Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1886-06-12

rolf congratulated himself that he
had broken the proud spirit of his
serf. Sometimes, indeed, he caught
the eye of Alexis upon him, regard
ing him with an expression so dark
and vengeful that it made him shud'
der. But he never guessed how that
eye was always on him, even when
he thought himself most alone,
watching his every movement, and
reading his every thought, finding
out his hidden motives and discov-
ering his deepest secrets.
Count Alvieroffneverg guessed that
Alexis, the serf, whom he had so
deeply wronged, knew the secret OF
his life, the disclosure Of which
would be his ruin he never guessed
that his wealth, his position, his
reputation, his very life itself, were
all at the mercy of his deadliest enc
my.
For Count Alvieroff was a conspi-
rator, . plotter against the jealous
government he served, and Alexis
0rlofski knew it and could prove it.
Some accidental circumstance had
first led him to suspect it, and re-
lentless hatred had impelled him to
seek out the whole. And now he
was as fully in possession Of Alvie-
roff's secret as was the count him.
self. One word from him could hurl
the man he so bitterly hated down
to the lowest depths Of shame and
misery. The hour OF vengeance had
come at last, and death was not so
memorable as he.
He waited till he was sure there
was no way Of escape for Alvieroff,
waited till he had wound his coils so
tight around his victim that his
doom was certain; and then like q
thunderbolt, his vengeance fell upon
Count Alvieroff's head. In day
the count was ruined striped ofhis
wealth and title, he lay in prison
awaiting his fearful doom--the knout
and Siberia. And thither came
Alexis Orlofslzi---a. free man now,
for what he had done--to tell the
ruined noble that this was his re-
venge. Stern and untouched he
looked upon the miserable man, and
in cold hard tones he spoke
"Revenge IS sweet, Alvierolf; re-
member that, when you think Of
me and my wrongs. You shall suf-
fer all that suffered at your hands.
| have been your abused and tram
pied slave; you shall taste bitter
ness of q slavery worse than mine.
You scourged and tormented me be-
cause / was human, and had human
hopes and feelings ; you shall writhe
beneath the sting of the shameful
lash, and no one shall pity you. You
tore from me the only woman that
/ loved, and put out the only light
my life has ever known; you shall
feel the bitterness of my loss-the
agony Of crushed hopes and outrog-
ed loved! You shall suffer more
than /, for you shall bear the cold
ness and scorn of her who was to
have been your bride; she whose
face you will never see again. This
is my vengeance, wretchl Remem-
Der it when you think of me and my
murdered Niocelle."
And without another look at the
victim of his hate, Alexis Orlofski
left the dungeon ind went forth to
live as best he might the remnant of
his wretched life. 1t was not long !;
for why should he live? Niocelle
was dead, of n broken heart; her
murderer and his own wrongs we're
avenged-and he died.
Alvierof was sentenced to drag
out his existence in the mines of ST.
IBERIA. Crime could not have had a
more terrible punis hment.
Rafnra Maria