The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-03-27

eray hsard coucsaled ~ Io~sr pszt q bis
squafs face.
yancs cried ous nors word q appeal.
md thsn sfopped rnxxaed
Nue. ArdloH arose. pale snd trembling.
hut her husband mosioned her away.
Tbs ez4sfs remained in rows, stisI - the
figures Of friexe. and ~ > sign from the
of1csr With movement Of zhoniders. NE
Cossseks lorrsd the Pole from ths room
The scsns vsa vsry short
Immedisseiy STEER the count spoke Of
lnds6ereut things. and glasses At cham
payne wsrs handed around Nina Ard
Io6 stared vsc1ntiy, nnabie 70 coliecs h9r
fhouxhfs. ali suddeniy seeing The glove
which vanca hsd dropped. the reason OF
his srrsst dawned upon her. and she
tremhisd Violently. and % asitsssd vss
she that sha could scarcely say good-by 70
her guests. The count, however. dis
missed thsm rapidly, speaking al the
while Of the approaching summer the
number Of convicts thst had escaped from
the mines, snd the emperor.
When husband and wife were alone, the
count picked up the glove and handed i
10 the countess with IN ironicai smile, and
without abiding 10 what hsd happened.
44&a b88b ~ " ~ WY x4tcs bkt3 - vtSc+A nSA
10 retire 20 her ROOM
She obeyed without answering.
She knew something horrible WAS going
to happen. and. stupsied With fear. she
mounted the staircase. He stayed behind
to give Al order. and, mastering her fears,
she listened.
aid-de-camp, and she heard him say that
W. L. - tai fsx A
ranks, and her heart beat with JOY at the
prospect Of his escaping with 50 slight
punishment. Her emotion was 20 great
that she did not catch the next phrase. and
when she heard again. her husband was
telling his officer TO have all in readiness,
that he would be ut the barracks At nine
next morning.
There was something strange in this, and
Mime. Ardiod went trembling to her room
The shadows seemed nyid and the lamp
burned iuridiy, and oppressed with the
horrors OF the evening. she sat IN the ST.
lence, afraid to 90 TO bed.
Through the frozen window panes she
could see giistening the wide SHOWS Of the
Siberian winter Yearly she asked her.
self why she had been condemned 70 live In
these impossible deserts. The howl Of .
sounded In her excited mind like the last
dying cry OF some poor one unjustiy done
10 death. What was 10 become of vanca?
Why could not she save him7 Save him.
Was there need for that7 Starting to her
feet. she stroye by an effort of win to rid
herself OF her terrors. Then, shaken with
forebodings and regrets, she undressed;
but hundred fancies assailed her imagi-
A -. al h.
tapestry, to the shadows on the floor, and
white, like ghost in q tomb. she lay rest
less in her large bed.
Sleep fled from her, until 1t last she fell
into deep. dreamless torpor. from which.
toward morning. she was awakened by
heavy tramping Of feet in the corridor. A
moment after her husband entered. He
was sttired In the Russian military cloak.
and bis hand was on his sword.
SECT up" he said impatiently; II want
you 10 come out with me- l have ordered
the sledge"
why should get up at this hour7 1t
10 only just daylight. and | am very tired"
II am sorry you are tired, but l wasn't
you TO come to the barracks"
Remembering the order she had heard
given over night, Nine. Ardloff turned
Twenty times she felt an indefinite desire
rising up within her TO throw herself into
his arms aud beg OF him to be merciful;
but be looked so implacable that her
courage died away, and she feared that any
interest she might show for vanca would
only still further prejudice his chance of
escape.
Wrapping her long, blne fox fur mantle
- b. S.la -
He looked TO see II she had forgotten any
thing. Her handkerchief lay on the table,
and - he handed IL to her his attention
was attracted by fiacon de sci volatile.
I'VE may want this" he said, and
slipped 1t into her pocket.
What do you mean 2" she said, turning
suddenly; ARE you going to murder me 7"
ITO murder your he replied, laughing
cynicaliy; what nonsensel"
And half pushing her before him they
descended the staircase. She tried several
times to resist him, but he got her into the
siedge.
ITO the barracks" he cried to the coach
man, as he sat down beside his wife and
arranged the rugs
Daring the drive neither spoke . word.
His face was clouded In sort of suilen
AItQdAhsH~, Nifu ktfIlAru sue AO0kSu doWn
the dazzling perspectives Of the outlying
streets The barracks were situated at the
further end of the eastern suburb. The
horses cantered briskiy. and soon large
building appeared. 1t stood alone: all
round stretched the white expanse OF the
steppes; and the .ledgc passed large
gateway into the barrack square, which
had been cleared of snow.
~. nfx{ whx .xs a.
them helped the count to descend. Nine
Ardioif was told TO remain seated.
Immediately after a trumpefer blew .
call and file Of men marched to within Q
few yards OF the siedgs and formed them
selves into double line.
Front rank, quick march," cried the
officer. When they had gone eight PAGES.
he cried. Haiti" and then gave the order.
"Right-sbout turn"
vancs was then led forth. He walked
between two soldiers. He was naked to
the waist, and behind him came the exc
cafioner. he carried in his hand the bar
haTous knout, and over his shoulder dangled
is seven cruel lashes.
In Russia. an officer OF the army cannot
he logged. bat he can be degraded 10 the
ranks IN twenfy-foar hours. This is what
happened In the present case. ysnca was
now . common soldier. aud waiting to re-
csive the fifty lashes TO which be had been
sentenced.