Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1856-02-09

d" is not that the livery of the Prince
which see near u.s." asked Sir James
Rally.
&" 1t is"
&" He cannot be far oil. Shall we not
avoid meeting himW
"With all my heart Not that | fear
to be recognized Immediately; longyca
have passed since we met; but | could
not exchange ten words with him with
out exciting rcmcmbrances, and all hope
would be lost"
4" Let us follow this path, then;' and
putting spurs to their horses, they soon
found themselves out Of sight and hear
ing of the chase.
IIere," said Sir James, eve are safe
from observation"
"Bcforc going further" resumed the
young Russian, g [ must ask you to take
charge Of this" handing him pocket
book " Within it are bank notes to the
amount of a million roubles."
"a Million" exclaimed Rally, sur
prisod out of his usual calm by the
amount
"Tako it sir, 1 beg of you, and deign
to listen to me. My father and were
born on small estate near the Volca.
The estate belonged to Prince Goloubs-
kof, the father Of the Prince now in
Vienna. My father was attached to his
person for long time, and served him
with such zeal and devotion, that, at his
death, he belueathed him a considerable
sum; but, unfortunately for our family,
he forgot his enfranchisemcnt My
father traiicked in furs with Southern
Russia, and being intelligent and cner-
gotic, he grew rapidly rich. My educa-
ton was entrusted to French emigrant,
and TO his cares | owe all my subsequent
success; for, when grew up, l joined
my efforts to those of my father, and,
extending our operations to the East,
doubled his fortune in the course Of u
few years. Our positions as serfs excited
the solicitude of my friend, the French
man. and he urged me toaeek an adopted
country in the Western World; but
though | ardendy desired to withdraw
my neck from the yoke OF bondage, |
could not fly without leaving my poor
old fathor prey to my masters ven
gcancc If once left Russia finally,
the smallest cLastiaomont for him would
lie the loss Of bis property, and a return
to the rudest labors Of slavery ] could
not do it. Besides, | nourished hope
which strengthened me each day to await
the morrow | thought that Alexander,
who, it was said, was ambitious of the
title Of regenerator Of his country, would
associate his name with the abolition Of
scryitade. But all the philanthropy Of
the Emperor, restrained as it was by the
hateful and pittilcss mobiles, produced
only the ukase which forbade the indi-
yidual sale Of the sorl5; they could only
be sold with the estate. l had waited
in vain.
" Why did you not try to purchase
yoursaif!"
"It would have been useless. The
great MuscoYite lords have made u hor-
rible compact binding themselves not to
accept the ransom Of a slave. Are you
ignorant that a scrf Of Count Schcrcmo-
tof offered two millions Of roublcs for
his liberty, and was pittilessly refused!
! Yet the Count receives but u small am
nual tribute from this man; only a few
roublos; but these great lords find cruel
pleasure in counting in the number Of
their yassals, and absolutely dependent
On their caprice, millionaires, whose for
tunes they could ruin at a word. have
borne my hard lot with the fortitude Of
a Christian. | have sought 10 forget it
in business and travel and deeds Of char
ity; but now my courage fails, for
loyo--and the woman who accepts me
for a husband must accept the Chain Of
slavery"
After a moments pause, ahe young
Russian resumed: " Prince Go'oubako0'
| have said, possesses an estate on the
borders Of the Volga. 1t counts only
fifty hearths, yet he will not sell it at
any price. But the Prince plays, and
play is with him an unbridlcd passion,
for which he viii sacrifice everything.
In the leyerish excitcmcntof this passion
he may be led to risk this estate If be
does so, he may lose. In this village |
was born-my father was born there
my family are still thcre-gain this vii
lage for me-Ian, Englishman, Chris
tian-under this triple title / put my
fate in your hands-you have an unlim-
tied credit over my pursc-stake every
thing-triumph at any price-if fate
should be against you, if ] must lose
everything, and yet remain a slave,
will bless you for having tried to break
my chains"
" accept the task" said Sir james
Rally Fravely.
"Ihis nightP
No, this night circumstance will
not serve. They will play lansquenct.
Besides, / have an engagement with
O'Bearn But the day after, / think,
a favorable occasion will offer naturally
between Goloubskof and myself. lie
will not recoil, judge by tie tcmority
he showed yesterday ! viii profit by
it,"
Thanks Sir James" said SwerkoG;
and now, we must separate. Your
friends will seek you. / would avoid
meeting them
-Four days after this conference a
dense crowd was collected in one Of the
gaming halls, around asmall table under
the rotunda, at which were seated two
players They were Sir James Rally