Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-07-11

u tHC SheacO'
"Hcre," said Sir James, "we are safe
from observation"
Before going further" resumed the
young Russian, 81 must ask you to take
charge Of this" handing him a pocket
book. ''Within it are bank notes to the
amount of a million rubles."
"a million! !" exclaimed Rally, sur
prlsed out of his usual calm blythe
amount.
"Take it sir, beg of you, and begin to
listen to me. by father and / were born
on a small estate near the Volga. The
estate belonged to Prince Gouloubskoff,
the father of the Prince now in Vienna.
My father was attached to his person for
a long time, and served him with such a
zeal and devotion, that, at his death he be-
queathed him a considerable sum; but
unfortunately forour family he forgot his
enfranchisement. My father traficked
in furs with Southern Russia,sand being
intelligent and energetic, he grew rapidly
rich. My education was entrusted to a
French emigrant, and to his care 1 owe
all my subsequent success; for, when l
grew up, l joined my efforts to those of
my father and extending in our opera
tions to the east, l doubled his fortune in
the course of few years. Our position
as serfs excited the solicitude of my
friend, the Frenchman, and he urged me
to seek an adopted country in the Wes-
tern world but though / ardently de-
stree to withdraw my neck from the gall
ling yoke of bondage, / could not fly,
without leaving my poor old father prey
to my masters vengeance. If / once left
Russia finally, the smallest punishment
for him would be the loss of his property
and a return to the rudest labors of slave
ry. could not do it. Besides, / nour-
ished hope which strengthened me to
wait the morrow. / thought that Alex
ander, who, it is said, was ambitious of
the title Of regenerator of his country.
would associate his name with the aboli-
ton of servitude. But all the pbilan-
thropy of the Emperor, restrained as it
was by the hateful and pitiless mobiles,
produced only the ukase, which FORBADE
the individual sale of the serfs-they
could only be sold with the estate. / had
waited in vain."
why did you not try to purchase your
self?'
SIT would have been useless. The
great Muscovite lords have made a hor.
rible compact, binding themselves not tc
accept the ransom of a slave. Are you
ignorant that serf of Count Schermeof
offered two millions of roubIes for hi:
liberty, and was pitilessly refused Ye
the Count receives but small tribut,
from this man-only few roubles-bu
these great lords find cruel pleasure il
counting in the number of their vassals
andabsolutely dependent on their caprice
millionaries whose fortune they coult
ruin at word. have bore my hard 10
with the fortitude of Christian. ] hav,
sought to forget it in business and travel
and deeds of charity-but now my cour
age fails, for love-and the woman VIII
accepts me for a husband must accept tn
chain of slavery" After a moment
pause the young Russian resumed
"Prince Gouloubskoff, l have said pos
sessed an estate on the borders of th
Volga. 1t counts only fifty hearths, ye
he will not sell it at any price. But tn
Prince plays, and play with him is a
unbridled passion, for which he will sa,
riice every thing. In the feverish e,
citement of this passion, he may be led |
! risk his estate. If he does so, he ma
lose. In this village ] was born-m
father was born there-my family al
; still there. Gain this village for me-
Man, Englishman, Christian-under tn
triple title i put my fate in your hands
: you have an unlimited credit over m
| purse-stake eyerything-triumph at ar
: price. If fate should be against you
must lose everything, and yet remain
slave, l viii bless you at least for havir
tried to break my chains"
f 81 accept the task" said Sir Jam
grayely.
a "This night? ?"
r "No, this night circumstance will n
serve. They viii play lasquenet. B
e sides, / have an engagement with
5. Bearn. But the day after, / think,
favorable occasion will offer natural
It between Gouloubskoff and myself ]
will not recoil, l judge by the temerity
ID showed yesterday. 1 will profit by
RS "Thanks Sir James," said Swerk,
Id -"and now we must separate. Yo
:. friends will saaL -,