The Russellville Democrat., 1877-04-19
UNDER RUSSIAN ESCORT.

UNDER RUSSIAN ESCORT.
 No, no, thank youl Never mind mel can find my way well enough to the Nobles' club on foot, and I'll wait for you there, if you like, Ladislas, after you have seen the ladies safely home"
 So saying, I 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, ill-lighted streets, seemed all the darker by contrast with the bright, warm theater from which I had just emerged. The crisp snow cracked be- heath my feet, and few drops of pre- monitory sleet slashed my face as l set out, and gave warning of a coming storm, while the cold was intense; more bitter as it seemed to me than any which had experienced during the two winters I spent in the Russian capital. My own name was Hugh Forster, and 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 Ey way home. I had, however, accepted an invitation from 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 familiarly known as best man" on the occasion of his wedding. The name ol this young Pole was Count Ladislas Poniatowski; the marriage was to take place on the morrow; and had just ac- 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 of, 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 stone pavement, and the sleet be- gan to fall more thickly. Suddenly it occurred to me that I was followed. Two tall figures, muffled 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 might be mistaken, .saun. tered so that the tall man might have a chance of passing me. Those behind me also diminished their speed. I stepped out briskly, but in vain. My pursuers were not to be shaken off It did not occur to me that my perti. nacious followers were thieves. Street robberies, once unheard of, are still rare within the Russian domains. I was more inclined to believe that this pur- suit was mere freak of some half.in. toxicated idlers, and, knowing the magical effect of politeness on the excit. able Sarmatian nature, turned 80 as to front the two men, and, with cerem0n' ious civility, raised my hat.
 "My lords," I said in the best Polish I could master-every wearer of a cloth coat is ".my lord" in Warsaw or Ora crow" fear you have mistaken"
 "No mistake at allw interrupted the taller of the two, speaking in French "wc know you, monsieur. Call them Imkoff."
 His companion raised his finger to hi mouth, and gave long, shrill whistle It was answered instantly, and theI came the seund of hurrying feet and thu clash of weapons, and was surrounded and aoined by several men, some of whom we lently police, while the others wo Hers in gray watch coats.
 "US him if he calls for help!" com manded the first speaker, opening hi own mantle, and showing the uniform and medallcd breast of hussian major "Where loiters the sledge?"
 As he spoke, my ears caught the jingl' of Valdai bells, and kibitka drawn by three horses came swiftly up. Wha wild horsemcn, with their fur caps ana sheepskin pelisses, long lance tucked under each right arm, were those wht rode to left and right of it? Cossacks surely.
 "In the Emperor's name !" said thu major, putting his gloved hand on m, shoulder, and pushing me towards thu sledge.
 Stupe6ed for moment, l now found my tongue, and vigorously remonstrated telling my captors that l was an English man, a peaceful traveller, and guiltles of any offence. My plea was received with utter incredulity.
 "We are not your dupes, count" sait the officer who had been called Imkofi "You had better give your parole not t' attempt resistance, or force us to us' violence. In the long journey which
 "Are you mad, or by what right
 began l, boiling with passion, and mak ing desperate effort to shake mysel free, but, though I dealt few heav. blows, I was soon overpowered by su