Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1890-05-19
ONE GENT

/ Tor Nanca Woutu only stllA IuFtner prelu-
dice his chance of escape.
Wrapping her long, blue-fox fur man.
tie around her, she told him she was
ready. de looked to see If she had for
gotten anything Her handkerchief lay
on the table, and as he handed il to her
his attention was attracted by flacon
de sci volatile
"We may want this, /" he said, and
slipped il into his pocket
"What do you meanf" she said, turn
ing suddenly. @Are you going TO muir
der me?"
TO murder youi" hc. replied. laugh
ing cynically "what nonsense /"
And half pushing her before him they
descended the staircase. She tried sev-
eEal times to resist him, but he got her
into the sledge.
ITO the barracks" he cried to the
coachman, as he sat down beside his WIFE
and arranged the rugs
| During the drive neither spoke word.
His face was clouded in q sort of sullen
moodiness, and terrified, she looked down
the dazzling perspectives of the outlying
streets. The barracks were situated at
The horses cantered briskly and soon
large building appeared. II stood alone
all round stretched the white expanse Of
the steppes and the sledge passed a
large gateway into the barrack square
which had been cleared OF snow.
The officer who was waiting TO receive
them helped tho count to descend. Nine.
| Ardloff was told 10 remain seated.
Immediately after trumpeter blew
call and file of men marched to within
few yards Of the sledge and formed
themselves into double line.
"Front rank, quick march, cried the
officer When they had gone eight
PAGES he cried Halt" and then gave
the order, Right about turn.
Vanca was then led forth. He walked
between two soldiers. He was naked to
the waist and behind him came the ex-
ecutioner. He carried in his hand tho
barbarous knout and over his shoulder
dangled its seven cruel lashes.
In Russia an officer of the army cannot
be fiogged. but he can be degraded to
the ranks in twenty-four hours This is
what happened in the present case.
Vanca was now common soldier and
was waiting to receive the fifty lashes to
which he had been sentenced.
For Vanca all was now prepared; the
soldiers stood in line, the executioner
twirled his lashes, only an officer to lead
the way remained 10 be appointed. 1t
was Cor Count Ardloff TO do this.
He looked around there were half
dozen men standing around him, any one
of whom he might have chosen. AS he
glanced from one to the other, his atten-
ton was attracted by a man who, from
doorway at the other end of the bar
rack yard, was eagerly watching.
| "Who is that man ?" asked the count.
The man was called. 1t was vanca's
brother.
"What are you waiting about the door
way for?"
81 was waiting to see if your excel
lency would pardon my poor BROTHER
replied the Pole.
@Pardon your poor brother, said
Count Ardloff. with bitter sneer; 4
will show you how pardon. Draw your
sword and lead the way, and take care
you don't walk too fast.
After one deep, questioning look,
which told him that the Russian meant
to be obeyed, he broke his sword across
| his knee and said as he hurled the
pieces scornfully aside:
DO with me as you will, but ! will
not serve a country inhabited by bar
barians and governed by hends.
| Even the Cossacks exchanged glances
| of sympathy, and had they known the
whole truth it was not improbable that
they might have revolted. Suffice TO
say that for moment Nine. Ardloh
| feared for her husbands safety. But his
| fierce brutality dominated his soldiers,
and the elder Vanca was manacled and a
heavy guard placed over him.
The scene that presented itself was
this Two files of soldiers, Count Ardloh
commanding, stern and implacable, one
brother half naked and bleeding, the
other in irons; pale woman with agony
written in her face, wrapped up in furs,
and a pair Of horses munching in their
nose bags, unconscious Of aught else.
The officer took another step back; the
seven thongs whistled in the air, and
again tore into red furEows the lacerated
| flesh, As Vanca staggered forward,
his face convulsed with pain, his eyes
fixed on Mime. Ardloff, and they asked
with terrible eloquence, -Oh, why did
your beauty betray mei"
Her hands were clasped, and in her
emotion, having lost all power of utter
ance, she strove TO send forth her soul
TO tell him how innocent she was Then
another blow fell, and the blood squirted
horribly and the flesh hung ragged. 1t
was sickening. From sheer horror and
nausea Mfnes. .Ardlof tainted. But It was
her husbands intention that she should
witness to the end the revenge he had so
carefully prepared, and diving his hand
in the pocket of her mantle he produced
the bottle of sci volatile. With this he
quickly restored her to consciousness
and then she heard him saying:
Awake, awake, for / wish you to see