Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-09-25

| seat OF government and Mini koli,.lsk.
| Meanwhile, VIII endeavor. believe ne to
diminish for you and Your companions the
WEAKNESS of your forced captivity"
But the lost time!" exclaimed Nadege
''Mademoiselle I viii regain it for You
by furnishing you with excellent teams OF
dogs"
'As for ne" said Yermac, Il can but con-
graduate you, Monsieur Lavrenti Kantier,
upon your Interpretation of your duties as d
functionary of the Enpire!n
You know ire. them" said the Esao&le,
considerably surprised 20 hear his name
| mentioned by the so-calIei Polish priest
mo matter about that said the latter
1t is enough that my compliments are SIN
! cere."
The Esaoule, seeing that these words
were spoken seriously, took them in good
part.
L do all l can" said he. Ito properly DIS
charge my duties. which are often disagree
|, able"
Yerrnac's coUrtenance beaGel Thus.
without being compelled to dis + i2grdti-
tude towards his companions. without break
Jag an engagement made with them by in
plication he would accomplish his ends
thanks to his care in SEEDING by the partro
of Cossacks' instructions to the four most
Important posts, which form vast quadri-
! lateral in the solitudes of the districts of
the indiguirka and the kolima. The law
would Triumph He would recover his lib
erty Of action, without having weakened,
without having failed in what he owed him
self as chief of police
Pray be seated also, Messieurs, and
tell me something about the burning Of the
forest Of Ostrovoye," said the Esaoule,
You must have witnessed the confagra-
ton"
'Ah! you may well believe it," cried NJ.
Lafleur, who had lost nothing Of his conf
dence.
And he pompously began the description
of the disaster, making use of numerous
| Latin quotations taken hap-hazard from his
recollections of the rudiments of that tongue,
for he was forced to maintain il the pres
ence of this ignorant Official the reputation
for learning with which YegOr had endowed
| him. Each word of the dancing master, ut
tered with perfect ease, seemed intended to
communicate to the fugitives the calmness
and assurance ne was showing.
While he was talking a Cossack who
served the Esaoule at his masters order,
placed upon the rustic table roughly fash
Toned with a Ratchet the best the house
possessed. The prudent Esaoule, prepared
for everything did not wish his unwilling
guests to be i'll a position to accuse him of
| having been lacking in hospitality. He al
ready possessed the esteem Of the pretend
ed Polish priest: he now aimed to win that
Of the governors friend, the so-called author
of the "Flora Altaica"
The warmth Of the apartment was COM
forting to the travellers. They disembar-
rassed themselves of their heavier garments.
Yegor insisted that Na3ega should do honor
to the dishes served upon the Esaoule's ta-
BILE The young girls depression might we'll
be attributed to the sad and imperious ne
cessity that had obliged her to undertake
this difficult winter Journey
Yermac ate with an appetite he had not
felt for long while.
A tchi Of meat was served, accompanied
with rye loaves fresh from the oven, and
! with preserves made of kind of small
gooseberries which had reached exceptional
maturity the preceding summer
II shall without LOSING moment" said the
commander of the ostrog, prepare my de-
spatches and send off my cour1ers before an
hour has passed"
''Wait little" said Yegor, audaciously;
''your couriers shall also bear a letter from
me to the father of these children, your col
league Of Niini-kolimsk.
''And one from me, added the Partisan,
''tO the governors wife complaining Of
your severity, Esaoule, and giving her a
description Of your excellent preserves"
The Esaoule seemed somewhat discon-
certed. He evidently feared to be exhibit
ed III bad light to so many important per-
sonages.
Yermac who noticed his hesitation sud
denly ceased to manceuvre his fork and his
forehead clouded.
while awaiting your couriers' return"
said the exile Il advise you to busy your
self with the preparations for our depar-
ture Besides, intend to recompense you
| largely"
The Esaoule appeared instantly to take
resolution. AT the word recompense his
face lighted up. He promised himself that
, he would profit by this windfall, while tax
ing every precaution to shield his response
bility.
Let me see," said the former Judge of
the tribunal of Moscow to himself, ''what
reliance can be placed upon the honesty Of
this Russian functionary?"
The Esaoule, in snuffing candle, put it
out.
IAN unexpected visit" exclaimed NJ Laf-
leur, who was familiar with the Russian
proverbs.
He did not think that he was so near the
truth.
At that moment, at the half-open door of
the low-ceilinged apartment in which they
were, appeared huge nose, a bOny head
and thin face beneath a dirty fur cap. The
caftan of the person was in no better condi-
ton. Yegor OWNED the presence Of a Jew
peddler.
The intruder, on perceiving so many
people, withdrew his nose, his head and his
chest a+Said, doubtless, of being indiscreet.
Yeg0r thought that if the man were, as he
believed, a Jew merchant, a few little pur-
chases made of him and bestowed upon his
host in return for the forced hospitality
they We're receiving at his hands, might pro
duce an excellent effect.
The Jew-for it was, indeed, Jew-re-
manned in the ante-chamber, gloomy and
dirty apartment, feebly lighted by window
having, instead Of glass, plates of ice solder
ed with cold water, according to the custom
In these regions where the low temperature
breaks panes of glass. He comprehended
that someone was approaching. Mysteri-
ously, he seized Yegor's reindeer skin pc
Esse, and said to him, in a low voice.
''Esaoule, have some more-of the pur.
est, and in much greater quantity
II am not the Esaoule," said Yegor; shut
what have you for sale?"
''You are not the Esaoulel" exclaimed the
other, alarmed and, doubtless, fearing that
| he had said too much
81 will WILLINGLY buy resumed Nero,.