West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1878-10-19

: sdiiu threatening voices were raised
against him, and he saw that clemencv
was impossible.
But said he, " will you then risk a
( quarrel with Russia, whose neutrality
we are so anxlously asking for ~
No, said the othcer, but let MS
Leckinski understood all. for he was
acquainted with Spanish. He was re-
moved and thrown into room worthy
! =" nave been one of the dungeons of the
in99isiuon IN it's worst days.
hen the Spaniards took him pris.
oher he had eaten nothing since the
/ previous evening, and when his dungeon
doOr was closed on him he had tasted
e'gnteeh hours; no wonder, then, what
win exhaustion, fatigue, anxiety, and
the agony of his dreadful situation. that
the unhappy prisoner fell almost sense.
less on his hard couch Night soon
closed in and left him tn realize. in his
gloom, the full horror of his homeless
situation. tie was braye, of course
but to die at eighteen-so suddenly
BUT youth and fatigue finally yielded TO
the approach of sleep, and he was soon
buried inlprofound slumber
He had slept perhaps two hours. when
the door of his dungeon opened slowly
and some one entered with cautions
steps, hiding with his hand the light of
lamp; the visitor bent over the pris-
oner's couch, the hand that shaded the
lamp touched him on the shoulder. and
sweet and silvery voice, woman's
voice, asked him:
DO you want TO eatT'
lhe young Pole, awakened suddenly
by the glare of the lamp, by the touch
and words of the female, rose up on his
couch and, with Ibis ewes only half
opened, said in German, What do you
want%'
Give the man something to eat at
opce," B." said Castanos, when he heard the
result OF the first experiment, "and let
hum GO. lie is not a Erenehmap How
could he have been so far master of
himself? The thing is impossible"
But though Leckinski was supplied
with food he was detained a prisoner
The next morning he was taken TO n
spot where he could see the mutilated
corpse of the Frenchman, who had been
cruelty massacred 10y the pcasantry of
Iruxillo, and he was threatened with
the same Death But the noble youth
had promised not To- tail, and not
word, not An accent, not gesture or
look betrayedbimA - u
Leckinski, when taken back to the
prls,D hHjied il with a,shout of 10Y; for
Twelve hours he had nothing but gibbets
and death in its most horrid- forms, be-
fore his eyes, exhibited TO him bv men
with the looks and the passions of de
mons. He slept, however, after the
harrassing excitement of the day, and
soundiy, too; when in the midst of his
deep and death-like slumbe the door
opened gently, some one drew near his
couch and. .the same voice whikpered in
his eaF ff Vi n ri
E "Arise and come with me- We wish
to save your life. Your horse is ready"
And the brave young man hastily
awakened by the words, "We wish TO
save your life, come" answered still in
German, % WHAT do you want?"
CastanOs, when he heard of this ex-
pertinent and its result, said the Rus
sian was noble young man hc saw the
true state Of the case.
The Lext moInings early four men
came 20 take him before a sort of court
martial, composed of officers of Cas-
tanos' sstaff. During the walk, they ut
tered mosthorrible threats against him
but true to his determination, he pre-
tended MOTTO understand them.
When he came before his Judges, he
seemed to. gather what was going on
from the arrangements OF the tribunal.
and not from what he heard said
around him, and he asked in German
where his interpreter was. He was sent
for, and the examinatson commenced
1t turned at first upon the motive of
his journey from Madrid 10 Lisbon. He
answered by showing his dispatches
OF Admiral Siniavin and his passport.
Spite of the presence and vehement AS
sertions of the peasant, he persisted in
the same story, and did not contradict
himselhonce.
ASK him." said the presiding officer,
at last, "ii he loves the Spaniards, a. he
is not Frenchman"
The Interpreter put the question.
Certainly" said Leckfnski. "I like
the Spanish nation; ] esteem IL for its
noble character; wish our two nations
were friends" a stta
Colonel" said the Interpreter TO the
president, the prisoner says he hates Us
because we make war like banditti, that
he despises us. and that his only regret
IS that he cannot unite the whole nation
as one man 20 end this odious war nj a
single blow"
While he was saying this, the eyes of
the whole. tribunal were attentively
watching the slightest movement Of the
prisoners cOunteDance, in order 20 see
what effect the interpreters treachery
would have upon him. But Leckinski
had expected to be put 10 the test in
some way, and he was determined to
battle all their attpmpta
Gentlemen" said Castanos, 1T
seems to me that this young man can
not be suspected, the peasant must be
deceived. The prisoner may pursue his
journey, and when he reflects on the
peril Of our position, he will find the Sc
verify we have been obliged ~ use. ex.
Cusable"
Leckinski's arms and dispatches we're
returned, he received free pass, and
thus this noble youth came victorious
out Of the seyerest trial that the human
spirit could be put TO-