. ,
, . . -
. -
,
DARKEST RUSSIA
. . DY H. GRATTAN DONNELLY.
Copyright , 1806. by Street . smith , All rIghts rClerycd.
.
1.
, .
- -
CHAPTER XVIII.-Continued.
Caroline was silent.
"It is a brave thought , " at length
' she said. "But how are they to escape
- " tram the prison ? The gates are
closed. "
1\fy husband will withdraw the
guards there. They will be stationed
in yonder room. The prisoners will
come here to capture the house and
will fall into the trap. Dare you do
; your part to aid in the escape of the
j man who saved your life at the risk of
his own ? " and Katherine fixed her
eyes on the face of Caroline.
11 "Give me a moment alone-give me
r time to think , " she said.
. "I will await your answer , " said
Katherine eagerly. "It is , remember ,
to the effect the rescue of the young
exile who snatched you from the jaws
of death. "
So saying , Katherine left the room.
The girl rose to her feet. Her heav-
ing bosom showed that she was under
some intense strain. She walked up
and down the room once or twice , her
hands pressed to her throbbing tem-
ples. At the upper end of the room
f was a stacIe of arms. She cautiously
approached it and examined the guns.
They were of the old-fashioned percus-
sion cap type. Taking the decanter
of vodka ] which stood near , she gazed
curiously around for a moment and
then poured the liquor down the bar-
rels of the guns. Just as she had
finished this extraordinary act there
was a sound at the outer door , and
Karsicheff and Nicholas re-entered the
room.
. I They looked curiously at the girl.
"The lady ] has gone , " explained Car-
o11ne , "but site will return presently. "
"All right , " said Nicholas , "we were
afraid we might have interrupted your
conversation. "
- At this moment the courier's door
"IIII ! ' " opened slightly. "Are you there , com
mandant ? " he inquired.
"Yes , " shortly answered Karsicheff.
"Those pardons for Alexis Nazimoff
and Ivan Barosly are not to be for
warded to Chitlm until I see you In
the morning. I have other papers to
. Bond with them to the ispavnile at
Chitka. "
"Your orders will be obeyed. "
"Very well , " and the courier closed
his door.
"You had better get the pardons
-
.Y
,
,
/
u , .
f
.
62 - Z VY 70 mI . : iIYI' N
I 1iIIf from mother , " said Nicholas , in case
( , he asks for them. "
"There is plenty of time. She haE
them in her bosom and to ask ] her for
them now would excite her still more ,
How has she succeeded , I wonder , "
and he looked at Caroline.
j She had sunk into the chair , her
bead supported hy her hand and her
regular , heavy breathing showed that t
she was fast asleep. KarslchefJ f
shrugged his shoudCl'S. ] "Not a very
promising instrument , " ho muttered.
Katherine came In at this moment
and her eye fell on the sleeping girl.
She advanced with a soft step. "Why
did you come in , " she said with some
annoyance. "I have got her almost
to the verge of consent , " and in a
rapid whisper she went over the details .
tails of the plan she had proposed to
Caroline.
Karslcheff's eyes sparkled. "Excel.
lent , " ho said.
Nicholas was doubtful. "She has
not the nerve to carry it out. "
"Leave me-wo shall see. Go and
Instruct the guard to give her free
entrance to the mmera ] , and to leave
the gate open if you should desire.
Then get your guards ready. If I
cnn bring her to nerve herself to act
nIl will go well and Alexis Nazlmoff
and Ivan Barosky will trouble ] us no
more , " and Katherine Karslcheff fairly -
ly gloated over the prospect.
"Thore must be no mistake , " said
Nlchoas. ] "I will get a convict's suit
and go into the mmeras ] where I can
overhear and see what she does. "
. . , . . . - . . . - . - -
'
" pJenU1u-an aamlraUlO Inea. Goat
at once , " said his mother.
The two men left the room.
"Now for it , " said Katherine , as she
placed her hand on the shoulder of
the sleeping girl.
Caroline opened her eyes and with
a start gazed around. "Pardon me ,
1- "
"You are fatigued , " kindly said
Katherine. "Perhaps , after all. what I
suggested was too much for your
strength , and we must abandon the
poor fellow to his fate. "
"No , I will try to do as you desire ,
madame. "
"Brave , noble girl , you will not fail ,
and wo shall have the baoplness of
seeing your preserver on the road to
freedom. "
' 'May God grant it , " was the fervent
response. "And now , madame , give
- me the file and an opportunity to get
Into the prison pen. "
"Let the signal be a pistol shot , "
said Katherine , with feverish haste.
- "Hero is a file ; my husband has given
orders to admit you to the lcameras.
Do not fnlter. Keep a brave heart ,
and all will bo well. "
"Do not fear , madame. My success
shall surprise yon" ; and so saying ,
Caroline quitted the room.
"Victory-revenge-oh , my plan Is
perfect , " said the now exultant Kath-
erine , as she went to the door and
watched the girl ] enter the stocmde. ]
A moment later she saw a figure slink
along in the darlmess. It was Nicho-
las and he was following Caroline.
Even as she saw him disappear ,
Karsicheff approached , the guard following -
lowing him from the guardhouse.
Silently they entered the house and
taking their arms from the rack were
conducted behind a door opposite to
that which the convicts were to enter.
Katherine gave a signal for profound -
found silence as Karsichetf disappeared -
peared with his men.
Then , drawing a revolver , from her
bosom , she examined It carefully and
replaced It ready for use.
All was going well-everything was
perfect , all but the pardon of Uda
Barosky , and that was In possession
of the courier. She stepped to his
door on tiptoe.
But not softly enough .
'Vho goes there ! " said a gruff
voice.
"Tho wife of the commandant ,
I coionel. I was anxious about your In-
juries. Can I do anything for your
comfort ? "
"Thanle you , no. I simply ] need
, rest. "
' Katherine stepped back. "He Is
wide waIte. The pardon can not be
stolen while he sleeps. " Then a
thought occurred to her and she
smiled. Evidently a happy thought.
It was this : It Caroline could succeed
In the one task , why not try to maw ]
her attempt the other.
Every minute seemed an hour as
.
,
Katherine , her heart heating with anx-
Ious throbs , waited the return of the
glr ] . She peered out into the night ,
trying to pierce the gloom. It was not
long until her patience was rowardCl1.
With a light stop and with nn air that
spoke of success , Caroline appeared on
the outside of the stockade , ran
across , and entered the houso.
"Havo you succeeded , " asked ] Kath- I
O1'lne , eagerly.
"Detter , madame , than I had dared
to hopo. "
"Thoy will attempt to storm the
houso. "
"Thoy are getting ready now. "
"Dravo girl. Oh , had I now but possession -
session of the pardon of 11110. Darosky ,
by triumph would be completo. "
"lIda Darosky , " said Caroline , "an
absent friend ? "
"No , " responded Katherine , Ole-he Is
m " bitterest enemy , and in three days
she will bo freo. The courier lies
asleep In that room with her pardon in
his possession. Could you but secure
that pardon I would give you any reward -
ward you could ask In my power.
"He Is asleep , you say ? " asked ] Car-
oline.
"Yes , I think so. Will you try ? "
"I will try. "
"But , " said Katherine "U ho should
bo awake-hore-tato ] this-defend
- . . . . .
-
( \ '
c
Il
. ' /47 4' B. " "
yourself-but get that pardon at any
cost , " and she handed her the 1'0-
volver.
No sound broke the silence save
the hard breathing of the two womon.
Caroline went softly to the door ,
opened It , and disappeared in the hall
within. Katherine ran to her ( hus-
band's greatcoat and secured another
'
revolver. Then she wafted.
Another moment and the girl en-
tered the room.
"Have you succeeded , " asked ] Kath-
erine with feverish anxiety.
"Ay , madame , but you have failed. "
"Failed ! " gasped Katherine.
"Yes , the pardons you have in your
bosom for Alexis Nazlmoff and Ivan
Barosky are false ] papers. "
With a cry of rage , Katherine tore
open the bosom of her dress and
pulled forth the envelope. Taking out
the pardons she exclaimed : "No , they
are genuine. See the great seal , " and
she pointed to the papor.
The girl grasped the document with
a grip of iron. "Yes , they are genuine .
Ine , than ] God. "
"Yes , yes ! give them to 1110 now , "
said Katherine.
"Never , " shouted the girl ] In a lend ]
voice. "These pardons that make
Alexis Nazlmoff and Ivan BarosltY
free are mine ! "
"What do you mean ? " screamed
Katherine. "Give them to me , 1 say , "
- and drawing her revolver she sprang
ffllr the girl.
"Never ! " was the reply , as Caroline
struck the hand that hold the weapon
a second before it was fired.
One pistol ] shot.
There was a 3'el1-a crash as the
stockade quivered with the shock as
the exiles rushed through the gates ,
and with hoarse cries bounded forward -
ward to the house and burst in the
door.
. .
" "
"Fire !
Karslchert . gave the command , but
.
"
-
no sound t1cWQd. The act of the girl .
had rendered the guns usooss. ]
"Hol I" !
The courier rushed into the room.
"What has happened ho cried.
Caroline Cobb sprang before him.
"A plot to murder these prisoners In
cold blood has been thwarted , " alto
oxclahned. "Theso men-Aoxls ] No.-
zlmort nnd Iran Daroslt3'-have been
pardoned by the czar. Their pardons
111'0 tore , " and alto waved the papers
high above her head.
Katherine sprang at her , but recoiled -
called at the cocked revolver ] leveled ]
at her head. \Vaman , devil , serpent ,
spy , " she screamed , "who arc you ? "
Tearing off the blonde wig which
had so effectually disguised her , the
girl with flashing eyes confronted the
maddened woman us she exclaimed :
"I am 11110. Darosey I and the courier
has my pardon ! I too am free ! "
A great cheer went up from the ox-
lies , while the soldiers looked on in
helpless wondermont. As the cheer
dlol1 away there came to the ears ot
all thin sound of galloping horses , the
jingle of sleigh bells , allli a moment
later ] the voice of Soptimus Cobb , who
burst through the crowd with a paper
held In his hand :
"It iA here , colonel , " ho said " 1
have kept ] my word ! "
"Down with thom all ! " yelled Kar-
slcheff In a very paroxysm of bait
fled rage.
Nicholas had come in , in his convict
garh.
"Stop ! " commanded the courier In
a loud voice as ho glanced over the
paper handed to him by Cobb. "Con-
stantino Karslcheff you are my prison-
er. Here is the order of the governor
dismissing you in disgrace , and ordering -
dering you to bo sent as a common
criminal with the first convoy going
to the mines of Kara. "
At' this moment cries of "Holp !
I
help ! " were heard tram the room
where Olga had been confined. Ivan
sprang up anti with one mighty effort
burst in the door , and Olga was in his
arms.
There is no need to dwell further
on the scenes which tollowed. Retri-
bution had at last overtaken the Kar-
slcheffs and a week later ] they were
tn their way to the mines.
About three months after the
events we have just described a great
ocean steamer was leavIng Hamburg
bound for New York. As the mighty
vessel cleared the Elbe a groupo of
passengers standing on leek ] turned
their faces to the east-in the direc-
tion of Russia. They looked ] for a
moment and then turned their eyes
toward the west.
They were our friends , Alexis ] and
Ilda , Ivan and Olga , and Gen. Cobb ,
the proud and happy husband of a
titled wife , who stood smiling and
happy by his side. They wore silent
for the time , for the thoughts of all
of them were of the scenes in which
they had borne n part in the past.
They were going to a new home be- .
yond the broad Atlantic , and as the
steamer turned her stem to the rest ,
and they saw the glorious sun Bet in
resplendent glory on the broad bosom
of the waters , it seemed to bo an
augur of brighter and happier days ,
that would banish the memory of
their hours of sorrow in Darkest RutS-
sla.
( The End. )
No Credit In This Pupl.
Miss Harriet Hosmer , the noted
American sculptor , was talking at her
Watertown residence about celebrities
she had known. Of a certain noted
New Yorker ] she said :
"Ho was an awkward dancer , but
he told me once that ho had taken
dancing lessons In Doston. His teacher -
er was a charming old Frenchman , a
true artist ; and when ho came to
leave Boston he salll to the old man :
" 'I am going back to New York
now , monsieur , and if there is any
laver I can do for you there I shall
be only too glad to serve you. '
'I'he aged teache , with an embarrassed -
rassed smile , rdpIled :
" ' 1 will take ] It as the greatest accommodation -
commodation , sir , if you will toll no
of whom ' learned to ' H
one you dance
-
