Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1872-09-18
Miscellany
An Escape or The Car.

BY JOnS EsrEN COOKE.
At some moment ia tue lives of all men
death passes near them; stretches out
chilly hand wiihdraws il passes on; and
the human being go,s on his way, iguor-
ant of the fate from which he has escaped.
One morning in the summer of l745
Lieut. Palowsky, a Polish officer of the
Papal army at Rome, received orders to
repair in an hour to the Vatican with a
mounted detashmcnt, TO escort person.
age OF Importance to the sea coast.
Palowsky, a man Of thirty, with black
hair aud eyes, aud the erect bearing of
the soldier, saluted 10 silence, aud half an
hour afterwards was riding slowly towards
the Vatican. 1t was plain as he approach
ed. that the troopers were to escort some
royal or imperial parsonage. One of the
Pope's own coaches, with four horses at
tachod, stood in front Of the maiH entrance
aud outriders ready mounted. were ranged
on either side. Palowsky halted his men
dismouted, entered the Vatican. aud rea III
ing the ante-chamber, looked around for
some one. A single person occupied the
apartment, Monsignore Erangipanni. an
eccleasiastic Of high position, aud as Pal
owsky, who was an ardent Catholic, knew
Monsgnore intimately, he wcny up to him
and said:
do you know whom am to escort to-
day, father ?"
The worthy eccesiastic, who had greet
ed the young Pole with benevolent
smile, suddenly looked at him intently,
with an expression of doubt and trouble
upon his venerable features
"Youw he said. "You my son '
Then it is you who is to command the
mounted escort 2"
Such was the order received, father.
But am yet ignorant Of the name Of the
parsonage | am to accompany"
"Iou do not know ?"
Since | ask you his name, father"
The good priest was silent for mo-
meut.
"You are a Pole, are you not, my son?"
he said at length
"Assuredly, father"
"And you hate Russia and Russians ~
bitterly"
Then said the old priest shaking his
head, "Collonna has made a bad select
ion in choosing you to command this cs.
cort."
The young Pole looked at his lnterloc-
utor intently.
"A bad selection, lather?"
YES"
Tell me wherefore"
"Are you ignorant Of the presence of a
very great parsonage at Rome ?"
The Pole raised his head quickly and
exclaimed
"lt is not possible that liam to
escort"
"The Gar Nicholas of Russia? Yes.
His Imperial majesty has terminated his
consultations with the Holy Father on the
Eastern question, and is about to leave
Rome for Civita Vecchia, where he will
take ship"
Palowsky turned pale, and his dark
eye flashed. Then his head sank, and he
muttered, in low, strange tone, pausing
between each phrase:
"So-it is LA POle-who am to
escort him-sately."
The word "saiely' was uttered in SC
singular tone of voice. and was accom-,
panied by side glance at Monsgnorc
Frangpanni so covert and menacng, that
the ecclesiastic trembled. He advanced
step laid his hand upon the arm of the
young Pole, and was about to speak when
the door of the inner aTArtment opened,
and two imposing figures appeared upon
the threshold.
One was the figure of the Pope clad in
his plain canonical robes, placid and
kindly smile upon the benevolent features
IA father Of the church in dress, bearing
and expression. The other figure was
that of a man of commanding stature,
covered with gorgeous decoration. The
carriage Of his person lofty and imposing,
the features handsome and striking, the
whole bearing of the individual that of a
1 Hltu dttuStOiuCu W oupiOhiO
and unlimited obedience. The very
glance of this human being was power in
carnate; and the fact was simple. Mich.
olas. Auocrat of all the Russias, was the
head, front and approximation Of a
power as nearly approaching Divinity as
is possible to humanity. This one man
grasped in his right hand, like flaming
sword, that grand, terrible, indescrible
force, Russia. Millions moved at his
nod, no more dreaming of oppression than
of opposing Fate. From the mines Of
Siberia to the banks Of the Vissula. from
the frozen shores Of Lapand to the warm
waves of tho sea of Azov, countless host
of human beings ascending irregular gra
datons from serf to prince, had but one
controlling sentiment THE Gar is God
his will is law"
The pope accompanied his Majesty to
the head of the flight ofmarble stairs,
where they parted with ceremonious IN
cinations-T Gar not Offering TO kiss
the hand Of his host; as the head of the
Greek church he was "schisamatico.
! Descending the steps, he then entered
the coach, and was about to make sign
to the driver to proceed on his way, when
Monsignore Frangpanni, disregarding all
ceremony. came up quickly to the win
dow, ant said in low tone:
lis your Majesty aware that the office
commanding your escort is Pole p
| The Gar turned his head quietly.
liA DnIn Mnneinnnrn 2ii hn snid In h