The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-09-05
Psinted BY Special Arrangement Copyrighted 1886
THE EXPLOSION
10 BESSBOROUGH GARDENS.
By COUNT ALEXIS CHAPALSKY The Famous Rus
sian Erile Now IN Netc York Cifu), Aathor of
THE Life That Was Giren For Mine,''
aud Other Stories of Nihilism.
A STORY OF NIHIL1sTIC REVENGE.

by Madame Kalitzin Dynamite the cause, etc-The
London Times, July %.
1t was dark night; raining, so that the few
persons, by twos and tlrees, who hurried up the
Rue Sturm, past the Chappelle Russo with its
five gided domes, glittering little in the Zee
bic iamplieht of the bare. billy, sandy, Russian
quarter of Geneva drew more closely ABOUT
them their dingy waterproof coats and cloaKs,
and peered through the rain drops that blurred
their binocIes. These persons came from diff
ferent directions, but they al tended to one
point, an obscure jewelers. shop in the ground
floor of bald looking broad wood house, standing
amid similar nei ghbors in narrow street lead
ing from the Rue Sturm.
The door swung creakingly open to admit them,
one by one where, throwing aside their damp
garments, they advanced to the hot porcelain
stove in the well.lighted room back of the shop
Tables were here and there, chairs, a piano.
books, large portrait OF Prince Krapotkine,
draped with two crossed red flags. and secre-
tary open with many writing materials scattered
on it,
The owner of the shop, Serge FROST. was a
large. heavy man, who nodded under his shaggy
brows to each newcomer; and, presently, about
about the room, Prost-whose air and manner
indicated rather leading spirit, notwithstand
ing the workmans striped apron which he still
had on-sat down at the secretary, and began to
read aloud, in monotonous tone, various dis
patches, letter. and injunctions, some in cipher
which appeared comprehensive to his listeners
This was a meeting of Nihilists.
''Nihilists so called by the orders who per-
haps know very little of the true aims, ambi-
tions, lives of the men and women they so
obligingly name.
'Nihilism"-it is indeed misnomer.
Those who pass into it's ranks with heads and
hearts, bodies and souls, ready to embrace at a
moments warning the baptism OF blood or fire,
might better be called Omniists, for to them the
good of all is the sole good, and for the good of
ALL there is no one-however powerful despotic,
magnificent, protected, favored-but he shall
perish in his time, if necessary
few papers of unimportance having been
discussed, FROST resigned his seat to the man
who was evidently the acknowledged leader of
this handful, and he, presently, in few terse
sentences, conveyed to his hearers the inteli-
gence that the agent of the order IN London was
too evidently proving false to the cause. Now,
to recall him meant danger-to end him 1t
was too soon; ne possessed much valuable infor-
nation, obtained through his connection with
the fashionable and diplomatic world, to be
summarily disposed Of
1t was needed-some one, adroit-treacher-
Gus, perhaps-subtle to undertake what was
called the reformation of Liof Mourarief-to
extract from him all he knew: to trace his defec-
ton; to measure out to him the expiration the or
der ordained for any of its members found
wanting by the very nature of the oath each one
took when he joined 1t.
What that oath is, it is not my privilege to
here disclose.
The "expiation" for its violation is simply
death.
On the inquiry. of the chief several men rose
from their seats began an animated discussion,
nro and con, but saying nothing of quite prae-
ticable nature.
Presently a young woman stood up and came
forward--a young man following her with pro-
voked and misgving air.
II will undertake the Mission" Fella Tzof
said quietly to the chief.
'It is better that CO." hastily added Constan-
tine Tricoupis her Greek lover and aftianced
husband.
The chief glanced from man to woman, whilst
the others clustered eagerly about.
He smiled,
well" he said, with dubious shrug,
'Fnesse is what is needed. One of you is a
Greek the other a woman-it is the equal match;
but something else also is required, and that ID,
the imaginative power and the Will to tasclnate,
to lure, to exact"
'"The very core of his heart" cries Feia Tzof,
"Ohl let me eol and what these two eyes,
these two lips, this voice will not win from the
traitor-well-let Tricoupis come after me and
gather up the fragments he is welcome to them.
Her lover frowned and drew back, warming
his hands at the stove.
''Felia Tzof, you will go: what now do you
reouirel Women like you in cause like ours
mature their plans like the lightning and take
what time they like to put them in execution"
''Give me money and | will retnrn to Geneva
in $50 days, with the traitors bond of expiration
in my hand. Oh, Russia, my country! bleeding,
awaiting at every pore with the red, thin blood
of starved men, and women. and children; groan-
ing with million breaths that freeze upon
your lips in the forests of Siberia Sinking, fall
ing back into your mother earth, with broken
knees and backs bent under the burden of chains
and manacles-under the sting of the lash that
bids you toll because you have dared to utter
nne word against the tyranny of despots, the
infamy of power. Shrinking with a million
voices to us to save, to rescue-to avenge you
Russia, my country for you would urge every
nerve of my body, every fibre of my brain to
help enmesh, crush, kill the one who has proved
unfaithful to your cause"
Like some prestess of old. the beautiful Felia
Tzof stood, her fair hair fallen little over the
dingy garment she wore. her large, white hands
uDltted, the Tears SCreaDLuS uoWn ner paie
cheeks.
1t would be difficult to describe the tumult OF
enthusiasm which the outburst of this young
woman produced upon her companions. All the
sentimental morbidness, all the horrible menta
iespondency of these people rose tor moment
out of their own depth. and, carried away by the
Ipiris of patriotism and loyalty, they for while
forgot what each of their lives knew but toe
we'll of poverty's sharp and daily pinches
A la%o Tow or T. -
The season was. indeed, most brilliant one.
and on a sunshny Sunday afternoon like this
the Zoo" was filled by throngof elegantly at
sired people belonging to the class OF high rank
and much wealth.
There were, indeed beautiful women by the
scores: and yet, as is often the case, there was
one woman sauntering just now, with a half
distracted air and lowered lids, a path beside
the three-isand pond, who irresistibly attracted
the attention of number of persons.
Io-.l. q har tnda md tha fank hat