Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1877-04-05

and regret; and there were times, too
when any unusual noise would cause
her to start, and look apprehensively
around. The baron, am sure, wa:
unconscious of this, for he never in
termitted his pleasant flow of CONVEX
sation. He would descant upon any
topic except the politics of the day
and these he put aside with a shrug
and smile.
1t was the evening of the fourth day
since | had been a visitor at the chat
eau Oinsky. The baron had seemed
absent and i'll at ease during dinner
had risen early from table, and, ex-
cusing himself on the plea of having
letters to write which would occupy
him until late hour, had bidder me
goodnight before | had finished my
cigar. Mademoiselle Olinsky. too
had retired to her apartments as soon
as the coffee had been handed round
and |, tired OF being the sole occupant
of the great drawlng-room, had gone
to my own room, and was in the act
of stirring the smouldering wood-fre
into a cheerful Glaze, when there
came low, timid tap at my door.
opened it, and there, in the gaunt
darkling corridor, silver lamp IN hel
hand, stood Irene. One glance al
her face tod me that it was no tri-
fling errand that she had come.
"Hush listen, but speak low in
reply, for the walls have ears" she
said in English in hurried whisper
"There are traitors beneath this roof
who break our bread but betray us
Have you noticed, Mr.. Vaughan, q
man named Vassili, red haired man
the house steward, as you would cal
him in England ?"
had observed such man; quiet
deferen.ial person, with red beard
and remarkable resemblance TO the
Judas of tradition, and said so
He is police spy" said Made
moiselle Olinsky, with flashing eyes
"and he is not the only one; but my
father will not be warned. You little
know, you whose homelife has been
free from such a faint, what an at.
mosphere of falsehood, deceit, and
treachery we Russians are forced tc
breathe. But time is precious. Yor
are friend, Mr. Vaughan, | am sure
and would help US 2"
And she fixed her large dark eyes
wistfuliy. on my face
"Be assured of that" | answered
earnestly ; "but what help is needed
or how can [, a stranger IN the land
render it 2
You can save my father" said
Irene, eagerly, but in low and eau
tlous tone and you alone can do it,
for to none other in the caste can /
confide the truth. 1T is not. she bur
redly added, that all our household
is made up of spies and traitors. There
are some of the servants who love my
father well enough to risk prison and
torture for his sake; but they are sim
pie, good natured fellows who could
not elude the watch that by this time
is set to intercept communication.
NV look of wonder was, suppose,
expressive enough without the air OF
words, for Mademoiselle Olinsky came
a step nearer, and, low and earnestly,
said, you have heard Of the Mill
lists
had heard who has not?-the
name of that terrible brotherhood, the
bugbear of successive Cars, whose
hidden influence is supposed to be
devoted to the undermining OF that
throne which to superficial observer
appears so firm and | assented by a
motion of the head.
sHe-the baron-is one OF them,
said Irene, hurriedly. My father is
only too good, too unselfish in his
views. for the associates with whom
he acts /; but it is precisely of such as
he-men of rank and property that
the government desire to make a Sc
we're example. lie is at this moment
in the city, at one Of their gatherings;
and have received notice that the
authorities know all, and will this
night make many arrests. Should he
be taken my father, | mean-he
will receive the heaviest sentence
that can be inflicted
sAnd that is -?' asked |.
Siberia can you doubt it ? re
turned the girl impatiently, 'and for
lite You, and you alone, Mr.. Vaug-
han can save him; and even then. you
must remember 20 ask him to return
for my sake, not for his own, for be
would deem it unworthy OF him to
abandon his friends in peril. | can
give you the password that will admit
YOU TO the place where you will find
him. | dare not order a carriage &c
be got ready, but you can ride, Of
course, as an Englishman. My horse
stands ready saddled in the stable,
Ghiorghi Gregorovitch, the groom
who brought the evil news, and who
NAV be trusted, will show you path
shorter than the road, by which you
may reach Moscow. | will not say
how grateful | shall be-
To serve you, to do your bidding
mademoiselle,' ] replied, and there
was something in my tone that bro''
a dainty flush OF pink into lrene's
pale, beautiful face, 81 would run
more risk, aud endure more toll, than
| shall have to confront tonight.
Ten minutes later | was in the sad
die, while the trusty Ghiorgbl eau
tiously led the way, by paddock and
coppice to a spot whence, from knoll
OF rising ground, the distant lights o
the city could be seen.
Your only danger, English lord, j:
in the drifts, said the man; keep tc
the track, you will see it easily since
blessed be the Panagia the moor
is high and the sky clear, and you'll
find that Deersfoot goes like wild
stag of the steppe.'
1t was a rough ride, but the gallant
Circassian horse, laundering through
heaped-up masses of snow and clear
ing more than one ugly looking fence
with the courage of trained hunter
hora ma safely 70 Moscow. "Tht