Telegram-herald., 1889-10-14

PelLcd 20 return 70 petersburg ana take
up their journey from that place. The
exiles travel slowly. never more than
twenty-five versts being passed in one
day. and every fourth day is devoted en-
1rely TO rest. 1t is only at every fourth
station that an etape officer is found,
and these are the resting places. AT tie
other stations the gendarmes who ac-
company the exiles perform the part Of
thar 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
dlated places that felt l would soon
fall III il continued 70 occupy them.
The prisons are cleaned but once year,
and the accumulation Of filth and YER
min found in them is simply appalling
The walls and door are damp and alto
together unfit for human habitation.
Ny only hope in bettering my condition
lay in finding some means OF separating
from the exiles. This | could only do by
feigning sickness and letting the others
proceed without me- Twenty-four hours
after their departure found me conva-
lescent and ready to resume my journey.
As a man Of rank. by law / was entitled
20 the privilege of one horse, and By the
kindness OF the etape officer | was en-
abled TO obtain a second horse for the use
of the gendarme who accompanied me.
Thus equipped, | had 10 difficulty in
overtaking the party on foot, in addition
% passing three etape stations in twenty
four hours. At tie last of these | de-
cided to spend the night. as l was becom-
ing exhausted from hard riding. When
about TO resume my journey in the morn
ing was informed by the etape officer
thai l would find much difficulty in pass
ing the official at my next halting place,
without experiencing considerable delay,
as he would in all probability detain me
until the party from which had parted
would reach there. He said the officer
az that station was an old soldier, one Of
the guards Of the time Of Nicholas l. and
man known throughout the country for
bis brutal treatment Of prisoners.
Is was with no pleasant thoughts that
I parted with the officer who had volun-
teered such disagreeable 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
nv guard and prepare me somewhat for
the reception I was likely to meet. l
was within fifteen vsrsts of the prison
over which Ivan Dimitrievitch Durakof
exercised such absolute control, and
while busy with my thoughts as how
best 20 approach the Old tyrant. a mujik
peasant suddenly appeared in the road
way. carr ing IN his hands q live black
grouse. It flashed across my mind that
i; would be a good idea 70 secure the bird
As n present % the old soldiers wife
thought such a gift niSht soften the old
officers heart. for it Is seldom that a
black grouse Is caught alive, and IA there
fore regarded as a curiosity. Stopping
the mlpk I inquired how much ho would
take for the bird. "Onlv fifteen kopekas,
your honor. was the reply. So the mUjik
Sot his fifteen k0pekss and the bird
Fortune favored me. Tor on reaching
The station Tho much dreaded Official
was absent. and my first meeting was
with his wife. into whose good grsces [
ingratiated myself by presenting her
with tho black C7ouse. 7 told her she
must keep it in remembrance 4 a pris-
oners visit 70 her home. ] then ez-
planned CD her the situation ot affairs.
AMI elso related in detail m7 fear - be-
irz 'ocked up by her cruel HUSBAND and
the endless trouble such delay would
cause me. as was In a great hurry TO
reach Petersburg ~ quickly as possible.
N~e Anna DurakoT was "A s-cut mld-
dIe a-r4 woman. she hai kindly gray
e~es ard beautiful long hair. she
la1zhal at nv fears and assured thas no
a,ch lireful calamity a. 4 predic'ed
wouil -elall me.
She raoliesl. "Tor shall have three
gooi horses far tho next thirty vsrsts'
t1e only use Shall make Cf mT power
vii 10 to have Ven arrested rnul dinner
IS rdr am hroihnz nice spring chick
ens. snd re have plenty OF ulllk. Vessia-
h.es and tea. You surely cen desire
nct' ing better. and after you have hal
.cod meal rou can proved or yo'lr
Journey Nv husband Is not AZ al che
lad mar people reV~esent him 30 he It
is trne he - strict ia the discharge
~ t1fv tut wihal kind hearted ard
- lerous to ssuit. snd you need fear uo
harm az his hands Wll you please he
seaeed while attend 81 the dinlerf And
wirh a sulie and soft excuse me, she
detarreo