The mountain Democrat., 1863-12-05

thickened, and the music swelled bighe
and higher, as half or more than half o
the society" of st. Petersburg passeC
in. The Emperor and Empress realized
Sophie's anticipations, for they paid thu
Prince and Princess of Wittgenstein the
compliment Of their presence.
They walked, unInasked, through the
rooms, the glittering company parting
into two lines to give them free passage
both Gar and CzaFina smiled graciously,
and addressed civil word, here and there,
to some well-known personages. The
band played the Russian anthem, and ev-
cry face was uncovered, in Difference to
the august visitors, as they moved slowly
past.
But those who were best used to watch
the face Of the strong -willed despot, whose
personal influence was mightier, at that
tine, than any Cars since Peter the
Great, felt i'll at ease as they watched his
gigantic form pass through the crowded
saloons. There was an ominous firmneSS
about the imperial mouth, it was said, and
dangerous sparkle in the imperial eye.
The Emperor was known to have much
self-control, but there were signs Of sup
pressed anger under his placidity Of as.
pect which courtiers could read.
The Emperor and Empress did not stay
long. When they departed, the masks
were replaced, the music struck up with
fresh spirit, and the aristocracy Of Russia
forgot the darkling glance of their mas.
tcr's eye. The dance went pleasantly on.
an. Charles, will you do me favor ?"
1t was Sophie who spoke, and her voice
quivered in manner inexplicable TO me,
considering how ordinary were her words.
She was in the rich Circassian dress of
blue and silver she had chosen; but she
would not have known mel an ordinary
domino Of crimson silk, but for my face
being exposed, through my not having
replaced my mask. She was clinging to
the arm of boyish figure in Louis the
Fourteenth attire, her brother, guessed.
"M. Charles, will you do me favor?"
1t was not very difficult to grant. She
merely wanted me to affix to the breast Of
my domino a certain yellow rosette, a
shoulder. Of yellow ribbon with two
huttering ends-that was all. Hurriedly
she thanked me for my consent, and in
sisted on pinning the knot to my domino
with her own hands, though her slender
fingers shook so much that they could
hardly perform the task. 1t was a whim
of hers, she said, trick to "mystify"
some one; and oh, it was so kind of me to
humor her, and would please to wear it
till after supper time, and to be masked
Before | could ask her for dance she was
gone, lost in the crowd.
"llist come nearer, the games up"
said mans voice, thick and husky with
emotion, at my car. started. A tall
man in dark domino was at my elbow.
ITS all over" said the stranger, in his
cultural French, spoken with a German
accent; "some one has betrayed u.s.
The troops are under arms, and the soldiers
we counted on are diSarmed and confined
to barracks. Rest assured that the EN-:
peror knows all. GIiska-'
Monsieur, you mistake!" exclaimed
/, and the man shrunk away. Scarcely
had time to debate in my own mind the
purport Of what had heard, when two
or three masked persons came hastily for
ward, the foremost pointing me out to
the others.
"That is he. know him by the rib
bon."
There was pause, and shuffling and
whispering. | bethought me of the mys-
tilication Sophie had spoken Of Were
these the friends at whose expense some
harmless trick was to be played had
little time to think, for one of the new
comers passed his arm familiarly through
mine.
Come quietly, monsieur, to avoid
scandal"
By this time my other arm had been
graspcd by another of the group. Imade
some jocular observation, in French, on
the peremptory nature of the summons,
fully persuaded that the whole was mas,
querade frolic. The intruder spoke again,
more sternly:
"You carry it off we'll, sir. But your
enterprises are unfortunate. You must
come with me in the Emperor's name, or
| swear to shoot you where you stand
Come on!"
| was pushed, or dragged, through a
side door, down passage, and into the
hall Of the embassy. 1t was full of sodiery
and gendarmes In moment cloak was
thrown over my head, my wrists were
chained together, and | was hustled out
into the snow, and thrust into a slcdge.
There was a shout, trampling and clash
ing, and felt the jerk of the start The
sledge was going off at rapid pace, in
spite OF the softncss of the snow. Half
Smothcrcd by the cloak over my head, !
rather lay than sat in the place into which
had been pushed, while by the bound
ing motion Of the kibtka knew that the
speed of our progress was great,
Presently the woollen wrapper which
mutfled my head was removed, and l could
see the true state of the case. The sledge
was traversing snow-covered road mark
ed out by painted posts at frequent inter-
walls. To right and left lay hllocky
mounds Of snow, covering the peat morass
through which the morass passed. Over
head was a wrack of hurryng lead color
ed cloud with the pale winter moon peep
ing out sufficiently to show the horsemen
Of the escort, party of Dragons of the
guard, who rode at the right and left Of
the slcdgc, their FURNISHED helmets and
long white cloaks looming ghost-like
through the dim light. Besides myself
there were two persons in the kibitka
the driver and sturdy figure in the uni
form Of sergeant. The latter held q
pistol in his gloved right hand an excess
of precaution, for l was bound and help
less.
closed my eyes for minute or two
and calmed my nerves by strong effort
Then looked again. Yes, nothing had
changed. Snowy road, lashing whip
bounding horses, painted posts to mark