Litchfield enquirer., 1878-03-14
.1uoHFE1D. CONN., THURSDAY MARCH IA 1878

| Ill the doorway, ana ureW my young 1r1enO to the opposite end of the yard ''You must not trust to Countess Marienha Casimir," said l, in agitation. ''She herself would gladly serve you, no doubt {: but l am not sure as to the instruments she would use. She is surrounded by people who might play her false.'
 ''Whas? Do you believe the police have sus- picions about her?'
 ''The police suspect everybody, and as confessor know great deal more about the people here than can tell you. It is unsafe to involve Countess Marienha in any of your affairs, unsafe for her as well as for you"
 T told her how afraid was of compromis- ing her, but she laughed at the notion," ex- claimed Casimir, removing his felt hat and stroking his furrowed brow: ''Great heavens, what country this has become !" and he went on to say that Paulina had generously volun- teered to take him out of the country disguised as one of her servants As to the Zezioffs, as there was nothing to prevent them from l leaving Poland at their pleasure, she would 1 take care that Ioulka and her mother joined him when he was safe oyer the frontier ] q
 ssYes trust her for that, Igrumbled to n.y.. self, feeling persuaded that when once Casi- mir was gone, Paulina's first care would be to have Ioulka and her mother arrested and taken to St. Petersburg where they might undergo year of preventive detention" on some charge of being concerned in political con- spiracy. '.No, no" added aloud ''you must leave Poland at once, Casimir, and the coun- tess must know neither where nor how you are going"
 had just said this much, when there sprang up from underground as it were, the figure of Nicholas Levitski, my sacristan. He stepped out. of the house, wearing his usual unctuous smile, made us bow which brought his hat to a level with his knees and glided away like shadow ''Now, what was he doing here ?" thought 1. ''rhis comes of speaking too near to wall, and I drew Casimir into the middle of the yard to finish our colloquy.
 We talked nearly half an hour, and he en- interrupted by Mime. ZeZioff and Ioulka, who returned from market and came into the yard each with basket on her arm. Ioulka had also bunch of roses in her hands, and she looked so pretty in her fresh blue spotted dress and straw hat, that patted her cheek and in- formed her that Casimir would.have some se- crets to tell her when he got upstairs. In ef- feet, Barinski and had decided that Mme ZezioH ought at once to apply for passport, as if she and her daughter were going to Der lin to see relative there, which would throw the police off the scent of the direction Casimir had taken, in case they should suspect the ZeZ- ioffs of having been parties to his flight. Once they were all three out of the country they might meet in any city agreed upon, and make thence for Paris, where Casimir would be sure to find friends among the Polish Emigration Committee, who would put him in the way of getting honorable employment His sister Ev- cline, too who, as 1 heard was married to civil engineer, would be able to offer Mime. Zezioff and her daughter home until the ar engagements for Ioulkas own wedding should be completed.
 1 was right to be thus precipitate in my rec concentrations; for whilst was advising Cas- irYoir rliv,o Mor oho roi1o inactive, and in fact it was regular contest of speed that had commenced between her and me.
 In the morning got favorable answer from Macha Planiwitz. The steam-launch was going to start for Cracow at evening next day, and Casimir was welcome to corner in the secret hold among the bales of contraband stuff. However, as it was pretty certain that the counts footsteps were for the present dog ged by spies, this was the roundabout way he must take in order to reach the wharf and get 1 on board. At six o'clock next evening he was to enter tobacconist's shop in Sobieski Street with the stalk of rose in his mouth, and ask for five-kopeck cigar; by thesetokens the to- l bacconlsts Wife, who was friend of Macha's would know him, and point to parlor door, which would remain ajar. Casimir would have to pass through the parlor without a 1 word make for yard behind, and issue thence into Little Podlack Street, where there are some public baths, which he must enter re- questing warm bath ''with bran" The bath proprietress, another friend of Machas, would lead him to bath closet, where he would find tarpaulin hat, waterproof cloak, and some shaving-tackle Having shaved off his beard, and donned his disguise, Casmir must open the closet window, drop into the yard of the bath-house, and by means of short ladder placed there in readiness, climb over the wall, and so gain brandy wharf, which would lead him to Planiwitzs pottery wharf further on, and there the Austrian mate of the launch would be on the lookout also with rose in his mouth and the fugitive must say to him, 'l have come to examine the boiler of your launch j" whereupon without word the mate would conduct him on board, and stow him away among the tea-chests and skins, where he must make such shift to breathe as he could until the launch passed the Austrian frontier
 Such were the precautions needed to assist patriot in escaping from his own country and knew that Macha, while doing her best to shield her husband from any suspicion of con- plics.ty, hadnot exaggerated the risks that would be run if things were managed without proper cunning. She told me that her husband feared to speak to the runaway, or even to see him; and that if it had not been for her entreaties q think she might have said her orders" for she was the master spirit of her household) he would not have mixed inso perilousa business. All that Macha begged in requital of her good offices was that would ask Casimir Barinski to give her some portion of attire that he had worn in Siberia, so that she might cut it up in- to scapularies for her children to wear as safe guards against lightning and the evil eye-the which duly promised.
 One thing annoyed me-, and this was that Nicholas Levitski, who was stealing noiseless- -I~o AI~1 | lamps of the lateral chapels, saw Macha on her knees in my confessional. He had seen her there on the day before, for he took faithful ocular note of all who came to shrive them selves so by-and-by, as was unrobing in the sacristy, he said with mealy smile and voice that came through his nose as through an ill., tuned organ:, "Alack, the potter's wife has days running" "Hold thy peace," said 1
 Eff thou wouldst confess all tty sins, week on thy knees would not suffice thee."
 By-and-by. when the midday sun was so hot that the Russian soldiers met were hanging out their tongues like dogs, l went out to tell the Zezioffs of the arrangements had made i; and found that they had been to the police office to apply for their passports The off, cials had only put them the usual formal ques- E tions, and after taking down minute descrip- tion of their features and figures during winch , Ioulka had blushed srid her mother, they had promised that the passports should be forward , ed next day. did not see Casimir, for, by i the advice of us all, he had entered upon his l, new situation at the silversmith's; we had even bidden him to talk with Solomon Paskoff as to make the latter believe that he was going to smelt in his service for many months, if not yeals. s... That day was spent by Ioulka and her moth CT in the exciting task of packing for their de- parture. Casimir did not lodge in the same , house as the Zezioffs, but he took his meals with them, and on coming in to dinner he , brought pink note that had been sent to him in the course of the day, inviting him to take tea at the countess's house, at nine o'clock. The Zezioffs, in their honest belief of Paulina's purity, advised him to go, and he went, but , said nothing as to his intended escape On the contrary, he gladdened the countess above 2 measure by consenting to fly with her three days thence and saving SO many gallant things