The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-10-13

THE BIRD sANID HIN.
Thus, 10 reach Siberia they were com
PEELED 10 return 10 Petersburg and take
up their journey from that place. The
oxiles travel slowly, never more than
twenty-five vorsts being passed in one
day. and every fourth day is devoted en-
tirely TO rest 1t is only at every fourth
station that an ctapc officer IS found,
and these are the resting places. At the
other stations the gcndarmes who ac-
company the eXilcs perform the part Of
that official. ! soon became weary Of
this slow, monotonous way Of travelling,
and the prisons where we were forced
70 sleep were such foul smelling. i'll ven
iilated places that | felt would soon
fall if / continued TO occupy them.
The prisons are cleaned but once a year,
and the accumulation Of filth and YER
min found in them is simply appalling
The walls and floor are damp and alto
together unfit for human habitati0n.
Nv only hope in lettering my condition
Law in finding some means Of separating
from the cxilcs. This could onlydO by
feigning sickness and letting the others
proceed without me- Twenty-four hours
after their departure found me conva
lesceni and ready 10 resume my journey.
As man Of rank, by law ! was entitled
10 the privilege of one horse. and by the
kindness Of the etape officer ] was en-
abled t6 obtain a second horse for theuse
of the gendarmo who accompanied me.
Thus equipped. l had no difficulty in
Oyertaking the party on foot, in addition
10 passing three etape stations IN twenty
four hours. At the last Of these | de-
cided 10 spend the night, as was becom-
ing exhausted from hard riding. When
about to resume my journey in the morn
ing ! was informed 10y the etape officer
that would find much difficulty in pass.
ing the official at my next halting place,
without experiencing considerable delay,
a. he would in all probability detain me
until the party from which had parted
would reach there lie said the officer
at that station was an old soldier, one of
the guards of the time of Nicholas /, and
a imam known throughout the country for
MS brutal treatment OF prisoners.
IL was with no pleasant thoughts that
parted with the officer who had volun-
teered such disagreeablc information.
During my short stay under his roof he
had shown me every kindness and no
doubt told me what he did to put me on
my guard and prepare me somew hat for
tie reception was like. o. meet !
. q
over which Ivan Dimitrievitch Durakoi
exercised such absolute control, and
while busy with my thoughts as how
best to approach the old tyrant. muJiA
UeasanU suddenly appeared in the road
way. carving i'm his hands a live black
grouse. 1t flashed across my mind that
il would be a good idea tosccure the bird
as a present to the old soldiers wife.
thought such a gift might soften the old
officers heart. for it is seldom that a
black grouse is caught alive, andis there
fore regarded as a curiosity. Stopping
the mullk inquired how much be would
take for the bird. "Only fifteen kopckas.
your honor" was thereply. So the muJik
got his fifteen kopekas and / the bird.
Fortune favored me, for ON reaching
the station the much dreaded official
was absent. and my first meeting Wa7
with his wife. into whose good graces !
ingratiated myself by presenting her
with the black grouse. told her She
must keep il in remembrance # pris-
oners visit % her home. ] then cx-
planned to her the situation Of Affairs.
and also related in detail my fear Of le-
ing locked up by her cruel husband and
the endless trouble such delay would
cause me, as / was in a great hurry TO
reach Petersburg as quickly as possible.
Mime. Anna DurakoI was "a stout mid
die aged woman; she mad kindly gray
eyes and beautiful long hair She
laughed at my fears and assured that 40
such dirciul calamity as / predicted
would bcfall me.
She replied: you .shall have three
good horses for the next thirty vcrsts
the only use l shall make of my power
will be- TO have you arrested until dinner
is ready. l am broiling nice spring chick
ems. aud we have plenty Of milk, Veeeta-
blcs and tea. You surely can desire
nothing better. and after YOU have haf
At goOd meal you can proceed Of; sour
Journey. Ny husband is not at all the
bad man people represent him to be. II
is true ne is strict in the discharge
of duty, but withal kind hearted and
generous 10 q fault, and YOU need fearno
harm at his hands. VIII YOU please be
seated while attend TO the dinner? And
with a smiea and a soft EXCUSE me, she
departed.
The room In which was seated gave
evidence Of considerable taste in the fur
nishing, notwithstanding that every
thing in it was old fashioned. The halls
were adorned with old family portraits,
while at one side Of the room an ancient
piano formed the chief attraction. In
Russia it is not usual 10 carpet the floors
rugs being employed instead, but in this
case the iloor was simply painted, and as
clean as soap and water could make it
While waiting madames only child ap
reared on the scene, carrying in her |
arms the bird which had just presented I
her mother
The daughter, Elena, was a pretty In.
terestirg girl Of perhaps IA years. She |
was very much pleased with tho black
grouse, calling it moy miloy (my love- /
and in every way cvincins her pleasure
at the unexpected gift / had been
seated about fifteen minutes when the
door suddenly opened and Officer Dnra'
kofi entered. Ills appearance was suih-