The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1845-11-08
st. JOhnSbury, VT November 8, 1916.

she was sitting ut window the generals quarters
in room tho ground floor, whence her ego rang
ed along the extended ranks-nnd bright blush
might be to oyersprend her features her glance
rested for n moment ON tho handsoSse features Of n
young surgeon-major named Ivan Polovio, whose
manly form was set of ut good advantage by the SIM
po uniform of his military grade
General Lo.-iT had passed and repnssed along the
froRt rank Of the battalion without uttering n word,
hut with frowning brow and angry expression on his
features, for lie perceived that some of the
absent. Suddenly was heard the slow and mnhlrd
beat OF drum, and from the extremity of the plain
seen advancing band of soldiers, each carry ing
in his hand of those long rods which arc sl used
in the Russian service the tools of hateful punish
mcnt. At This sight the general turned in 10
his aids, and in n voice of thunder demanded who
had given the order and who was to be the victim.
A sergeant conspicuous by his SCARED and livid
countenance, darled before the general, snatched
from him his sword, struck him on the face, and an
swerod coldly, 'You!"
At these words an electric shock seem to pas
Along the ranks and CLEAN OF hate lighted up the
hnbHualIy pnssioness features oftho By spon.
tuueous movemen: the officers advanced from tho
line to the rescue ftheir commander, hut in mo-
ment they seized, thrown TO the ground, aud
menaced each by half score of bnyonets.
, Ivan, the surgeon major, was alone exempted, for
his gentleness and humanity had won for him the nC-
lection Of the troops. A grenndier who stood near
him whispered in his ear, "wheher tho nightingale
sings or remnns SILENT do not move. word, sing
ie step and you dend.''
Recovering from his stupor General Left had
Cd ,;,h - A.
a, his breast, turned them aside with powerful eE-
fort and cried ont with ferocious glance along the
line, "To your knees, vile brues; to your knees and
beg for mercy, there will not be skin enough on
your backs to expia;e your crime"
a savage chucke was the answer 10 this threat
and the sergeant, with the fighu tranquility which
indicates n settled purpose, said every Of us
knows the doom that awaits him, is prepared TO sac
rifce his life. When your sentence is fulfilled we
shall go before General Surof, the Governor of Nov
ogorod; shall lay at his feet ysur sword your belt
Your orders and what remains OF your body. and we
shall say TO him; General Left was n iignr--we
have slain him; here are weapons, await our
punishment " And thus saying tho sergeant tore
away the generals epauetes and tramPed them I'M
der his feet
"These decorations belong not to you,'' no contn-
ned; ga knout should be borne by the exeoutiener
Remember tho soldier Detsaloff, scourged with rods
FOR having been a too late in presenting arms
Remember that old subaliern who, FOR n spo; upon
his uniform, ordered by you to leave the ranks
and struck upon tho face with your whip until the
blood ran down his cheeks. The unhappy man,
(ranctic with rage and pain, lifted his hand in ress-
tance-nnd for this he was logged and sent, MANNED
and diving TO Sibera.''
The sersoan, while lie spoke had continued with
terrible composure to strip the general of his belt
his coat and his under garment lie went on:
''That subaltern, like myself, bore the name of
Gu,deuor; we were born in tho same hovel-ho was
my brother -
Spite of his ndomahle Grmness tho general could
not refrain from shudderng he listened to this
fearful accusation, eloquent in its calm simplicity,
so passonless in vengefu brevity. AS for Soowi-
ova, she had looked on at first with vague wonder,
unable to comprehend the that passed before
her; bu, when she the general deprived Of his
sword his uniform away, his form exposed, then
she began to conceive tho purpose OF his assaants
and understand that no doomed to receive the
degrading punishment he had SO often caused to be
inflicted. Seized with horror she rose TO her feet,
clasped her hands in suppication and shrieked aloud
... .
IVAN the surgeon major had till this moment stood
motioness and silent hut he could resist the
guish Of the one he loved lie forgot the stern ex-
element of the troops, the hopelessncss Of his inter
ference, and made step forward; bu, the loud ring
ing of muslet was heard, Ivan threw up his arms,
turned his heel cenvuIsyey and fell to the ground
a corpse. The bullet had pierced his heart
A gigantic soldier stepped forward from the ranks
lifted the body and bore i, to the window where Sol
owiova stood; he threw it her feet and said Night
ingaIe, this belongs to you"
White marble Solowova gazed upon the corpse
of her lover, bent toward it, wiped the bloody fore
head with her handkerchief, give forth ono terrible
cry, and cell lifeless by his side. ..r....-. ~
Meantime General Left had been bound to a
gun carrage, dragged through the ranks and scourged
with rods, the torture of which but the beginning
orhs punishment. lie had scarcely reached the ex'
tremity Of the line when a voice exclaimed $50 the
ovens' '
The unhappy general, though half dead with agony
heard these words, and knew their horid meaning
A hundred voices repeated, ''ro the ovens''
mortal paleness- overpread his faatures; his
courage gave way, he groaned and begged for mercy