The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1878-03-19
MisrfAa,,n.
The 4oujjik's Daughter.

The Conspiracy Against the Empe-
rOr Nicholas--A Horrible Scene at
st. Petersburg House--Foul Muir
der in a DrOsky--Fair Katinka's
Inflated LOver--NichOlas' Won
derful Courage.
"The password ?"
"Tsarigrad,"
"The signr"
"St. Andrews Cross"
"The number ?"
"Twenty-one."
Gall right-nere Is your mask
These questions, with slight variations,
were put to number Of gentlemen
dressed in costly fur coats, by tall old
man with an iron.g mustache, who
was seated behind a screen in small
house in an alley, within stones throw
of the Nevski Prospect, one of the no.
blest thoroughfares Of St. Petersburg,
shortly after s o'clock on the 20th of
December, 1926. $3.50
The gentlemen put on the black velvet
masks, and ascending very narrow spi-
raj stsircase entered long back room
containing narrow table, at the head of
which sat heavy-built, short old man,
who, as soon as the room was filed, rang
"a bell and,said in low tone:
"Brethren, we must promptly act
This very afternoon / heard the usurper
Nicholas 1loud groans] declare that he
would issue to morrow an order sending
the whole division Of the Life Guards to
the Turkish frontier. profound sensa
ton. That French adventurer, Milor.
adovitch, has put it into his head"
! The name of Gen Miloradovitch was
greeted with scornful Kisses.
One of the masked men exclaimed:
"Long live the lawful Gar Constantine !
Another added:
Sand the Constitution
"And the Parliament Of MOBILES !!
shouted third voice
"One thing Is certain" said the old
presiding officer, "and that is that Mich.
olas must not be permitted to remain on
the throne"
"He would be worse tyrant than the
accursed Paul was" remarked one Of the
men.
"Ten times worse!'' shouted several
voices.
s'LET HIM DIE!"
Said q fiery young man. aLet US GO
right away to the Winter Palace and cut
him to piecesw
Tremendous applause rewarded these
impetuous words.
Most Of the men sprang to their feet
"Nol nop said the presiding officer
l"That would be too rash. Are the three
colonies of the foot.guards here ?"
"Herep answered three voices.
"My opinion is," proceeded the presi
ding officer, "that your regiments should
leave their barracks tomorrow at day
break, and form opposite the statue o
Peter the Great There they ought tt
take the oath Of allegiance 10 Gar Con
staniine and the Constitution. The peo
pie will join them, and in case the usurpe
Nicholas should venture to offer any re
sistance to the movement, let him NEE
his fate %
This advice was finally adopted.
"And now," said the presiding officer
tive have to punish a traitor" .
He rang the bell three times two pow
etful men stepped in.
Brethren" said the presiding Office
to them, "you are satisfied that Coun
Stroginef is traitor?"
HE has confessed his guilt" they re
piled.
"Then bring him i'm
A few minutes later they led heavil.
ironed young man into the room. Hi
handsome face was livid with terror.
"Count Stroginef, you have broke
your oath. You have tried to betray us
Your infamous intentions were detecte
in time, and now you will be nunishe
for your base treachery. Brethren, ,whs
is the penalty p
/ "Death." all Of them shouted manac
'lingly. -
]. .Oh, mercy" cried Strogineff wit
streaming eyes. Poverty made me d
lit! Mercy upon me! Mercy for m
poor wife and chiIdren!"
! He flung himself in an agony Of grie
} upon the floor. The presiding Office
:. coldly said: sB1
"Who will execute the traitor ?"
"I!" said young man.
"Do it, thenp'
The young man hastened to the wa
of the room, where he touched sprin
The wall opened, and in the apertur
which was four feet wide and eight fe
. high, was to be seen an enormous iro
. hook, to which a hempen moose was ia
tened.
81 Quick as lightning the self-consti tut.
t hangman raised the doomed man fro
B the ground, and a moment later the noo'
was Tightening around his throat. H
: feet kicked wildly for several minutes
his tongue, black and swollen, protrudt
d from his mouth; his eyes seemed to
0 bursting from their sockets, and b
n whole appearance was indicative of Il
most intense suffering.
: Suddenly his head dropped on b
!. breast-he was dead.
"LEr NICHOLAS DIE LIKE THAT"
Shouted deep voice.
:. The young man who had hanged Str
!; gineff touched the spring in the wall al
), it closed upon the remains of the vi
tim. 81
= While this revolving scene was beil
:. enacted tender ad,eu took place at t
f house of moujik, Swarsnoe Krsjevitc
one of the richest merchants Of the Ru
> sian capital, between the moujik's eide
; daughter-a charming, spirited blonde
: and Count Postujeff, Lieutenant in t
regiment Of the Prevbrascensky Guar
. "What makes you so sad to nigl
Ivan ?" asked the girl, looking anxious
!, in his pale face.
~ He kissed her fervently.
"Katinka," he said, 81 believe ever
thing will turn out we'll for US. But
he added, lowering his voice. "if l
not return to you tomorrow mornir
before daybreak, will you carry this j
e ter to the Winter Palace and deliver
If into the hands of che Emperor Nichol
d himeelf7"