The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1877-05-05
UNDER RUSSIAN ESCORT.

UNUEn nUOOiAN ESUUnl,
No, no, thank you! Never mind
me! | can find my way well enough to
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, | wrapped my furred coat
more closely around me, and, lift
ing my hat in parting salutation to the
occupants of the carriage, turned away.
The bIackness of the night, as | trav
ersed the wide, ill-lighted streets, seemed
all the darker by contrast with the
bright, warm theater from which [ had
Just emerged. The crisp snow cracked
beneath my feet, and few drops of pre-
monitory sleet dashed my face as | set
out, and gave warming of a coming
storm, while the cold was intense; more
bitter as it seemed to me than any which
| had experienced during the two win
tiers had spent in the Russian capital
Ny own name was Hugh Forster, and |
had just completed a two years proba-
ton in the counting-house of the wealthy
st. Petersburg firm, of which my father
was the chief London partner, and was
now on my return home | had, how
ever, accepted an invitation from a
young Polish noble, with whom [ was on
intimate terms, to visit him at Warsaw
ON my homeward route, and to act as
what in England is Familiarity known as
best man" on the occasion of his we'd
ding The name of this young Pole was
Count Ladislas Poniatowski; the mar
riage was to take place on the morrow
and | had just accom- p4nied the bride
and bridegroom elect, with the old Prin-
cess Sapieha, aunt to my friend, and
mother to Madamoiselle Marie, to the
theater, where an unusually good per-
Torrance had attracted 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 appears
50 strange aud ghostly to traveller
familiar with the rattle of wheels over a
stone pavement, and the sleet began to
fall more thicklv. Suddenly it occurred
TO me that | was followed Two tall
figures, muffied up with even more pre-
caution than the sharp cold dictated, APP
peared to dog my steps, regulating their
pace by mine, and keeping always at the
same distance from me, whatsoever my
rate of progression. Thinking / might
be mistaken, | sauntered so that the tall
man might have change of passing me-
Those behind me also diminished their
speed. | stepped out briskly, but in
vain. My pursuers were not to be shaken
off.
1t did not occur to me that nv peril
nacious followers were thieves. Street
robberies once unheard of, are still rare
within the Russian dominions | was
more inclined to think that this pursuit
was a mere freak of some half-intoxicated
ldlers, and, knowing the magical effect
OF polltenesS on the excitable Sarmatian
''N"'N' tulIltu ~ DIS 10 lIOnl Tie TWO
men, and with ceremonious civility,
raised my hat
Ny lords, | said in the best Polish
could master-everv wearer of a cloth
coat IS my lord +" in Warsaw or Craeow
fear You have mistaken"
No mistake at allr' interrupted the
alier OF the two, speaking in French,
We know You monsieur. Call them,
Imkof.'
Ills companion raised his fingers to his
mouth, and gave & long shrill whistle
it was answered instantly, and then came
the sound of hurrying feet and the clash
OF weapons, and | was surrounded and
seized by several men, some of whom
were evidently police, while the Others
were soldiers in gray watch coats.
Gag him if he calls for help?n COM
manded the first speaker, opening his
mantle, and showing the uniform and
medalled breast of Russian major
Where loiters the sledge?"
As he spoke, my ear caught the Jingle
OF Naldal bells, and kibitka drawn by
three horses came swiftly up. What
wild horsemen, with their fur caps and
sheepskin pelisses, a long lance tucked
under each right arm, were those who
rode to left and right of it? Cossacks,
surely.
In the Emperor's name!" said the
MAJOR, putting his gloved hand on my
shoulder, and pushing me towards the
sledge
Stupefied for a moment, | now found
my tongue, and vigorously demonstrated,
telling my captors that | was an English
mama peaceful traveller, and guiltless of
any offense Ny plea was received with
utter incredulity.
" We are not your dupes, count" said
the officer who had been called Imkoff.