The morning call., 1890-05-25

thee to be more cautious-else 1 should have to
be much more severe"
Astonished at this unusual severity of the Gov
ernor. who so far had been exceedingly kind to
him, Vladimir showed such signs OF grief that
the Governor fell moved 10 pity.
Tuning to his adjutant lie said:
" lie Kind enough TO 20 over there to Merchant
Laten and tell him | wish 10 see him tonight
about the ball he wishes TO give. ! shall wait
for you here. Come back at once, If you please"
The adjutant guessed that his presence was
not desired by the Governor and therefor
stepped out of lie sleigh and went of quickly.
Vladimir was about To leave when The Governor
stopped him, saying:
dear Count, l was compelled to use such
language with you because received to-day the
very stTicIesI orders concerning you. An auto
graph letter from VI. Schelm. the head OF a d.
vision in the Ministry OF the Interior, concerns
you exclusively. | am ordered TO he very strict
with you If you should disregard the rules in Tue
slightest way
Schelm!" exclaimed Vladimir "He Is my
greatest enemy. He"
Hush ~ said the Governor, in whisper.
must not even hear such words. They might al
ready count as crime against me. do not
know whether you a;e gully or innocent. That
is not my business. l can only admit you do not
look like ha ned sinner. admire The Count
ess and revere her; on that account warn you.
II you are III Town avoid Inc like sin Itself, for, II
l should meet You. | would have to proceed with
great severity. You must, next, keep on good
terms with the Captain OF the gendarmes and the
inspector. because 1t would be difficult for Inc 10
protect you against these two men. Now must
make my excuses 10 The Countess that cannot
receive her any, longer at my house. Good-by
and be Cautious"
Your EXcellency do not iorsake me. l am
Innocent
las TO that, l am helpless. 1 am an officer
and must obey orders. / have no right TO de-
clare you guilty OF not guilty III you force me
should even have TO punish you, however repug-
nant."
The adjutant was seen approaching; the Gov
ernor dismissed Vladimir with a gesture OF the
hand, and the sleigh drove away:
Vladimir remained standing there as IL struck
By lightning For two months lie had cherished
l!lusOTy hopes which now vanished in smoke.
I he good will OF the Governor, the poiIeuess OF
Colonel Palkin, OF whose Conduct Jana had told
him notling-a this lie thought betOkened IA
vorable turn IN his situation. The Governors
words threw him back into an abyss OF doubt
He FASTENED to his wife's house.
Jana was waiting for him 10 breakfast with
her The unexpected blow had changed his fea-
lures so thar tie loving wife al once detected his
trouble by the EXPRESSION OF his face.
vladimir What is The matter?" she asked,
eXcitedly.
"Well, cannot endure This any longer. We had
so far, only one enemy-the Captain of gem
dalmes, whom Satan must have brought here
\ Ow we shall nave to humble ourselves TO him
also. The Governor has also received letters
from Petersburg which bring that rascaly
Schelm's orders 10 be strict with me. The Gov
ernor must obey. He sends his apologies to you
that he cannot receive you any more at the
| palace As to myself have to return 10 my
lonely life as colonisl. exposed TO the persecu
tons Of sub0rdinates."
But our petition, PalkIn's protection ?"
Gle is an officer like the others. For month
lc was lhdlIs IeIe nc Has again DtcUule MA
chine; either lie never sent the paper, or he got
an answer which prevents his taking ANY further
steps"
"And you think the Governor also has joined
| our enemies2'
He is personally as kind as ever, but he must
| obey the orders That have been sent TO him. No
| Jana, by begging for ii l shall never get my
| rights. stand alone, and face the whole Free
masonry OF officials. For Two years have hest
tated 10 JOiu tue conspiracy in which ali my rel-
low-exiles are engagedi its aim is TO shake off
this yoke on our uecks. l have always refused
to join them, because While almost all OF them
have done some wrong by which they have In
CURED punishment, am innocent, and have pa
tiently waited till my innocence should be ac-
knowledged publicly; Two long years have
waited, and now Will walt no longer"
What do you mean to do?" asked JANA
frightened by the excitement with which her
husband spoke.
There is a grand conspiracy spread over the
whole OF East Siberia. There is regular adj
ninistrative body, and at the head chief who
has been chosen by the members. The Y propose
10 shake on the Russian yoke. TO escape
to country where tile Car cannot reach
them. AS the terrible frost this winter has frozen
Oh US vast extent, lhe authorities cannot watch
them easily. they meet on one OF the
Islands know this conspiracy, because
was invited six months ago TO enter. had to
Keep IL secret especially as 1 declined to join
them Now. however, that all my hopes have
Jailed, have changed my mind. IL they deny
me what is right, shall take 1t. / cannot be a
martyr who waits and waits, and at last dies,
still waiting for release; nor can bear it that
wTetched life"
But my dear Vladimir" said jana, az am
perfectly happy here. Have we not found mere
that domestic life OF which you so often dreamed?
What does 1t matter whether we live In IrkuISk
or Pars?"
"And vet, instead of witnessing the homage
that is paid you on all sides / am not even al
lowed TO visit you any more ! Was that why
you joined YOUR fate TO mine? NO, jana my res
olution Is fixed. In the little village in which I
live quite number OF unfortunate exlles are 60
Ing 10 try to recover their liberty. They are all
members of the conspiracy. Tomorrow l
shall join them They will be glad TO receive me.
You will give them the money they need so sad
ly. tell you everything because 1 know your
heart. know how well you know how 10 use
your fortune"
She interrupted him sadly;
" Win that one word, Vladimir, you close my
life. Alas l had thousand reasons for dis
suading you from taking this step now | eau
say nothing more-nothlng, nothing at all 1
do not wish you TO doubt HE moment. That
has happened once, and we have been punished
too severely ever 10 try II again. Who knows,