The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1882-02-02

Lour magoSIy 10 SOOu enough TO
jest, I said, humbly.
"She flashed a fierce glance at me.
am in no jesting humor valued
him, she said. Look, have even shed
tears (; but go. 1 do not wish to see him
again. Take him to the taxidermist this
morning. / viii write my orders for
him !; and she gave me this paper !" and
he handed to poor Sonderland paper
on which were written these wor Is:
"StuF Sonderland very carefully and
begging. Begin your work within the
hour. Great as was my affection for
poor Sunderland, his beauty was his
greatest charm. There are others ms
faithful and as affectionate, and I shall
now always have him to look at he is
certainly splendid creature. Go aud
make all speed possible. Have the words
'The Favorite Of the Empress, in letters
Of gold on black pedestal three feet in
height"
stThere, my poor Sonderland, you
see," said the Chief of Police, sit is not
I who have gone mad"
"Then it is the Empress, said Sender
land. Unhappy sovereign, she has lost
her mind" ....
All the worse for u.s." sighed the
Gretched Russian.
"As soon as I felt sure of her real
meaning, fell on my knees aud begged
her not to intrnst the terrible news TO
me; to reconsider her intention. I hardly
knew what l said. For answer she
pointed to the door.
"'I Sunderland is not taken to the
taxidermist within an hour, you shall be
knouted and sent to Siberia she said.
Wretch that am, am here with the
news"
"Let me see the Empress let me
know what / have done. Let me write.
Take note to her from me"
"I dare not" said the Chief of Police.
81 have wife and seven children. You
are dear, but they are dearer to me-"
Sonderland began to hope that the
Empress only wished to play practical
joke upon them, and pitying his friend
for his terror and the grief he suffered,
after few moments more, arose and
offered to go with him at once. Wrap
ping themselves in their furs, both men
Jumped into the sleigh at the door
Meanwhile he had written letter to
the Empress, and calling O servant, dis
patched it by him. AS yet no one
guessed at the reason of this visit from
the Chief of Police, and the servant had
no fears concerning the safety of his er'
rand. $685.
Meanwhile the two getlemen pro-
ceeded together to the house of the tax
dermist .Gottschekoff. Sonderland yet
hopeful-for an Englishman could not
believe that such command could be
given in earnest-the Russian half mad
with horror. In fact, in delivering the
commend of the Empress he lost COM
mand of his voice and tainted away.
The taxidermist himself grew pale.
"This is my sentence of death, as
well as yours" he said to Sonderland,
"for do not know how to stuff man,
and l know what Expresses are.
shall have to try, Of coulse, but don't
think it can be DONE"
81 am sure it is only a jest of our
sovereign's," said Sonderland.
The Russians shook their heads. But
at this instant a loud tramping was
heard, and armed men entered, seized
upon the Chief of Police, Sonderland and
the taxidermist, forced them into
sleigh and drove madly away to the Roy
al Palace.
Sonderland still kept his courage. A
man knows we'll enough when a woman
ACdAi0 AhSS hluk, DtlI Ille lsuSSlduS hH0W
that ii the Empress had lost her senses,
her maddest mandate must be obeyed.
Perhaps they would now be all stuffed.
Led into the royal presence, they
found Catherine furiously pacing the
floor.
Wretched madman," she shrieked
to the poor Chief of Police, "what have
you been about?"
ha Y>oOr foIlo,,y fo1l ,,,,o,, lie
"My Empress" he cried, "endeavor-
ing to obey you. though it broke my
heart"
And you, beast9" she cried. to the
taxidermist.
The taxidermist also prostratel him
self with his teeth chattering in his
head.
My Empress" said Sonderland, Of
fering her the paper she had written,
here is your royal mandate. There
were some difficulties purely profes-
sional) in the way of stuffing me.
Otherwise I should have been already
in an attitude Of supplication on black
marble pedestal, I make no doubt"
"Great Heaven !" cried Catherine
"My friend-my most faithful and most
earnest friend--how dared you believe
me capable Oh SUCH GnlhR ANU you,
idiots, get up" And she spurned the
crouching men with her royal foot. 1T
was my dog, my favorite spaniel-whom
had named after this dear Sonderlahd
because he was 80 handsome--that /
ordered you to stuff. He died last night
The whole palace knew that. Good
heavens p
The absurdity of the mistake forced
itself upon the royal mind at this instant
Catherine, in the midst of her rage, be-
gan 70 laugh, and ended by growing
good -natured.
"Amusing idiots, she said, "go, and
always obey me as well as you have
done to-day. I see, at least, that you
meant we'll"
And thereupon the Chief of Police and
tho taxidermist crept away, thankful for
their lives, to convey tho dead dog to its
destination. And S 'erland went to
lunch with the Empress, who leant upon
his shoulder as they walked together
through the Palace. ..
! -~--~-.--.s-Ssee-ses--sgs-%
. Remember, YOnng Men.
n = = 4