The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1878-05-03
AN IDIOT GEAR.

sprung up, and rendered the cold almost
intolerable. Nevertheless, the Annikof
nalaee where the Grand Duchess Eliza
beth. Peter the Greats daughter, resided,
was the scene of a gay festival:
1t was the birthday of the Princess, and
her sumptuous apartments were crowded
from mn early hour in the evening with ele-
cantly-drcssed gentlemen, who congratu-
lated her with all the submissiyeness
usually displayed only toward crowned
heads.
Elizabeth herself was radiant She was
not exactly beautiful, but still a most at
t~ractive woman. Her form was rs perfect
as il was yoluptuous, her complexion was
dazzling white, and her face, dotted with
two flashing hazel eyes, constantly wore a
commanding, majestic expression. She
looked very much like her illustrious
fathl', and on the present Joyous occasion
more so than ever
Tn large bell on st. Isaac's dome pro-
claimed the hour of nine, when an elderly
gentleman, with a Machiayellian face, APP
preached and whispered to her in French:
They are in the cabinet of your impe-
rial Highness."
The Princess replied smilingly
II hal be there in a few minutes"
She bowed graciously TO the assembled
guests. and said, with her most engaging
smile
Gentlemen. l ave to retire for a short
time. VIII you meanwhile drink my
health ="
Strangely enough, they responded to her
by shouting, in them most enthusiastic man
ner:
"Long live our Czarina."
She kissed her hands to her guests, and
disappeared. A few moments Inter she
entered her private cabinet, whore -he
found DR.. Lestocq, her French physician,
and NJ. dc Ia C~hetardie, the French Minis
ter to Russia, besides several superior Off
GERS of the famous L~ife-guard Regiment
Preobraszensky.
Everything is ready, your Imperial
Highness,' said the Doctor to the Grand
Duchess.
Scan / trust your regiment she
asked.
ave will go through fire and water for
our Czarina !" they replied, enthusiast
oally.
"You know, il we fail, officers she re-
Joined, slightly inclining her proud head,
- the scafFold awaits you. If we succeed,
each will receive three hundred thousand
roubles and n regiment of his own
1--WE shall succeed, Czarina cried the
officers.
Then proceed to the Imperial Palace"
she said "Dr Lestocq will go with you,
and tell you what to do"
They wrapped themselves up in their
costly furs and left the room. shouting en-
Enthusiastically:
"Long live the Czarina >
She returned to her guests, and the Off
GERS, headed by Lestocq, fastened to the
barracks Of tho Preobraszensky Guards.
They found their soldiers under arms,
ready to march.
Forward, to the Imperial Palace !"
shouted Colonel Samineff to them.
They trampled silently through the deep
snow. Upon their arrival at the Imperial
Palace, they dismissed the sentinels, and
with crossed bayonets, rushed up the great
staircase.
At the landing they were met by n beau
tiful, fair haired woman, who held an in
FAINT in her arms.
"What do you want2" she said in ter
ror, to the officers that headed the column.
How dare you invade the palace of your
legitimate Gar 2"
She held up her infant. II was only
three mouths old, and yet it was, under
the name of wan the Third, Emperor of
all the Russias |
"He is not the Gar" shouted Lestocq,
b~rutally. "Our Czarina is Elizabeth "
"Traitorl" replied the lady, who was
no other than Anna, of Courland, the mother
of the infant Car. You shall mount the
scaffold!"
Enough! enough /" cried Lestocq.
Send her and her brat downstairs. Put
her into the carriage"
what is all this ?" asked a fat man,
who suddenly appeared by the side of Anna.
He was her husband, Prince Anthony
Uric, of Brunswick, a lazy, indolent sort
of fellow.
Take him downstairs, too" ordered
Lestocq.
Several guardsmen hustled Anna, who
was speechless with terror, and who closely
clasped her little son, Ivan, to her bosom,
downstairs. Others dragged her husband
after her.
In front of the palace a large travelling
coach awaited them. They were thrust
into it, and the officer, who sat by the side
of the coachman on the box. whispered to
tho latter
ITO Rigal"
The ride lasted twenty-fou hours. Dur
ing these twenty-four hours, notwithstand-
ing the inclemcncy of the weather. not n
morsel of food was given to the prisoners.
At Riga they were delivered, in n truly
deplorable condition, to the commander OF
the citadel.
Put them into a solitary cell, and have
them watched with the utmost vigilance.
If they escape you will lose your head,
Such are the orders of her Majesty. our
new Empress Elizabeth"
In the meantime Elizabeth had been
proclaimed everywhere a. the legitimate
CZarina.
Tn Old Russian party supported her.
except the ecclesiastics, who refused to
believe in the story that Ivan the Third
was dead. The story was circulated by
Elizabeth and her instruments, and the
most rigorous measures were adopted to
prevent anybody from circulating the re-
port that the young Gar was still alive.
Meanwhile Ivan and his Inflated parents
remained for eighteen months at Riga,
then they were taken to the gloomy State
Prison at Dunamunde, from which young
Ivan was transferred to the fortress of
Oranienbaum, while his parents were sent
to Castle kolomogori, where they were
better treated, but Anna died there heart.
broken, in March, 11l6. Her husband sur
vived twenty mine years longer.
At Oranienbaum the boy Car was pur.
posely made an idiot, and, horrible TO say.
n drunkard !! His keepers gave him, when
he was only seven years old. six or seven
bottles of strong wine daily. They gorged
him with indigcstible food, and treated him
exactly us il 1t was their boundcu duty to
deadcn his mental faculties.
But even in Russin, at that gloomy pc
Rod. prison walls were not thick enough
TO prevent these horrors from becoming
known to the people. Elizabeth had be.
come unpopular, and the old Russians he.
gan TO arse boldly the cry Of Long live
the Gar lvuuI"
A flnatical monk, whose name is un.
I NHINNa