, 1859-09-15
The OLD RUSSIAN SOLDIER.


The OLD RUSSIAN SOLDIER.
81 ALEXANDER puNAs.
lres just eighteen years Of .ngc. and had
.kcrred for Two years as ensign in tie PauIoy-
Aky regiment. The segimene was stationed 1t
the great building still standing on the otAer
side pf, tho Champ de Mars. opposite the sum-
1uer garden. Tho Emperor Pau! I. had reicped
for three yt&ra, and lived in the Red paIace.
which had Just beca completed.
One night when had been refused leave, on
ing TO sotac boyish prank. and was alone in the
gussd-roon adecp, was aroused by voice
whose breath swept along my face, and wills
pcred in my ear
:: :',naitri Alcxaadroritch,: arise, and follow
I opeped my eyes; man was Standing before
me. who repealed tue invitation rs soon as WAS
:. "Follow you {" repeated; "and wherc to ,"
n cannot tell you. Still, yon may know that
I come from, tie Emperor"
> / shuddercd. From the Emperor! What
could he want Of me. poor ensign, Of good
9anllly, but TOO remote lrum the throne for my
name ercr to hare reached the Emperor's ears.
which originated in the time Of Ivan the Terri
BILE, a. Sear the Czar, near death" Still dared
no: hesitate. ica2cd from the bed aud dressed
snysclE. Then looked Gitcnt!vely at the man
who had come 10 wake nc. Although wrapped
il his pclissei fancte1 could recognize IN old
Turkish slave, first the barber, then the farorite
Of tie Emperor. This examination, however,
Sas not tcng: g p'ol0ns'nE it, it might have
II I'm read +" said, ai,er fiyc minutes, us l
fastened on my sword.
My discontinue WIS doubled when saw my
conductor, taeteud Of going towards the bur
rack.Eatc, descend s1nal staircase leading into
81 trt,fN nj Asy-1tk
cics Of dark lautern. After several turnings,
fouud myself opposite door quite strange to
me- During the entire walk re had not met n
soul; the building eeemcd deserted. fancicd
] s1w'txu or three shadows fit past; but they
disappeated In the obscurity- The door was
closed; my guide raped upon it in peculiar
way; it flew open. evidently BY tue Is distance
we had passed, l distinctly s4w man close the
door aud follow us After proceeding five lund-
red PAGES, we reached IN open grating, which
mF :;uida unlocked and closed utter US. l now
remembered tie tradition that subterfanean
cutlery connected the Red palace with the Gren-
ad;ers barracks. l saw VIC were following this
gallery, and must be going to The palace. We
arrived nj u door like The one We had gone
through first. My guido knocked; it opened,
and We found ourselves opposite a sta.rcase.
which We asceuded: 1t led into the Offices Of
some large building, which was carefully heated.
Then I'LL my doubts ceased l was being taken
to tue E.nperor-to tile Emperor who sent 10
felch inc, an insignificant su6aitern. iremen-
bercd the story Of tie young ensign whom lie
met in the street, mud ruised in less than quar-
ter Of III hour 10 the rank Of general But !
could not hope lc summoned me- for tue same
purpose WLateyer it might be, we soon reach
ed q Inst door, before which sentry Was walk
ing up and down. sty guide pnt bis hand on my
shoulder. sayins-"T Take care Of yourself. You
will Ik&f in In IF f1Ie Etnt.a1nrH -
dc whispered to the sentry, who moycd on
one side. Then le opened tue door by some
secret spring, as it seemed to me-. 4 little mau,
dressed IN tue Prussiau fashion, with boots com.
ing half Eay up his thigh, coat falling to his
spurs, and wearing gigantic cooked hat, turn
pcror; it was net difficult to do SO. for he
reviewed Us erery day. ] remembered that, on
tle previous day, his ere had rested upon me
he had called ny captain from the ranks, and
asked him some questions; then gave m officer
OF his suite some sharp aud decided order. All
th,s 9nlY served to Increase my apprehension.
Sire my conductor said with bow, "this
II the young cusign with whom you desired to
speak" -.
TIE emperor drew near me, and as he Was
very short, be stood on tiptoe to look at me-
Doubsiessly he recognized me Us tie person be
Wansed, for lc nodded his head, and, turning on
hls heelk, said, "Go!"
.1nt 6u'ue oo"eo, NeoL out, anu lcIk me &l0ne
Will tie emperor. assure you, would soon
er hare remained alone with a lion in its den.
The emperor ut first appeared to pay no atten-
ton to me be walked up and down with long
str1de:, stopping before IN open window to take
breath Of fresn air; then returning 10 tue ta-
Bile he took q pinch Of snuff. had ample time
70 examine oil the furniture and urraug gements
Of the room, which Was the one in which Paul
Fsas Afterwards killed. Near one Of the win
oo"s was bureau; On it lay m open paper.
At length the emperor appeared 10 remember
my presence, and came up to nc.
Dust he addressed me, "dust Thou
knoTest thou art only dust, and that nm every
knon not how found strength to reply.
10Y are the chosen Of the Lord, the decidcr Of
=. ..Hum!" he gro*lea, and turning hia back On
me be began walking up and down again, taking
snuff furlously, till lie resumed:
sa.Thou knowest that, when I command. l
must te obeysed without resistance, observation,
or comment
.'As one-would obey God. Tes, sire, know
~Hs looked at rne 6zedIy. There was m ex-
preston in his eyes Of 80 strange character
TINT could not cudurc his look. turned nway.
Ae seem susished with the influence be excrcls-
ed oscr mt; be attributed my conduct to respect
while 1t was disgust Then he went to tue bu-
rear, took tie paper, read 1t once more, folded
1t, placed It in M envelope, and sealed it, not
with the imper1ul cypheg, but with ring he
wore on his finger. Then hc came back to me-.
Remember that bave chosen thee among q
cause l Thought they would be we'll executed BY
thea
II shall ever have before my eyes The obedi.
ence ove my emperor, replied"
''@Good, good remember TINT thou art bui
dust, and an cyertLirE."
a f7rnn ~ -
Take this letter, carry it to the governor oi
the fortress. accompany him Wherever he may
be pleased 10 take thee, be present at what he
doea, and come and scsl INC 4 hare seem"
took the packet with Il bow
III bare seen.' Thou uuderstandests y
hare seeu.'"
Yes, Sire"
And be opened himself the door By which
had enterets my conductor was awuising me-
The emperor closed the donr after me, repeat.
fng, '.Dust, dust, dusl!''
i stood alt amu1ement on the threshold.
Coa,e !" my conductor said to me-.
We ls1t the palace by different route. 4
sledge Was a~aiiiug us in tue courtyard. The
gate OF tho paluce looking on the Fontanka
bridge was opencd, and the sfedgc started at t
land gollop. We crossed the Plaed, and reachel
the banks Of the Acva. Our horses rushed
upon the ice, and, guided By the belfry Of Petc1
van gloomy the wind hnwled in mournfu1 ant
tes7iale manner. Ind scarcely noticed wehad
reached dry ground ere we arrived at the gate.
OF the fortress & soldier asked the password
and let IL in. The bled5e stopped ut the Eov
ernoTs door. The word given once again, vi
entered his house as ne had done the fortress
by the etnperor's ordcr?" THIS command
soon aroused tue governor, who came TO US try.
1ng TO hide Ills alarm beneath u smile. With
nao Ike Faul there WAS no more security fol
tue gao!ars than tor the captises, for tue hang
men than for tue yictimB Nv guide made til
governor u sign :hnt he had to do with me, the,
he regarded me with more attention; sti1t b,
hesifsted before addressing me-my youtt
doubt!ess'y surprised him. To put him at BIZ
e.se. gave him without word The emperor
orcer. he took it 10 light, examined the seal
and on recognizing it as the sigual OF secret
order, af bowed, made an almost imperceptiblt
sign ot be cross, and opened it. He read tht
order, then turning 10 me, said:
you arc to seeY"
~ am to kee."
What are yeu to sect"
Iou know"
"No." -
He remained for moment in thought.
.~Yea."
:: :.:1ex 4',5,.. .s.7y y persons will it ho1ds"
~Docs this gentleman 60 with us ," he asked
pointing 10 mr. conductor.
l hes.sated not knowing what TO say.
No" the latter replied, 1 will vat"
.~Verv good. Get ready second sledge
ehodke fnur .4oldierS, LET one take lcver, ano
ther hammer, md the last, tmo haschets."
The man to wEosn The governor spoke wen
ous directly. Then tuFning to nc, lie added
"Come, and you shall see.'f
Nn3 afr fkn| 1z1>s