The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1874-02-18
a RUSSIAN ORDER.

joyed for long time. the favor Of Cathe-
rine III Of Russia, but one day he; sud-
denly saw lis house surrounded By an
armed force led By comnissary Of the
police. who. demanded to speak with h;m.
y ing dear sir. said he tothe frightened
banker, il grieyes me deeply to haze re-
ceiyed orders from our gracious sovereign
to execute towards you d severity beyond
anything Ibsse ever yeto' seeii. 4 know
mot what extraordiraFg offence you phase
comfn1uedto excite such 6xtrsmity of an
ger ID her majesty as to induce her to com
InaDd punishment 50 horrible and I'M
precedented.
do not understand word Of what
you are saying answered the astonished
banker | am as much amazed as if sou
had fallen from the clouds. What are the
orders you receiycdr
4 have not the courage to tell you and
yet / shall be compelled to execute them
Am so fortunate as to have lost her
majesty's coufdence?'
.Ab. if that were all sir, you would
not see me SO discousolate. You might re-
gain her confidence and even ber favor
but
But then am banished from R1ssia 2
That would indeed be sad misfortune.
yet with your riches you could find hos
pitable reception IN any other country.
but r., lin
'Oh heavens is that possible that am
to be exiled to Siberia?'
Even from there yol might. sooner or
later, be recalled III Russia
"a Perhaps then you are going to put me
in prison?
Il wish it we're 50, for then you might
be liberated
Am /. then, condemned to undergo
the knout?' Fm 4
The knout is a dreadful punishment,
to be sure, bat it is not always fatal
Then, oh then, you would lead me, to
death tell me plainly; this suspense is
worse than death ITSELF sai q z
~ Know then that your most gracious
Empress has given orders to take off Jour
entire skin.'
To take Of my skin r exclaimed Sa-
derIand, seized with horror-.to fay me
alive T But regaining bis self-eommand,
he added, No, mott cannot be; either
you have lost your senses, MIR. uommis-
sary, or your most benign mistress has lost
hers. Is it possible you made no answer
when you received such cruel ofdersf
4 did more than any other would have
dared to do. / did not conceal my grief
and surprise. ! fingered in the imperial
presence, and bad actually began an hume
bic remonstrance to her Majesty, when our
gracious sovereign. turning TO look on me,
with look and voice Of anger. babe me
begone and perform her viii. still seem
to hear her threatening and appalling
words: Co. said her m1iesty, aud new
er forget that il Is your indispensable du-
y TO execute without questioning the com
mands think you worthy Of receiving
from me.
Ii is impossible to describe the pgita-
ton, the anguish, or the despair Of the
poor Saderlaud. After he had for time
given vent to the violence Of his distress
tie commissary told him he was allowed
quarter Of an hour to settle bis affairs.
10 vain the banker prayed for longer
interval, or d. least an opportunity to
write to Empress and implore her clemency.
At length. although trembling for the
consequences to his own life. be consented,
aud he Immediately followed the letter
himself. but not having courage to present
himself ut court be went to seek his friend
aud PROTECTOR, Colonel Bruce.
The count thought that the commissary
must have made mistake. and took him
directly to tho imperial palace. There
leaving him il m apte.chamber, he OBJ.
tained admission to the presence Of the
Empress, to whom be related he whole
affair.
What was bis astonishment to overhear
the Empress. exclaim. Just heaven
what afrocityl There can be no doubt
Nieeloff (the commissafy) is mad. Quick
Count, take the horse before il is too late,
and deliver my poor banker from bis a.
larm. aud assure him Of my favor and good
wishes
The count hastened TO communicate thi.
order TO the eonmissary. and was yet more
astouished when returning to the presence
Of the Empress. to hear her exclaiin, n
midst bursts Of the loudest laughter:
Now I understand he cause Of this
strange aud incemprebensible scene. |
have for several years had 6ne dog,
which valued highly. and have given
hin the name Of Saderland. both for the
sake of joke on my good banker. and also
in compliment 10 an English gentleman
Of that name from whom obtained the
dog. Early this morning. gave orders to
Niocloff to take Of his skin entire, in order
to have il stuffed, as the poor thing wal
dead. lie seemed. to hesitate whether "a
obey. and vas very angry. because
thought it silly pride on bis part.
A quarrelsome couple we're discussing
the subject Of epi.aphs and tcmbssenes. AND
the husband said: MY dear, what kline
Of stone do you suppose they will give M
when der Birthstone, my love- wa