The Daily empire. (Dayton, Ohio) 1865-1867, 1866-11-09
ADVMItTisING IlAIlls.
sUOH Ts RnasTA

SOOEd 10 HU SSlA.
resided In Russia for many years. and |
must In Justice say that thoroughly en-
joyed my life in It's capital. business sue
coeded well. my speculations prospprcd
my wealth was nccumulating rapidly, and
| ielt that there was no extravaganza In
having luNuries, nor In allowing my
ijtmily TO enjoy them. We entered freely
into society, and the Russians always
treated us with the greatest Kindness. Our
children were growing up, the eldest had
been educated In London, and had spent
her holidays AZ her grandfathcf's IN Kent
A short time before we hnd been surprised.
by learning that she formed an attachment
witha young neighbor OF theirs OF good
character.
As the season was almost too advanced
for travelling, the young people petitioned
that they might be married In England;
and we at last consented, with the proviso
TINT they were TO pay us visit In the
following spring. need NOT. however.
ldweIl hpon our family. The night spcok
Of was IN the depth ol winter. Everything
was freezing, and only Russians or Cana
dians would dream of parties In such
weather; but II was the height of the season
in 81. Petersburg, aud the party we gave
that evening was expected TO 70 of brill
/ ianty. Our friends were invited to come
IN masquerade, and we begged our inti-
lectually. Our rooms wore already crowd
ed, when u stranger, OF at least strange
figure, addressed me, sayinghc was Obliged
TO leave early, and he trusted I would
follow his example In returning home he
hoped he should not sec me again.
was astonished by the odd address. At
first thought that he must have imbibed
too freely Of the sparkling wines IN the re-
ftpshment-rooms, but then | remarked
that they would hardly have been opened.
Just then Count Vladimer came up aud
put his hand upon my shoulder SAYING:
81 should scarcely trouble to carry "a
mask in my hand, if | were you; for every
one has seen your face. SO you cannot dis
gqiso yourself even il you put il on. Pray!
why are You looking SO mystitlcdP"
] repeated the words of my visitor aud
said could not forget them. although
knew they were of no consequence.
~ disagree with ypu," remarked my
friend. Those words must have been in
tended for Il warning. ! know TINT you
have done many klmdncsses 10 our people.
and one Of them has wished 20 put you on
your guard
"Ohl nonsense" | answered; but the
Count persisted, lie reminded me that he
had known aud liked me for yonrs, and he
earnestly begged me 10 act upon the warn
ing. At any rate, if he found that there
were grounds for his snSpicions. thu.
would promise 10 act upon his advice.
VERY wcll.N said, aud turned away.
In half an hours time met my friend,
who whispered lint he wished me to Join
him In the library, which we found de-
sorted.
"My fcar- have been coiroboratetl," said
the tuuut; "your are suspected, and will
be seized tomorrow, or Ht any moment, if
you show s'gns Of departure. You must
qdt So. Petersburg lo-night" @
~ 4 a
not suppose that ] viii leave my wife aud
children ON the whispered joke OF some
sroundrcl. perhaps"'
81 do not wish you TO leave your wife
aud childrcn,N answered my friend ;"takc
thwu with sou. or possibly Won mily all be
on thc way to Sihcrn before on are aware,
and 1t will be small comfort to Won to know
that perhaps in tN cnty years. time you may
bn acquitted. Er warned in Time ny sim
crrc wcll-wisher."
The counts nrgHincnt had some effect.
aud inquired what had hest he done.
"ExclAngc dresses with me- was the
uusWcr; but first order Your people to
pack hamper fun of oatahlcs on the plea
Of 70 surprise for my children. and manage
10 have both wine AMI brandy included;
thru quietly tel your wife 10 colleGt her
yaluahlcs and conceal them about her per-
spn--shc fortunately is wearing her dia-
munds Then return, and we win change
dresses" h.r
This was soon done. My poor wife was
one Of those valuable women who could
take n hint without stunning one with
questions. Meanwhile personated Count
Vladimcr rs wen as l was able. wearing the
mask tightly fastened, as you may suppose.
The next time we met my Kind friend
told me that his carriage was fortunately
both warm and large, and well supplied
with flrs, rs they had had long drive
from their country seat. lie Thought our
best plan would be TO enter 10 ms IL we
were leaving the party, get fresh horses
lat IVerskey, and reach the frontiers with
speed, whilst he aud his wife would per-
senate us as long as they could.
"But if there is any risk. you will he
more likely 10 suffer than n foreigner"
pardon nc," hc answered; 'the Countess
Is nearly connected with the Empress, and
iAvOrite ut court and they could not al
lcgc that we had done anything worthy Of
blame. for surely You might pay me "A visit
in the country without committing JreasOn
aud / could aver on oath. that had no
5usp!eion that you had been guilty of any
crime likely to drive You from the cpum-
try. On second thoughts, think you had
better leave your Youngest child behind;
he Is too young to bear the journey. and |
will promise that iNy wife will take the
greatest care of hiIG: and now prepare
your family with all haste"
need scarcely say Nat Count Nladimcr
spoke English fluently as compapd with
most of the Russians, and he acted the
part of host capitally ; whilst ! persuaded
the girls that we Intended to carry OH the
Joke of our disguise, and would try and
tako the servants IN when we arrived at
lyerskoy, the country seat of Count Nlad-
mer, My daughters were fortunately
dressed rs Poles, and their sable pelisscs,
which carly In the evening they had
deemed 10 be nuisanccs, were well qualified
for journey; and large dominoc con-
ccalcd ctlectually the thick shawls which
scarcely suited the embroidered velvet
dress Of my wife
lost no time In explaining matters to
my family. My daughters could not be-
licvc their ears, whilst my wife seemed
drowned In sorrow that her darling Charlie
should be left to the mercy of Russian bar
barians.
My thoughtful friend had furnished me
with note 10 his confidential attendant,
aud no sooner was IL read than he left me,
whilstNvc recruited ourselves with The hot
supper provided for his master. ON his
return he urged us TO start directly. The
ladies were wrapped still more warmly IN
flrs aud hoods, whilst | had an immense
ifr coal ossipupU tN mo. the -outci1a hetn,r nf