The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-08-26


your birth should have quilted st. Peters
burg in your eighteenth year, and buried
yourself in this obscure neighborhood for
iiity-seven years ?" encouraged by the tone Of
the old mans conversation to put so indis.
Greet questioner.
II will tell you, replied the host 81 was
then as you say eighteen years old. had
been for two years ensign of a regiment was
auartered in the large building opposite the
Summer gardep and on the other side Oft
Campus Matinus. The Car Paul had
been on the throne three years. He lived
in the Red Palace, which was just completed.
One night leave OF absence had been refused
me for some slight discipline do not re-
member what it was-l was forced to aban.
don gay party of comrades, who went out
on irolic. They being gone, | was almost
the only officer Of my grade leit in the bar
racks. went to bed early and soon fell
asleep. ! was awakened from my sound
slumbers by voice Il telt its breath on my
face) whispering in my car
"Dimi,rll Alexandrovitch. wake up :"
opened my eyes, aud saw man standing
by my bedside, who seeing me awake re-
peated his invitation to me.
What do you want? said !.
Get up and follow me-
! Follow you--where!
IL cannO, tell you Know IT is the En-.
pcror's order
a cold chill ran through me. The Em-
pcror's order. What could be want OF me,
poor ensign, OF good family, il is true,
but too lar red1oyed from the throne for II
| to be possible my name should have reach
ed his ear. remfnbered the terrible Rus
sian proyerb, w1ich arose in the reign OF
Ivan the Terrible, Near the Gar, close
to DEATH Nevertheless, could not hesi-
tate ! jumped up and began 10 dress.
Then closely examined the man who had
come to wake me. Hid as he was in his
furs, thought recognized an Old Turkish
slave who rose from being u barber to the
Cars iavorite. This scutiny, however, did
not last long, tor it would perhaps bc dan
gerous had IT been too long.
81 am ready at last, SAID |, buckling my
sword around my waist to be ready for any
contingency.
Ny uDeasiness increased wien ] saw my
guide 90 down small staircase leading into
the cellars OF the immense barracks, instead
OF carrying me out by the main door. He
lighted the way by small blind lantern.
After several windings he went 10 door
whose very existence was unknown TO me
before. We had not met soul 10 the
whole building il seemed as il the great
barracks were deserted and yet ] knew il
contained several thousand men; thought
indeed, once or twice saw shadow GID
ing into obscurity, but these isiEt shadows
disappeared, or rather vanished in the dark.
ness
"When, after walking some time, we
came TO a closed door, my guide raped in
itain way. The door was instantly
opened. When We entered il, saw man
close it, and follow US il twas he who opened
it 50 suddenly, and he was evidently waiting
for us. The passage where We were, was
apparently subterranean vault, some seven
or eight iect wide; the humidity Of the
ground swea,ed through the bricks which
lined it inside About FIVE hundred PAGES
further on there was an iron gate which my
guide unlocked and fastened after he had let
u in. On We went. then began to re.
member that bad heard there was Sub
terranean passage between the Red Palace
aud the barrack. OF Paulowski's grenadiers.
! supposed that We were on Our way TO the
palace. We reached another door and
raped as he raped before; it opened a. the
other had done, and when we went through
| saw a man sitting behind II. Now We
walked up staircase Il opened into the
rooms on the ground floor, but the the al.
mospbere showed that We were in house
carefully and comfortably warmed. This
house soon assumed the proportions oi a
palace Then all my doubts fed ] was
led TO the Emperor-,he Emperor had sent
for me-for me, AN humble ensign in the
guard remembered that young ensign
b. met in the street, and made ge, up behind
biz carriage. and raised success vely. and 10
less than fifteen minutes, to lieutenant cap
tain, major colonel aud general. But
dared not hope that he had sent for me with
any such intention. We nov reached anoth-
er door still >-b,inel placed b0fore IL
Ny guide laid hls hand 90 my shoulders
saying
"'1ske care; or you will be in tha Emp
rors presence 10 a minute.
lie whispered 10 the ysntloeI the latter
stood one SIDE. Ny guide ] will not say 40
locked the door, bot opened II by touching a
secret spring, or something oi that sort-s'
Il east Il seemed ~ me. The nOise ~
J mad 10 entering the room made a small man
dressed in the Prussisn style, with boot
which cAme haif way up his thigh, csa'
which bot z down 10 bs spurs, wearing
gizantie tlres- eOrbered bat although b. va,
10 bis bed chsmb-r. and IN igll dres, al
ihoagh IL vas u o'c!ock at night ! 20.
the noi-e we made caused tbs mAn 10 tarr
around reooxbinsi tue kmPrd. h~s
%, d,hicnli, ir saE him very day Of "a!
lie femsmt@red tha, o. oar reyss tia
morning h bsi lpoksd a; M and bad osll