The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1861-02-05

to Prince Gouloubskoff.
How can l serve you . asked Rally
extending his hand affectionately to the
young man. | would gladly do more
than pity you. But let us go this way,
he added, taking the direction of a path
which led away from the throng 1t is
more prudent. You know, perhaps, thai
the Prince is here
Yes; but | could not choose the mo-
ment to speak to you. This evening, |
believe, the court gives fete at the Rut-
terburg.'
Yes
You will not return TO Vienna, for af-
ter the fete you are to go TO the chateau
of the Count de Solensk'
Yes
To play there .
The whole night, and Gouloubskoff
will be there
Il was well informed He hesitated
a moment, and deep shadow passed
over his countenance.
Is not that the livery of the Prince
which see near us 2 asked Sir James
Rally.
1t is
He cannot be far off. Shall we not
avoid meeting him .
with all my heart Not that l fear
to be recognized Immediately long years
have passed since we met but | could
not exchange ten words with him with
out exciting romembrances, and all hope
would be lost
Let us follow this path, them and,
putting spurs to their horses, they soon
found themselves out of sight and hear
ing of the chase.
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 pocket
book Within it are bank notes to the
amount of a million roubles.'
\ million = exclaimed Rally, sur
prised out of his unusual calm by the
amount.
Take it, sir, beg of you, and deign
to listen to me. My father and | were
born on a small estate near the Volga
The estate belonged to Prince Gouloubs-
koff, the father of the Prince now in Vi
emma. My father was attached to his
person for long time, and served him
with such zeal and devotion that, at his
death, he bequeathed him considerable
sum but, unfortunately for our family,
he forgot his enfranchisement Ny faith
sia, and being intelligent and energetic,
he grew rapidly rich. My education was
entrusted TO a French emigrant, and 10
his care | owe all my subsequent sue
cess for, when | grew up, | joined my
efforts TO those Of my father, and extend
ed our operations 10 the East, doubled
his fortune in the course of few years.
Our position as serfs excited the solici-
tude of my friend, the Frenchman, and
he urged me to seek an adopted country
in the western world but, though | ar
IDENTITY desired to withdraw my neck from
the yoke of bondage, | could not fly
without leaving my poor old father a
prey TO my masters vengeance. II once
left Russia finally, the smallest chastse
ment for him would be the loss of his
property, and a return TO the rudest Ia
bors of slavery. | could not do it. Be-
sides, nourished hope which strength |
ems me each day TO wait the morrow. i
thought that Alexander, who. it was
said, was ambitious OF the title Of regen
orator of his country, would associate
his name with the abolition of seryitude.
But all the philanthropy Of the Emperor,
rs it was by the hateful and
pitiless mobiles, produced only the ukas,
which forbid the individual sale of serfs,
they could only be sold with the estate.
| had waited in vain
why did you not try to purchase
yourself 2
1t would have been useless The |
great Moscoyite lords have made horri |
bic compact. binding themselves not TO
accept the ransom of slave. Are You
ignorant that a serf of Count Scheremet- |
off offered two millions Of roubes for his
liberty, and was pitilessly ly refused Yet
the Count receives but small annual
tribute from this man only few rou
bles but they find q cruel pleasure in
counting the number of their vassals, and
absolutely dependent upon their caprice
are millionaires whose fortunes they can