The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1877-04-26
UNDER RUSSIAN ESCORT.

NO, no, JnanR you! never nina
me ! | can find my way well enough to
the Nobles' club on foot, and I'll wait
for you there, it you like, Ladislas, after
You have seen the ladies safely home"
So saying, | wrapped my furred coat
more closely y 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 | had lust
emerged. The crisp snow cracked be-
meath my feet and a 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 /
spent in the Russian capital. My own
name was Hugh Forster, and | had Just
completed a 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
Ny way home, had, however, accepted
an invitation from young Polish noble,
with whom ! was on intimate terms, to
visit him at Warsaw on my h0meward
route, and to act as what in England is
tamiliarly known as "best man on the
occasion of his wedding. The name of
this young Pole was Count Ladsas
Poniatowski; the marriage was to take
place on the morrow; and had Just ac-
companied the bride and bridegroom
elect, with the old Princess Sapicha,
aunt to my friend, and mother to Made
moiscllc Marie, to the thcater, 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 a 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 | was followed.
Two tall figures, muflled up with even
more precaution than the sharp cold die
tatcd, 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 Il
chance Of passing me. Those behind me
also diminished their speed. | stepped
out briakly, 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
robbcries, once unheard OF, are still rare
within the Russian domains. | was
more inclined to believe that this pur-
suit was Il mere freak of some half.in-
toxicated idlcrs, and, knowing the
magical effect of polteness on the excit-
able Sarmatian nature, turned so as to
front the two men, and, with ceremon-
ious civility, raised my hat.
"My lords" said in the best Polish
| could master-every wearer of cloth
coat is "my lord" in Warsaw or Cra-
crow" fear you have mistaken"
"No mistake at alp interrupted the
taller of the two, speaking in French,
We know you, monsieur Call them,
ImkOf."
His companion raised his finger to his
mouth, and gave long, shrill whistle.
1t was answered instantly, and then
came the Sound of hurrying feet and the
clash of weapons, and | was surrounded
and seized byseveral men, some of whom
were evidently police, while the others
were soldiers in gray watch coats.
"Gag him if he calls for help" COM
manded the first speaker, opening his
own mantle, and showing the uniform
and medalTed breast of hussian major
"Wheie loiters the sledge?'
As he spoke, my ears caught the jingle
of Valdai bells, and kibitka drawn by
three horses came swiftly up. What
wild horsemen, with their fur caps and
sheepskin pelisses, long lance tucked
under each right arm, were those who
rode to left and right of it? Cossacks,
surely.
"In the Emperors name !" said the
major, putting his gloved hand on my
shoulder, and pushing me towards the
sledge.
Stupefied for moment, | now found
my tongue, and vigorously demonstrated,
telling my captors that was an English
man, a peaceful traveller, and guiltless
of any offence. My plea was received
with utter incredulity.
"We are not your dupes, count. said
the officer who had been called Imkoii.
"You had better give your parole not to
attempt resistance, or force US TO Use
violence. In the long journey which"
care you mad, or by what right
began boiling with passion, and max
ing a desperate effort to shake myself
free, but, though dealt few heavy
blows, | was soon overpowered by su.
perior numbers, my wrists were manacled
and was flung into the kibitka, with a
policeman by my side.
"Bon yoyage!" sneered the major, as