The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1882-02-04

- But | am q novice. Perhaps L shall |
learn to dare everything in time"
There was a significance in the worth
which made the girl blush again.
{" 1t is long time since the cause of
the people became the dearest thing to
me-" Then she said: "Some one used
to send me Nihlist pamphlets, and l be-
came a convert when | was a mere
child. l wish | knew that person. |
would like to meet him."
A peculiar smile came to the lips of
her companion. Are you grateful to
! himYh
Eyes; lcok upon him as my apos-
tle.n
Suppose 1 could point him out"
"Youln
Eyes. Pardon me, I am the I'M
known. l owed your family a debt.
began payment in that way-but l shall
not end there"
"Ahr' exclaimed the girl, 81 fear
they will not be as grateful as l. Hush!
they are going to speak. 1t is Demitri.
He is one of the bloodthirsty ones"
1t was an odd crowd that was gath
cred together in the great damp, cob
webby cellar. Men, with fanatical faces
and lurid eyes that seemed to peer into
wonderful future-when, all barriers
burnt away, new world should spring
up on the ruins of the old-a world of
free thought, free speech, free action,
and, it must be confessed, free morals
There were women there in uncouth
dresses, with clipped hair and strange
bonnets-women who eschewed all the
frivolites of fashion as sins against the
great cause--who were ready to sacrifice
their rank, their money, even their
heart idols, for their work. They had
sworn to give all-even themselves-ac-
cording to the mandates of this strange
power.
, Demitri, a muscular man with pas
sionate face and fiery eyes, was denounc-
ing the tyranny of the Gar in burning
words. Then he passed on to vivid
, picture of Siberian exile. eve are in
Dante's Inferno!' muttered Sergius to
the young girl; first lake of fire, and
then sea of ice."
: At that moment the door sprang open
, and an old man entered. He did not
seem at all bewildered by the noise, but
: took his place quietly and looked about
} him, Sergius drew nearer to him
i Stealthily.
5 "How goes the cause, friend" he
said at last.
The Count Semiloff smiled calmly.
: "Never better Shall we have speech
from the renowned Sophie to-night?'
4 81 suppose so. She is cogitating il
1 now, probably in the shadow of that
/ wine caskr' | ..4ru ........
1 The Counts eyes followed his com
r panion's.
e "What, that girlr' he cried.
: did you expect to see an old WON
o amp"
u" Excuse me. I come from the prov
e inces,n the Count stammered. linus
- see her nearer
:, The next moment his hand was OF
J, her shoulder. Sophie Posenski, you
r are my prisonerr' he cried, mo es
o cape, gentlemen, the place is sur
it roundedr' b. ..l's Dob. 1|3'' 'h. 3
g The girl turned, and the Count ut
y tered a cry "My God, Vera! m,
childr' he moaned, and staggered back
rs then fell heavily to the ground.
The lights were put out, and Their
was utter confusion. "Now's you
n chance, gentlemen, some one cried
i "He is insensible; he has not made thu
Is signal" ..fIf8 a.I .. lDu ....
" Vera stood for a moment as if par
= alyzed; then, stopping, she lifted he
i father head in her arms There was
# sound of retreating steps, then silence
Suddenly a torch famed out on tn
c scene. She looked up and saw Sergiu
IS standing near her. .r 10
g. "You have not escaped?n she asked
le "No! 1 told you l owed a debt t.
- your family. / want to settle it nowp
rs he said, with strange smile. .D
n. The Count raised his head, family
he MY girl, my poor childr' he moaned
ut "yOur father did not know; come!
n have you at last. Let us fly. The
w shall not take you now, save over m
/. dead body" ''.
tn "Aha! Monsieur lie Count. Hig
hit treason, is it notP" exclaimed Sergiu,
= The Count stared. "Vera, my love
sh who is this man?' .I. .lla.
er "He is-a friend" stammered the cir
id $50 you do not recognize me, mos
as noble Count?" began Sergius, in
ne mocking Tone 81 am Nicole Sergiu
rs the man whom you dashed for pastim
id one fine day. o! l carried your auto
n graph on my face for long time, an
of your daughter | had a debt to pay
ne your family. Well! | pay it to-day. ST
ne will be sent to Siberia as Nihilist; an
ce you, Heaven knows what fate will /
"a yours. But have my revenge"
on Vera sprang up with blazing eye
a Coward" she cried, 'what are you
no Whatever my fate, you will not escal
ed you are one of usn'
er He smiled, mockingly. "What am
ID, I am a spy! Yes, although 1 am 20,
he anostle. that was part of my pame.n