Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-07-06
EPILOGUE.

| EPILOGUE.
Two young men were engaged in lively
conversation III the beautiful gardens of the
| Conversations Haus at Baden-Baden. II
was in the year 1860, when the whole ele-
CANT world used to meet here, more for the
sake of pleasure than to restore ruined
health. A famous artist had given grand
! concert, which was just now ended amid
enthusiastic applause. The audience scat
tered slowly in all directions; some went to
the rooms where play was going on, others
to the terraces. The young men were so
| deeply interested in their conversation that
they did not notice the crowd by which they
were surrounded. One of them was a
| French officer, the other a colonel in the
Russian Lfeguards. They had become ac-
| quainted under the walls of Sebastopol. and
there formed an intimate friendship. Since
then they had, strangely enough, never met
| till this very day, and their mutual delight
was great.
At the same moment a gentleman passed
them accompanied by lady of astonishing
beauty. A ,ew steps from the two friends
he suddenly stopped.
II should like to go for a moment into
the saal. You have no objection, Jana?"
COB, certainly not. Besides, / have Just
noticed Rita, and should like to speak to
her and settle matters about our excursion
tomorrow.
She left him. Vladimir looked leisurely
around and his eye lell on the French officer,
who bowed to him politely. The French
man followed Jana with his eyes.
"What splendid fgure!'' he said to his
friend.
Certainly She is countrywoman of
mine"
"What is her name?"
"The Countess Jana Lanin."
The French officer started in surprise.
us she perhaps the wife of Count Vladi-
mir Lanin?''
"Yesp'
That is most fortunate meeting! have
looked for her now Tor three years and al
ways in vain. You do not object to present
ing me to the Count?'
with pleasure. Here he is coming to-
ward u.s."
Count Lanin," said the French officer,
after having been Only introduced, SIT is
now three years that a letter was handed to
me for you, and under such very peculiar
circumstances that have ever since been
most anxious to make your acquaintance.
1t was in Shanghai, and the Taepings were
besleging the city. The French Govern
ment had sent me, in special mission, to
China. The siege was not very oppressive,
and every now and then there was a truce.
During these times we were at liberty to
walk about in the vicinity OF the fortress in
our European uniforms. One day 1 was
observing the camp of the Taepings from a
distance. when three men came out of 1t
toward me, and waved white flag. They
did not seem TO harbor any hostile inten-
tions, and L waited for them. One. who
seemed to be the leader, made q peculiarly
strong impression upon me, on account OF
his LOFTY stature, and because of his brilliant
eyes,"
That was MillerI' exclaimed vladimir.
Pray give me that letter! Hearty thanksl
He is one OF my oldest friends, of whom 1
often think"
with pleasure, Count"
He sat down on bench in the garden
and read as follows:
AT last L am really great chieftain;
they negotiate with me on a footing Of
equality, both the Son of Heaven and his
rival Taeping-waig. An odd name. is It
not? And vet these people are powerful
and influential and lead the same life as we
do. Here have attained importance and
power. My name, which no one in the
West would recognize in its present garb,
has good sound from the Eobi desert to
the mouth of the Pei-ho. More than once
the fate OF one of the greatest realms on
earth has rested in my hand. The Emperor
OF China fears me, Gieu-te trembles be ore
me. / am respected by Kirghis and Mant-
ehoo; am believed by my subjects and nv
companions in arms. The Gar hears my
name every now and then, when I invade |
his empire.
"You think, perhaps. have reached the |
goal Of my wishes? 1 write you these lines.
dear Vladimir, to con ess to YOU that 1 |
suffer from bitter nostalgia in my heart. I |
long for the misery even I suffered in |
Europe; long for the days when 1 knocked,
a beggar, at the portals of your palace in
Petersburg, even for the sleepless nights
which promised me better, glorious
future. And yet, dare not returnl
'And yet am sad, and almost a victim
of despair whenever think o. Europe. IL
ever should return-and it is very probable
that 1 shall do SO some time or other-tell |
me, vladimir, will you then take my hand in
yours?"
Il kiss the hem of thy wife's robe.
MILLER"
Vladimir gave the letter to Jana. who
passed him on her return to their hotel. She
read it In silence, and took a seat by his |.
side. Both iell into deep meditation The
charming place at which they were staying.
the merry mingling of all races and nations,
the glorious beauties of the famous gardens.
the matchless music that came to them from
affair." the splendid sunset which impr.sses
even the most turbulent scenes of our life
with the feeling OF peace and repose-all this
formed such terrible contrast with their
former history, OF which MiIler's letter had
reminded that the whole past rose before the
minds eye, the Imprisonment and banish-
nent, Irkutsk, the Lake Baikal, the
Angara. the wretchedness, the Tears and
hopes, the sorrows and sufferiDgs in Siberia,
Suddenly military step approached. They
urned round eagerly; before them stood the
,ray-haired Governor General of East ST.
,eria, who was also st ying at Baden Baden.
What occupies your thoughts to such a
egree that you do not recognize your old
riends?'
Vladimir told him and handed him Mil
er's letter.
"Indeed," he said a moment later, "if 1
emember that persecution that drove me ,
0 the very end of Siberia, cannot COM :
rehend by what wondrous good fortune 1 /
ave escaped such unspeakable misery ,
nd am now here q free man and happy
lan."
You uDgrateful manp' exclaimed Count
L., reverently seizing Jana's hand, mo one
eed wonder who has such guardian angel
t hissside and can rely on such noble
eartp
THE END