New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1856-02-08
THE RUSSIAN SLAVE.
Translated for tie New York Husicai No

tions, fireworks everything winch the imagination
could devise, was employed for the amusement of
these "kng5 taking holiday Amid the programme;
of festivities prepared by the Imperial Committee,
there figured stag hunt and the woods in the neigh
borhood Of schGbrunn were gay with ne croFd AZ
sembled TO witness or participate in the sport One
person alone, elegantly dressed and mounted on a
highbred steed, took part in the amusement of the
day. Hseyes were ntently fixed on Sir James Rally
an Englishman noted for his wealth, his ecceHtriGis
ties and his passion for play be followed him wher
ever he went and seemed to wish to attract his At
tention. E7 1
ssWhat does this mean p? said Sir James to himself
sTWce my eyes have encountered this young man,
and he has made the same mysterious gesture. Lean
not be deceived it Is intended for me y and he
turned his horses head towards the stranger. The
LATTER seeing the movement, advanced to meet him.
Al Sir said he, bowing low II have had the honor
to meet you before" z,4 5s3a35 s #$ s5j5Ss
eyes replied the Engliahman who was vainly in
te,rogating his memory your face j. creditor
which t0rInentS me, and which cannot satisfy by
giving him the name that he asks for.
You have never known my name. We met at
I Moscow. 2 ] e ! '|3 81 M #$s55
! .In society ~ 35l .55@ 575S
enc; at the Hotel Sans souci, and in public pia
4 ces- Pardon me ii, with only this title to your no
tee, have Tented to accost you at so inopportune
an hour The importance Of the motive will, I hope,
1 be some excuse to mind 50 generous as yours y
/ ''What can do for you q said Rally in tone of
extreme courtesy yielding to the sympathetic inter
est which the pleasing face and manners Of the young
4 man had inspired. s#$ 81
3 81 have come to ask for liberty.H MI A
"Of me r. rs a5555 ~ a ! sla.iii is ,s.5
i "Of youn ~ S. Sss s ss ". "A
A care you not mistaken, n asked Sir james, with
some hesitation not knowing exactly what to make of
such singular demand, am Sir James Rally, an
Y Engishman by BIRTH remarkable for nothing but q
4 love of play" Il
And for success in its cried the young man. It
is my only hope II should tell you, sir, that it is
perhaps reserved for you to rescue fellow from
an opprobious condition, to efface from his brow a
mark which deyotes him to humiliation and scorn,
, what would you reply ~
ssYou en6arass me; for do not see what such an
I hypothesis can have to do with gentleman like
e. yOurself.H {f2f43 38$E gsSS, y
! s"A gentleman! Yes, by elevation Of soul; per
haps, also by education but not by the accident Oi
birth. j am slave" S28S VI s!$n
+. you ~ said Rally, with astonishment.
d My name is SWerkofF Feodorwitz, and the estate
on which was born belongs to Prince Golouhskoff,
g How can I serve you Z? asked Rally, extending
his hand afectionately to the young man. e Woult
gladly do more than pity you. But let us go thi
l. way, he added taking the direction of path which
led away from the throng; : It IS more prudent fo'
tsYes; but could not choose the moment to speal
to you. This evening, Ibeeye the court gives a fet
at the Retterburg." !" "A a 5z5 J@.' :.
"You will not return to Vienna, for after the fet
you are to go to the chateau of the Count de Sc
lensk." =. i 5s5 +
y ~" Yes" Is,
d "To play there ?n s.
"The whole night, and Goloubskof will b
,r there7 Il, Il.
II Il was well informed" He hesitated moment
and deep shadow passed over his c0untenance. <.
lis not that the livery of the Prince which I SCI
e near us ~ asked Sir James Rally. #sI1
Y !" 1t is" &4nltF5 459E+ts "a s5 st 55g
: aHe cannot be far of. Shall We not avoid meet
with all my heart. Not that ] fear to be recog
nized Immediately long years have passed since VI
e met but could not exchange ten words with hin
without exciting remembrances, and all hope woul
= be lost. sE
Let us follow this path, then y and putting spun
to their horses they soon, found themselves out
sight and hearing of the chase. Z5sS$
Here" said Sir James, g we are safe from obse
at servation." .2..g
at F" Before going farther, Z resumed the young Ru
to sian, must ask you to take charge Of this " ham
IN ing him pocketbook1; 1 Within i are bank mott M
"a million ?' exclaimed Rally surprised out of b
usual calm by the amount &1s =. slt54s
=, "Take it sir, beg Of you, and deign to listen I
th me. MY father and IWere born on a small estat
e near the volga The estate belonged to Prince Gol
Il loubskoff the father of the Prince now in Venn
Mg father was attached to his person for long tm
I'D and served him with such zeal and devotion that
" his death, he bequeathed him considerable sum br
unfortunately for family, he forgot his enfral
chsement. My father traficed in furs With Souther
of Russia and being intelligent and energetic, he gre
ds rapidly RICH My education was entrusted to Frene
- emgTant, and to his cares owe all my subsequel
w success for, when grew up, joined my efforts
those of my father, and, extending our operations
et the East doubled his fortune in the course of fe
ts years. Our positions as ser excited the solictude
my friend, the Frenchman and he urged me to see
~. an adopted country in the Western World bu
IN though ardently desired to withdraw my neck fro
* the yoke of bondage could motif without leayin
la- my poor old father prey to my masters yengeanc
: If once left Russia finally the smallest chastseme
for him would he the loss Of his property, and a
turn to the rudest labors of slavery. Icoud not 4
er it. Besides, nourshed hope which stEengthent
ia, me each day to await the morrow. thought th
ir Alexander, who, it was said, was ambitious OF u
1 title of regenerator Of his country, would associa
ny his name with the abolition Of servitnde But all t
re philanthropy of the Emperor restrained as it was
it the hateful and ptiess mobiles, produced only q
ukase which forbade the individual sale of the serf
f they could only be sold with the estate. had wait
- :. in vain l-r! &
RS tNWhy did you not try to purchase yoursef?
an I" It would have been useless. The great Auscov
D lords have made q horrible compact binding the
selves not to accept the ransom OF a, slave. Are y
,1d ignorant that seri Of Count Scheremetof offer
'io two millions of roubles for his liberty and was p
st lessly refused Yet the Count receives but sr1
on, annual tribute from this man; only a few roube
mr. but these great lords find cruel pleasure in count
in the number of their vassals and absolutely depen
ent on their caprice, mionaires, whose fortunes til
ap could ruin at word. have borne my hard lot wi
ar the fortitude of Christian have sought to forg
it in business and travel and deeds OF charity
af- now my courage fails, for / love--and the wont
who accepts me for husband, must accept the cha
on of slavery! .. ..-u. .y.5..5 ,.. ..Lf99.saa a
~ After q moments pause, the young Russian l
of sumed: " - iEi
ith "Prince Gooubskoff, have said, possesses /.
va estate on the borders of the Volga 1t counts on
Of fifty hearths yet he will not sell it at any price,
md the prince plays, and play is with him unbrid
en- passion, for which he will sacrifice everything,
Tor the feyerish excitement Of this passion, he may
ay- led to risk this estate. Ifhe does So he may lose
sst this village was bornmy father was born there
Of my family are still theregain this village for me
Man. Englshman, Christan-under this triple title
th no put my fate in your handsyou have an unlimt
nts credit over my purse-take everything triumph
pol any prce-if fate should be against you, if mt
aad lose everything and yet remain slave, will BILE
ted you for having tried to break my chains"
;y 81 accept the task,' said Sir Rally gravely.
.iyy tay ''Ths nightW
her "No; this night circumstances will not serve Th
as will play ansquenet Besides, have an engageme
ter with Bearn But the day after, think, ayo
Bile occasion will offer naturally between Gooubsk
i'm and myself He will not recoi judge, by the tenn
,t.a ity he showed yesterday II will profit by it,. &
'''N "Thanks! Sir James," said SWerkoff "and now
Ince must separate Your friends will seek you, AMI
T. sgasDaa avoid meeting them" s'5''.
S days after this conference a dense crowd v
s,s ia in one of the gaming halls, around a sm
#4der the rotunda, at which were seated t
7fAlsSszg. They were Sir James Rally and Prir
,o, Gdioubskoh For two days these two had been CT
Jars tending for vctorynow at ansquenet, now at "a
'ck now at ecarte-and the losses of Rally amounted
I'd 200 600 roubes The game at present was ecarte
ect had been four against four but the bette beeomi
alarmed thought it prudent to resume their sta K