The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1882-02-02

tifnl, and she rules mems hearts; she is
the most malignant enemy the czar can
| find, and you can deliver her into his
hind. Be at the Borsoff wareL ou7es
tomorrow night at 10 o'clock. The
watchward is Public Safety the place.
a cellar under the first house."
The count felt sudden enthusiasm
for his work-greater even than he had
ever experienced before. ALL if he
could but seize this woman, of whom he
had heard much, but whom he had
never been able to see or trace before
if he could deliver her into the hands
of justice, then indeed he might be able
to say Amen to his weary life.
Somehow he had conceived an in
tense hatred against this Sophie Posen-
ski this arch traitress, as he thought
her, who led men into treason with
smiles, ,.and made them willing to cast
their lives away for word OF praise.
And thrill of triumph came over him
as he thought that he was to be the in =
strument of delivering Russia from this
curse. Siberia would be the place for
this ardent, snaring soul. In the mean
time the object of his wrath, uncon-
scious of her danger, but knowing that
she walked amid ceaseless dangers
traps and plots and pitfalls-was making
ready for the meeting. Her toilet was
simple, as befits woman sworn to be-
long to the cause of the people-the
poor, the downtrodden and oppressed
yet her beauty bloomed through all, a
a rose would do in a neglected garden.
Fer hair was cut short that no time
| irh ln fo1 &c
ment, but it disposed itself in
over her head and low down over her
broad, white forehead. The face was
full of force, the mouth impressive
but it looked as if it might be eloquent
of love and passion as we'll and the
dark. blue eyes that could flash in
scorn at an ignoble action or anger at
a tyranOus act, were soft and limpid
now with memories. Her room was
plain and bare as cell. She was one
Of the workers, and her slim fingers
were hardened with toll; but she did
not grieve over that. A strange en-
thusiasm filled her heart: she was liv-
ing for q purpose, and that is the
secret of happiness. Once in while
there came mp before her suddenly,
as If some one held up a portrait, the
memory of a face she had seen at the
meetings lately-a new momber who
seemed to hang upon her words, yet
whose eyes betrayed sort of animosity
she could find no other word for it.
! Sometimes it seemed as if hatred and
love struggled together in their ex-
preston, and she had felt cold creep.
ing sensation as she caught the glance.
She had grown somehow to look for
his coming, and his presence affected
her in an inexplicable manner. 1t
seemed to touch some chord of men,
DRY, too, and she vexed herself with at
toinpts to understand IL. To night, as
usual, her eyes sought him out, and
then as she met his glance the hot
blood surged into her face.
The next moment he was at her side,
and with him person whom she knew.
"Let me introduce my friend Sergius,"
said her acquaintance, "apd l will
leave you together to talk. Two such
ardent disciples must be friends"
81 have heard much of you," ex-
claimed Sergius, bowing, "and have
longed, but scarcely dared, to be pre-
sented."
"Dared !" exclaimed Sophie, with a
laugh; ''it is our religion to dare !"
"But ] am novice. Perhaps shall
learn to dare everything in time"
There was significance in the words
which made the girl blush again.
''It is long time since the cause of
the people became the dearest thing to
me-" Then she said; "Some one used
to send me Nihilist pamphlets, and l
became @ convert when | was mere
child. I wish I knew that person. |
would like to meet him."
A peculiar smile came to the lips oi
her companion. "Aro you grateful tc
him ?"
"Yes. I look upon him as my
apostle"
"Suppose I could point him out"
"You"
"Yes. Pardon me, am the unknown
7 owed your family debt. 1 begar
payment in that way--but ! shall not
end there"
"Ahp exclaimed the girl, "I feal
they will not be as grateful as I. Hush
J 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 pale faces ant
lurid eyes that seemed to peer into
wonderful future-when, all barrier
, burnt away, new world shoull spring
up on the ruins of the old. There werC
, women there in uncouth dresses, will
clipped hair and strange bonnets =
women who eschewed all the frivolitie
of fashion as sins against the great caus
who were ready to sacrifice their rank
their money, even their hearts idols
for the work. They had sworn to Civ
, all-even misunderstanding to tn,
mandates of this strange power.
, Demitri, a muscular man with pas
sionate face and fiery eyes, was de
; nouncing the tyranny of the car il
burning words. Then he passed on t
a vivid picture of Siberian exile. "W
, are in Dante's Infernov p muttered Ser
, gius to the young girl first lake O
, fire, and then sea f ice."
At taht moment the door sprang opel
and an old man entered. He did nc
, seem at all bewildered by the noise, bu
took his place quietly and looked abou
) him. Sergius drew nearer to hIr
steaithily.
f Chow goes the cause, friend ?" h
4 said at last.
I The Count Semiloff smiled calmly
"Never better? Shall We have a speec
| from fhe venowned Sonhie to.nioht po