Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1877-04-05
The pass word is "Holy Poverty. ?

LII that does not mean boot and
saddle. l am strangely mistaken |
trust may not be too late
A stranger in great, Struggling
city, IKE Moscow, is apt to lose his
way, especially by night, and | had
hardly reached the brandy-shop at the
corner OF the Tcherny Dvor, and given
my horses bride INTO the hand of one
ofthe sheep skin-clad idlers.who loung
ed outside it, before party of mount
ed Cossacks came up at a canter, and
took up their station in front of the
public honse, throwing out vedettes
with sloped lances to right and left /
lost. no time IN cropping my way, by
the aid of the dim lanterns, to the
house of which | was in quest. Here
at last was Number Thirty seven. |
knocked at the squalld door as direct
ed -thri ce.
The door flew open, aud two muified
figures seemed to fill up the narrow
space.
Gin what name?" gruiiiy asked one
of these .janitors
"Holy poverty - | answered firmly,
and they made room for me to pass
between them. On | went along a
dimly-lighted corridor, until | sudden
ly came to a halt. What barred my
way was naked sword, the straight,
bright blade of which had its edge
turned towards me. lie who held it
was man OF great stature, cloaked,
and wearing a black hood an mask,
that left nothing but the eyes visible.
"By what right brother?" he asked,
in grave, deep voice.
"The right of Holy Poverty" I an
swered.
"What seek yep demanded the
guardian, still interposiug his weapon
Nothing, which is all, l replied,
and the sword was Withdrawn, while
two men, whom | had not previously
seen, emerged from some lurking
place, and usherod me, civily enough,
up a steep and narrow stair, through
a dark passage and then into ball
blazing with the light OF many torch
es and candles, and nearly full of per-
sons differing much from one another
in garb and demeanor, for most were
peasants gaberdlnes, and some in mill
itary uniform, while few were in
black suits, or in the attire of members
0! the Russian Civil Service. About
two thirds Of those present wore
masks, but the faces of the rest could
be seen, and very various they were.
There was the moujik, whose one as
| piratiOn in lfe was to own, in fee sim
pie, the. bit of land for which he paid
rent; there was the bearded fanatic of
some wild sect, pining for the day
when a synod should rule Russia with
fire and thumb screw there was the
poet, the Discontinued noble, the am
bilious burgher, the Pole with his
dream that Poland might yet be free,
the soldier weary of the grinding dis
ciplne of the ranks. a motley crowd
were they, and very heterogeneous
the motives that had affiliated them to
the all embracing society of the Mill
lists But scarcely had these refec-
tons occurred to me, before | caught
sight OF Baron Olinsky, occupying a
seat on raised platform, and at once
hurried to his side.
As | advanced there was stir and
hum in the crowd.
otis the French delegate we expec-
ted !" said one
"No' it's the Belgian fellow of the
International !" put IN another with
equal confidence.
"Swede! Greek SPY" were some
Of the observations winch overbea ard
as | elbowed my way to the dias
where sat the baron, one of a group
of five or six officials all of whom, save
himself, were masked. he rose from
his chair aud came toward with an air
of well-feigned noachalance to meet
me
"My young FRIEND" he said, in
French, and in an easy, conversation
al tone, edo you know how many dag
gers are ready, at word, tor your
throat? We are no play actors here.
The secret societies of Russia have an
ugly knack of silencing lnconvenient
tongues"
Baron" I answered, 81 have Meth
er the wish nor the right to pry into
the objects OF your meeting here. But
this'-and as | spoke, / handed to
him little pearl cross, with dia-
mond in the centre of it -'proves that
my intrusion here was not prompted
by idle curiosity
"Irene gave you this her mothers
| favorite ornament 2" said the baron in
an altered voice.
"She did," | answered and at the
same time she prayed me, should the
token fail, TO crave your immediate
return with me for her sake. The
precise circumstances of the case I'm
not at liberty to mention
Baron Olinsky instantly whispered
a few words in the ear OF the masked
man who was seated next to him, and
then, passing bis arm through mine,
hurried out, the guards at the entrance
respectfully holding back at the sight
of the nobIe-looking old man
Scarcely had we reached the street
before the barbaric trumpet of the
Cossaoks sounded shrilly the call,
Mount There was an immediate
stir and cIangor along the Tcherney
Dvor. Then came the roll of an in
fantry drum, the tramp of feet, and a
confused hum of voices resounding
through the frosty arr.
eve are betrayed T. exclaimed the
baron, turning his head. BY Heaven,
they have turned out the whole garri-
son of Moscow ! he added, as his
practised ear caught the distant bugle
calls, and the heavy tread of troops
advancing. 81 will 90 back, and
| warn"
at is too late = | exclaimed, eager
ly grasping his arm, and almost fore
ing him on "your presence yonder
could do no good to your friends, and
would be, to yourself, sheer ruin No,