my father that a marrlago' J'ad l been arranged between . tween Olga Karslchoff and myself , the ceremony to take place on my return . turn ta St. Petersburg. Broleen-heart- ell at the loss of Uda , I made no objec , Lion , and you know the rest. I never saw I1da Barosle from the time I left st. Petersburg until to-night. Now all my love has returned ! with tenfold strength , and I swear that no other woman shall ever be my wife ! " "But your father , after to-nlght- " "Ho docs not ] crow that 1 * . was Ihia -ho never saw her. Carried away by his rage at her refusal , ho knew nor cared not who It was that dared to thwart a will that all through life had never been galns ld. To-night , " and Alexis arose , "to'nlght has de- Bided my fate. I am going to find I I1da Barosk-l am going to make I 1 her my wife ! 1 am going : o RIIC ! , 'ou- " 'ouA A Imoc1e at the door hlterr\lltoll him. ' "Como in I" 'I , A servant entered , and bowing [ rc Bpectlvey ! said n word or two , and In answer to Alexis' Quick response i withdrew to reappear a moment Inter I with a soldier wearing the uniform of time same regiment as that to which Alexis belongod. 1'hen followed a few words ( of dla. logue In a language Cobb could not understand , r.nd the soldier wlthl1row. When they wore once more alone } lexis turned to Cobb. "I am going ' to trust you fully and freely , " ho said. "My servant has just returned , having followed Udn to tier destina tlon. I know where she Is and I am going there to-night. If my father should awake , 1 ask you , In the name of our friendship , to maltO such explanation - planation of my absence as will cause him no uneasiness until my roturn. You will do this for me , will you not ? " said the young soldier , holding out his hanl ! Cobh could say no more. Ho grasped - ed the proffered hand of Alexis r.nd five minutes later was aloJe. Alexis was on his way to seee ! lit : : l Barosley. - - . . ' - - - CHAPTER VIII. - The Nihilist Rendezvous. A long , low room , with heavy wooden - en rafters supporting time ceiling , which was grimed and blnclcod by the smolco of a dozen oil lamps. A room with n hot , stlfilug , suffocating . catlng atmosphere-tho result of the smoltlng lamps , the fumes of tobacco and an almost red-hot stove , which had raised the temperature to an un- comfortable , almost an unsupportable I degree. A long table , upon which was scattered - tered a miscellaneous collection ott Implements , a couple of rude benches , a chair or two , and some rough boxes , utlllzod as Boats , constituted most at the furm ishings. The half.dozen steps , leading . up to 11. heavily barred door , Indicated that time room was a cellar , and the two small wIndows , both with heavy shut. tel'S of solid wood , whIch were only a few Inches higher than the bottom of the door , were 'of apparently little practical use , either for light or ven- tIIation. Within this underground apart- ment for such It really was , were gathered , on the same evening ns that on which time events described in the last chapter occurred , somme twelve or fifteen men and three womon. Their faces , darleened even beyond their natural . ural color by the smolco and grime , were marked hy suppressed excitement . mont , while their conversation , animated . mated In the extreme , was carried on In that suppressed way suggestive of extreme caution and ceaseless appre- hension Not that all were tal1t1ng There were workers there , men who tolled and delved and whose grImy hands , hard and knotted , gave evidence - denco that theirs had been no child's pIa } ' . A long coil of wire , some elec. trlcal Instruments , and some curiously sllggostive metal globes , were some of the objects on time table of whIch mention has already been made. The conversation , after an Interval of silence , hall begun again. ( To be continued. ) Sure Sign of Death. The doctors who seethe time demon . of drink In ! the alcoholic ward of a New York hospital have recently (115- covered nn unfailing hllllcation of the approaching ) death of patients. One of them described It In ! tits ! way : 'rho great majority of alcoholic patients . tlents In this city are truck drIvers Naturally , when they are drivIng 11. team and are continually urging their steeds aheal1. It's nil right as long as the } ' ltcep driving aheao , hut the moment we hear them bogie to back their horses we know It's all off , and we might as well order their shrouds. In dozens of cases I never Imew this . sign to tan : "