The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1877-04-27
UNDER RUSSIAN ESCORT

UNDER RUSSIAN ESCORT.
No, no, thank you! Never mint
me ! l can find my way well enough tC
the Mobiles club on foot, and I'll wait
for you there, if you like, Ladislas, after
You have seen the ladies safely home
So saying, l wrapped my furred coat
more closely around me, and, lifting my
hat in parting salutation to the occu-
pants of the carriage, turned away. The
blackness of the night, as traversed the
wide, lll-Hghted streets, seemed all the
darker by contrast with the bright,
warm theater from which l had Just
emerged. The crisp snow cracked be-
meath my feet, and few drops of pre-
monitory sleet slashed my face as set
out, and gave warning of coming storm,
while the cold was intense; more bitter
as it seemed to me than any which had
experienced during the two winters l
spent IN the Russian capital. My own
name was Hugh Forster, and 1 had just
completed two years probation in the
counting-house of the wealthy St.Peters-
burg firm, of which my father was the
chief London partner, and was now on
nay way home. l had, however, accepted
an invitation from a young Polish noble,
with whom l was on intimate terms, to
visit him at Warsaw on my homeward
route, and to act as what in England is
familiarity known as chest man on the
occasion of his wedding. The name OF
this young Pole was Count Ladislas
Poniatowski; the marriage was to take
MD hn
companied the bride and bridegroom
elect, with the old Princess Sapieha,
aunt to my friend, and mother TO Made
moiselle Marie, to the theater, where an
unusually good performance had at
tracted half Warsaw.
The carriage lamps flashed past me as
the long line of equipages drove rapidly
off, moving over the snow with that
swift, silent motion which always ap-
pears so strange and ghostly to traveller
familiar with the rattle of the wheels
over a stone pavement, and the sleet be-
gan to fall more thickly. Suddenly it
occurred to me that 1 was followed.
Two tall figures, muffied up with even
more precaution than the sharp cold die |
tated, appeared to dog my steps, regu-
lating their pace by mine, and keeping |
always at the same distance from me. |
whatsoe yer. my rate of progression. |
Thinking l might be mistaken, l saun-
tered so that the tall man might have
chance of passing me. Those behind me
also diminished their speed. 1 stepped
out briskly, but in vain. My pursuers
were not to be shaken off.
1t did not occur to me that my peril
nacious followers were thieves. Street
once unheard of, are still rare
within the Russian domains. | was
more inclined to believe that this pur-
suit was a mere freak of some half-in-
toxicated idlers, and, knowing the
magical effect of politeness on the excit-
able Sarmatian nature, / turned so as to
front'the two men, and, with ceremon-
Gus civility, raised my hat
my lords" said in the best Polish
could master-every wearer of a cloth
,oat is "my lord" in Warsaw or Cra-
fear you have mistaken"
No mistake at all" interrupted the
aller of the two, speaking in French,
we know you, monsieur. Call them,
mkof."
His companion raised his finger to his
mouth, and gave long, shrill whistle.
t was answered instantly, and then
anne the sound of hurryiDg feet and the
lash of weapons, and l was surrounded 1
nd seized by several men, some of whom
we're evidently police, while the others
we're soldiers in gray watch coats.
"Gag him if he calls for helpw COM
handed the first speaker, opening his
wn mantle, and showing the uniform {
nd medalled breast of Russian major .
Where loiters the sledge % {
As he spoke, my ears caught the jingle
f Valdai bells, and a kibitka drawn by ]
lree horses came swiftly up. What {
Tild horsemen, with their fur caps and
heepskin pelisses, long lance tucked {
Iuder each right arm, were those who
ode to left and right of it? Cossacks, I
urely. s
/" In the Emperor's name !" said the
major, putting his gloved hand on my
houlder, and pushing me towards the
ledge.
Stupeied for a moment, now found {
ny tongue, and vigorously demonstrated, I
elliug my captors that l was an English
nan, peaceful traveller, and guiltless ,
f any offence. Ny plea was received
7ith utter incredulity. s
"We are not your dupes, count" said
he officer who had been called Imkoff | :
You had better give your parole not to '
tempt resistance, or force us to use
iolence. In the long journey which"
care you mad, or by what right" {
egan /, boiling with passion, and max I
ng a desperate effort to shake myself {
rec, but, though / dealt a few heavy ]
lows, ] was soon overpowered by SUI
'erior numbers, my wrists were manacled I
nd / was flung into the kibitka, with
'oliceman by my side. {
"Bon voyage" sneered the major. as .
was dragged away. "Hotter blood
han his has cooled, warrant you, be- I
ween Siberia and this" {
Siberia! The dreadful word sent
hill through my veins, and almost caused
ne to become insensible to the rapid mo-
ion through the air, for the carriage had
low started, and at such pace that the I
Jossacks of the escort were compelled to {
.eep their wiry little nags at a hand-gal- I
op. As we flew through the deserted
tTeets, and long after the suburbs had I
eer cleared and the lights of Warsaw {
7ere lost to sight, continued to ponder s
yer this strange event, and to puzzle |
D yself by vain efforts to guess why /, an
Inglishman, quite free from political {
of any sort, had been thus
uddenly consigned to exile. 1 had j
card of such arrests, but never of for
igner, still less of a British subject, as {
heir victim.
"This is Stanislawow," said a voice {
hat had heard before, speaking in
'rench, as the carriage drew up at the {
oor of a low-roofed posthouse, and a '
resh relay of horses were harnessed and
ut to. "And now, count, if you will
axe my advice, and promise to abstain s
rom useless resistance, ] shall be happy !
0 give orders for the removal of that
hahn around your wrists. Come, come, '