Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-10-04

bruises ne received In ms faii rises to his feet
and calls out cheerily:
"Ten to one we reach the coast first Will
you take it, Prince Narkine?"
Alas, the Russians heart sank within him a.
he saw that his dangerous rival had at last
scaled rampant which Was ineXpungable for
him, an advantage which meant swift and sure
victory FOR the gallant American. But who
could dare say that such a bold and magnificent
leap WIS not worth the reward it was pretty
sure to get? The ice raft now began to draw
away again.
''be kind enough to toss me shovel. may
need it before we make our craft fast to the
Siberian coast"
The shovel was safely hurled across the 80
feet Of water which now separated the two
foes, and in few moments the block bearing
the colonel and Girard's beautiful daughter
was caught in a strong and steady current and
carried slowly out Of sight, while the handker-
chiefs Of both parties futtered an adieu-
why. this /. altogether an unexpected
pleasure, my dear Miss yirginie," said the COL
onel laughingly. pray. my beautiful captain,
what Is the name Of your craft?'
How would 'L'Etoile du Nord' do, Col
Rivers?" asked Virginie, with merry twinkle
in her honest, wide-open eyes.
NO" replied the colonel 81 prefer La
Belle Americaine.'"
"But the captain is q French woman sir"
Virginie made answer with mock indignation.
"Under the law OF this land dear Virginie,"
murmured the debonnsir Rivers, as he knelt
on the ice and drawing the fur glove from the
young girls soft dimpled hand pressed it re.
peatedly to his lips. under the laws of this
land, beloved, the wifes nationality becomes
merged into that of her husband, and, vir-
ginie," continued Rivers, in an almost solemn
tone, Il need not tell you what you know
already, that for four long months Prince Mar
kline has at the rate Of from four to six times
each and every twenty-four hours prevented
me from asking you to be my wife; but thank
heaven he was too heavy to make that Jump"
Virginie was silent. 1t is answer always
very sweet to lovers ears, and rising from his
knee he passed bis arm around the young girls
waist, drew her to him and pressed his lips on
hers with SO much warmth that a deep blush
mantled her cheeks for a moment but as the
remembrance OF his bravery, his devotion and
his perilous leap. to say nothing of his gener-
GUS protection extended to Prince Narkine,
came over her she threw her arms around
the coloners neck like the noble and loving girl
that she was, and he felt her head laid thank
fully and trustingly upon his breast
After several blssful hours spent in mapping
out route for the next year or SO through the
fair land of love, Rivers drew an American flag
from his pocket and tied il to one Of the poles,
which he firmly set in n assure IN the ice pack
ing the snow about it SO as to hold it securely
in place.
There, my darling virginie. now good luck
and a short voyage to La Belle Americana"
Col Rivers now set to work to make q close
examination of the foe, which was rapidly
drifting toward the northwest, in hopes of find
ing some sheltered nook or corner where his
fair young bride might be made comparatively
comfortable until the rapidly falling tempera-
ture should knit the ice and permit him to es-
cape to the coast, now In plain view. He had
not far to look, for he soon came upon a nat
ural ice grotto, which only called for a few
hours labor to fill up the cracks and chinks
with snow in order to make it a warm and COM
Portable apartment After the fashion of the
natives, he left only small opening to this ice
cabin, which he afterward closed from the in
side by means Of a slab Of ice and several
shovelfuls Of snow.
Virginie was somewhat puzzled to under
stand why the colonel now proceeded to shoot
a sea gull. for surely such fat, oily creature
was not fit to eat even il there we're fire to cook
it, but her curiosity was only heightened upon
seeing the colonel ravel a bit of WOODEN cloth
and braid the threads into thick strand which
by cid Of penknife and lead pencil, to Virginie's
great astonishment, he passed through the
birds body, drawing the end out of his beak
and lighting it. And thus the little home of
ice was lighted and warmed after the door had
been securely battened up with snow.
This ingeniously improvised lamp burned
with a small though steady flame and caused
the ice crystals to glitter and sparkle as II ten
thousand gems OF purest water had been set in
the roof and sides Of the little gro.to.
"Ah, mon ami" murmured Vhginie as she
turned her soft, dark eyes upon her lovers
face, "you are SO learned, SO brave, SO famous,
how will you ever be satisfied with such a SIM
pie maiden as II"
my darling" said the colonel as he pressed
his lips on yirginie's brow, whittier than the
snow at their feet, ''this world has no corner
twenty-five years, and during all that time I've
been looking for woman to fill the vacant
niche in my heart. In a word, q saint for my
shrine"
"Then you are going to make an idol Of me,
are you, dearest2" asked Virginie, archly.
"Yes," replied Rivers, solemnly, ian idol,
something to have faith in, for I've always been
an unbeliever and find need a religion. And
now sleep, beloved Virginie, while watch, for
you must be weary after the many hours Of ex-
citement and agitation"
Scarcely twelve hours had passed before all
motion in this sea of ice abruptly ceased and
foe became knitted to foe as If with bands of
steel.
The lovers now abandoned their little ice
grotto and turned their faces toward the coast
which was about one league distant; but they
had not proceeded one-half the way ere native
scouts sent by Pechkoff came up with them
and conducted them to Numana, where the
anguish of father and mother dissolved in tears
Of joy, and Prince Narkine. nobleman by
nature as we'll as lineage, extended his hand in
heartfelt congratulation to Col Scion Rivers,
late of the United States army.
The little party of travellers now set out for
Irkoutsk where tho colonel found an officer of
the Russian government awaiting him with
horses and sledges, and in a few weeks the
toilsome journey to Irkoutsk had been COM
pleted and the travellers found themselves most
luxurlously lodged in the palace of Count
Alexis Ignatief, governor general of eastern
Siberia.
Col. Rivers lost no time in entering upon his
duties, the very first question which he was
called upon to consider being that of bridging
the river Angara, for the city Of Irkoutsk is
located upon the right bank Of the Angara and
consequently could only be made a station on
the Trans-Siberian railway by the construction
Of bridge across the river at that point
Public sentiment was about evenly divided
but Count Alexis naturally favored the plan Of
bringing this important city into touch and
sympathy with this great railway enterprise
and without compromising his official position
in the least he set calmly to work to make a
stanch friend of Col. Rivers Dinners and
fetes followed in quick succession, and like a
true diplomat Ignatieff let no day go by with
out showing some charming consideration to
the colonel's beautiful bride. In q word Count
Alexis, true Partisan Of the north. had in q
few weeks entirely captivated Col Scion Riv-
ers, but that gentleman, practical even in
matters OF sentiment assured the governor
general that, in spite Of the worlds attempt to
decry it, selfishness was in reality the main
spring OF every noble action and that as .
natural consequence those friendships were
the most lasting where the friends were most
useful to each other.
my dear colonel" cried Count Alexis, II
agree with you perfectly and it will always be
a supreme pleasure for me to serve you in