The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1888-06-02

Thus we travelled on, cut adrift as it were
from the everyday world-as far as sight
and sounds were concerned we might have
been sailing halfway between earth and sky.
And thus we three, who had been thrown
together haphazard on this summer night,
seemed loosened altogether from all sense
of earthly responsibility, and fell into the
vague and dreamy talk, discussing and
questioning all kinds of theories touching
heaven and earth, and the mysteries and
problems of Efe and death.
Hours passed quickly away; the light of
dawn was already gliding the turbid waters
of the river, when we we're conscious of an
unusual hustle on board. No doubt we
were approaching the German frontier,
where there is generally some triAing Gus
tom-house formality to go through. But
this. night something more than ordinary
was in progress. A strong party of Ger
man officials had come on board, and with
rafting arms and cleaning lanterns, were
making minute survey of all the passen-
gers. travelling companions exchanged
glances of alarm. The chief of the officials
was approaching us, accompanied by the
conductor" of the steamer.
"Ah, you have some Russian passengers
on board, said the former, in the convinc-
ed manner of German official
The elder of my companions put her
hand appealingly upon my arm.
ave are lost, my son, unless you can
save us.
The Prussian officer, tall and stiff, was
standing over us, while his companion held
the lamp.
"This is an English partly said the lat
ter, apologetically, as if he were introducing
some poor wandering people to the notice
of king.
"Ahl' said the German, shifting the air
suspiciously and majestically. "How do
we know that?"
How, indeed | might plunge into per-
jury fathoms deep, but could I ever con-
vince this sceptical, iron-framed man that
l and my compagnons de coyage were of
the same nationality? He would insist on
examination of papers, baggage, and all the
rest; and | should be brought to shame,
and probably hauled off to the guard house
to share the fate of my female friends,
whatever that might be. And yet one soft
appealing look from Olga made me think
that all this would be endurable in such
company. And then suddenly it occurred
to me, | have passport Yes; my mother,
who is an oldfashioned traveller insisted
on our having foreign office passport in
our joint names when we started on our
travels, and there it remained untouched in
the note case, where [ had first placed it,
[ sprang to my feet, and politely saluted
the official.
'Pardon me, have passport"
"Ha, ha! goot, goatI he has a passport" "
said the tferman, his features relaxing as
he examined the document carefully by the
light of the lantern. "Ah, yes, the Graf
von Salisbury" he remarked approvingly,
as he scanned the signature. every goot
man. So, SO, Esquiar, and Mistress Es-
quiar, and Miss Esquiar-very goot,"
1t was so much in accordance with the
Officials senss of fitness, this lucky passport
OF mine, that the iron man at once relaxed.
Yes, he became polite, effusive, especially
to the ladies, who bore the ordeal with
wonderful cOmposure.
But it was a great relief when the steam
er slackened speed, and the high official
and his subordinates disappeared over the
vessels side. Still none of us spoke till the
appearance of sundry homely, comfortable
fellows in the uniform Of the Dutch Gus
tom-hoqse assured US that we We're fairly
over the frontier.
Then the elder lady, before L could stop
her, raised my hand to her lips and
kissed it.
"You have saved us from death, or what
is perhaps worse, the prolonged torture of
a convict's life. The Germans, had they
caught us, would have sent us back to the
prisons of the Gar.
Yes, they were revolutionists, these
pleasing, interesting womea-refugees from
Russia. Husband, son, lover, all had join
ed the ranks of the secret brotherhood.
The head of the family, Count Ipsiloff,
was an exile. The son had died upon the
scaffold. The fate of the lover was still
uncertain. He was Olga's lover, this
young man, whose features so strongly re-
semble my own, certain Count Loris
Malakoff, noble, rich and generous, who
had sacrificed everything for the cause.
And yet some of the brotherhood sus-
pected him, and as test he was selected
for an enterprise of great peril, the nature
of which we need not inquire about. But
on the eve of the appointed day, Loris
disappeared; the clue to the whole eopspi-
racy was in the hands Of the police; whole
sale arrests were made; numerous execu-
tions followed, and among them that Of
Olga's brother, Stephen. But of Loris
nothing was known, Only terrible re-
port had been circulated, on the authority
of a prison official who was secret sympa-
thizer, to the effect that Loris had beenthe
traitor, that his heart had failed him at the
last and that he had given himself up to
the police, and revealed the whole conspi
racy.
1t was also said that he would be soou
liberated, and to save him from the ven
geanee Of the brotherhood, conveyed secretly
in disguise, probably in the character of an
Englishman, as far as London, where, lost
in The immensity of the crowd, he might
best hope to escape the fate that would
surely dog him as long as he lived.
Hence, when the Russian ladies saw the
very facsimile of their former friend on the
quay, the sight seemed to confirm the
worst suspicion that had been entertained
about him.
Olga loved him, but she would rather
that he should be dead than so dishonored
She had always refused to believe that he
had been traitor
"Now," concluded Nine. Ipsilof, "I am
hoping to join my husband in Holland
He is growing old, alas like myself, and
has been compelled to retire from the active
list Of the revolutionary band"
They proposed to take ship for America
there to end their days in poverty and exile
they who had been once rich, honored
and happy.
All this, whispered rather than spoken
in low, earnest tones, produced profound
feeling of sorrow and depression. but JUS
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