Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1878-12-05

between the moujik's eldest daughtsr
"a charming, spirited blonde-and
Count Postujeff, Lieutenant in the
regiment Of the Preybrasoensky
| Guard.
"What makes you sad tonight.
Ivan?" asked the girl, looking anx-
iously in his pale face.
He kissed her fervently.
''Katinka," he said, 81 believe
every thing will turn out well for Us.
But" he added, lowering his voice,
''if 1 do not return to you tomorrow
morning, before daybreak, will you
carry this letter to the Winter Palace
and deliver it into the hands Of the
Emperor Nicholas himself?"
'Holy Ivan!" she exclaimed. MY
beloved, you speak in riddles"
81 cannot now tell you ay more,"
he said, gloomily. ''Do a. tell
you. Here is the letter."
After long embrace he left her.
The night was bitter cold. No sooner
had Count Postuleff left the mouths
house than he hailed the driver of .
drosky. The driver stopped.
''To the Winter Palace" said the
Count, finging a silver rouble to
him.
He jumped into the carriaoe. To
his surprise q man was in it. The
man wore
BLACK MASK.
Had it not been so dark, one might
have perceived that the Count sud-
denly turned deadly pale.
"Traitorl" whispered the occupant
of the drosky to him.
Postujeff tried to open the door and
jump out; but the other man encir-
cled his neck with his fingers, and al
most ehoked him to death. Then he
drew long needle from bis pocket,
and stuck the young Count in the
hack Of the neck with it.
The wound was mortal. Postnjef
expired without uttering sound.
The murderer opened the door of
the drosky and whispered few words
to the driver.
Then he hurried On foot 10 the
small house In the alley, whore tho
conspirators agaiust the Emperor
Nicholas were assembled.
He briefly related what he had
done. Loud braves rewarded his
terrible report.
The fair Katinka, the rich moujik's
daughter, passed sleepless night.
At o'clock she rose from her bed
and broke the seal of the letter which
her lover had entrusted to her.
She glanced over 1t, and uttered .
"Holy Ivan! holy Ivan! project
his life!''
She fell upon her knees and prayed
long and fervently. When she arose
at last the first gray streaks Of the
dawning day broke into the window.
She pressed her hands against her
heaving bosom. Thenceforth she
counted every minute with constantly
growing anguish.
When it was at last daylight, and
Postujeff had not yet made his ap-
pearance, she hurriedly dressed, aad
left her fathers house.
Fleet-footed as a frightened fawn,
the lovely girl sped to the Winter
Palace.
When she reached it sentinel
stopped her.
"You cannot go in here, my beau
ty," said the soldier to her, good
naturedly.
''But / must see the Gar forth
with" she replied, breathlessly.
"The CARP asked the soldier,
fopening his eyes. "You must be
crazy"
"Oh, no, mol" she cried. "Let
me see him. Every minute is pre-
cicus-they want to murder His Inn
perial Majesty. Do not stop mel
The Car will amply reward you.'
An officer appeared. 1t was Count
Berg, the bosom friend OF Nicholas.
Katinka hurriedly told him what
she wanted to see the Czar about.
Five minutes later she was in the
presence Of
THE MAJESTIC NICHOLAS.
The latter read the lettsr, which he
then handed to Count Bergh.
"Ordsr my horse," said the Gear.
.what are you going 10 do3'
asked Count Bergh..
"I will fase the rsbslsi' replied
Nicholas.
To this purpose he stsbbornfy Cd.
hered.
The guards hsd Ieft their barracks
and proclaimed Constantine Emperos
of all the Russians.
General Miloradovitch ordered then