Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1857-05-01

have passed since we met; but Icould mo-
lexchange ten words with him without ex,
citing. remembrances and allshope would
be lost ,tyYs Ia .5,ss.5 s5,..s5.y
Let us follow this path htthen : and put.
ting spurs to their horses. they soon found
themselves out of sight and hearing ol
the chase. ahpG ! alss saa.,st ,7iE
nj Here, said Sir James, we are safe
from .observation.' ~
Before going farther resumed the
young Russian. must ask you to take
charge of .this;' handing him a pocket
book, Within it are bank notes 20 the
amount OF a million roubles.'
"a million II exclaimed Rally, surpri.
sed out of his usualicalm by the amount.
Take it sir, beg of you. and deign
to listen to me. My father, and were
born on small estate near the Volga.--
The estate belonged to Prince Gouloub.
skoff, the father Of the Prince now in
Vienna. Ny father wss attached 10 his
person for long time. and served him
with zeal and devotion, that at his death.
he bequeathed him considerable sum !;
but unfortunately for our family. he for
got his enfranchisement. My father traf-
licked in furs with Southern Russia.
and being intelligent anl energetic
he grew rapidly rich. My educa.
ton was entrusted to a French emigrant.
and to his cares l owe all my subsequent
success for, when grew up. i joined my
efforts to those Of my father. and. extend
ing our operations to the East. doubled
his fortune in the course of few years.
Our positions as serfs excited the solicit
tude of my friend, the Frenchman, and he
urged me to o'seek an adopted country in
the Western World but. though l ar
dently desired TO Withdraw my neck from
the yoke Of bondage, could not fly.
without leaving my poor old father prey
to my msster's-vengeance. If once lett
Russia finally. the smallest chastisement
for him would be the loss of his property,
and return to the rudest labors Of sla-
very. 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 associute his name
with the abolition Of servitude. But all
the philanthropy Of the Emperor. restrain
ed 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.
l had waited in vain
why did you not try to purchase
yourself 2
1t would have been useless. The
great Muscovite lords have made horri-
BILE compact, binding themselves not to
accept the ransom Of slave. Are you
offered two million Of roubles for his liber
ty, and was pitilessly refused Yet the
count receives but small annual tribute
from this man only few roubles but
these great lords find cruel pleasure in
counting in the number of their yassals.
and absolutely dependent on their caprice.
millionaries, whose fortune they could ru.
in at word. l have borne my hard lot
with the fortitude Of christian. have
sought to forget it in business aud travel
amt deeds Of charity but now my cour>
age fails, for | love-and the woman who
accepts me for husband must expect
the chain Of slavery
After a moments pause, the young
Russian resumed I Prince Gouloubskoff.
T l have said, possesses an estate on the
borders Of the Yolga. 1t counts only IF
sy hearths. yet be will not sell it at any
price. But the prince plays. and play is
with him an unbrldled passion. fer which
he will sacrifice everything. In the fe-
veriSh excitement of this passion. he may
be led to risk his estate. If he does so.
he may lose. In this village was born
my father was born there-my family
are still there-gain this village for me-
Man. Englishman, Christian-under this
triple title | put my fate in your hands
you have an unlimited credit over my
purse-stake eyerything-triumpha at any
price--if fate should be against you. if l
must loose everything. and yet remain a
slave. will bless you for having tried TO
break my chains i'-r 10
Il accept the task said Sir Rally
graveIy. .t 81 ID 81
This night?'
No. this night circumstances will not
serve, They will play lansquenet. Be-
sides. have an engagement with o.
Bearn. But the day after, think. ia.
vorable occasion will offer naturally be.
tween GouloubskofI and myself. He will
not recoil. Judge. by the temerity he
showed yesterday. I will profit by it,
Thanks Sir James, said Swerkof;
and now. We must separate. Your
friends will see you. Iwould avoid meet
ing them .j,lgr,4 ,s.tE ~
Four days after this conference. a dense
crowd was collected in one Of the gaming
halls. around small table under the ro-
tunda. at which were seated two players,
They were Sir James Rally and Prince
Gouloubskof. For two days these tive
had been contending for victory-now al