The morning call., 1890-05-18


The hunters paid no attention to the cry and
went on. AL the same time Jana's heal ap-
peared at the window Of the coach and she said:
For Gods sake, help US, friends! We have
lost our way, don't you see ?"
The Russian trembied as he heard Jana's
voice. he said to his companion:
Ii Is only woman. Let us stop moment
and show them the way by an arrow. l do not
want to be recognized. My voice might petray
me-"
In the meantime Palkin's face had become
visible behind Jana.
WIN you stop, Instantly ~ he shouted. Z" You
geudaTmes ~
The marta had already passed the coach, and
the position said to the Colonel:
They are natives who do not understand
RUSSIAN"
But at that moment the marta stopped. Tho
Tunguse rose, put an arrow on his bow and shot
1t In the direction of the forest. Then lie
whistled loud, and in au instant the little sleigh
was lost to sight.
These rasc&lsp cried Palkln. snow they
shoot at us!"
Excuse the man. your Excellency." said the
position; THAT Is the way for those people 10
direction In which The arrow was sent off,"
We'll, then, whip your horses and 60 oD."
The horses now brought the heavy carriage
around and started In a different direction. For
an hour already, the Colonel had been driving
about Oh the plain; for an hour ago the position
had told the Colonel that he had lost his way.
Jana was III despair because she was very anxious
to reach Irkutsk. When the Colonel, however
represented to her that IL would be better TO
up their own strength ana that OF the horses, she
yielded. After considerable time the position
at last cried: 1--WE are near the fUrestt L see
the road again!"
Deep silence retgned in the coach. Jana
looked all around the vast plain, hoping to DIS
cover traces of human dwelling. Thus they
reached tile forest. or a sudden, the Colonel
turned to his companion, and, loOhlng at her
win passionate eyes, lie said:
Countess. you surely do not know the power
OF your beauty"
The eyes of the gendarme glowed like will-o'-
the-wisps IN the dark COACH and Jana drew
back frightened. They had made SO long
journey together, and Palkn had ever treated
her WIN SO much respect aud esteem that jana
had become quite treasured, and now also
sought 10 give his words a lauglable turn.
- have heard that so Ofteni But let us drop
idle compliments, and rather think how we shall
escapt out OF this predcament."
compliment They are no compliments, but
The expression OF feeling tina, oyerwhelms
me -
Then you ought to suppress it, In our rea-
i've position you cannot speak OF such things
without"
You think so? DO you imagine that man,
because he Is a gendarme, has no feelings which
n!agcally charming being must arouse In every
heart, Do you think We can, with mpunty, re-
main near you because we have authority"
The coach was driving into the forest, The Dlrcn
trees ana The aTches stretched out their bare
branches into tile air as II they were skeletons
Jana began now seriously to fear, as a glance
showed her Palkin's ewes glowing with strange
hie and his face burning red. Retiring into The
farlhcst corner oil The coach she said:
Colonel, what Is IL ?"
What Is II? / must at least confess that l
love YOU L know you are an honest woman
and VIII scorn me. Nevertheless"
What do you mean? Are you out OF your
senses? Stop, position p cried Jana 10 perfect
anguish.
They VIII 0bey me- only. You call, therefore, in
vain. He has purposely lost his way, because
ordered it."
Help save me What shall | do, poor
woman that amp
ioid you you would call in vain. Don't you
see how calm am? | love YOU repeat IL OH ce
more. In few hours we Shall be in Ilkutsk
and then l shall be forever cut off from you. II
You were to die | might forget you, but 10 live
At this moment the sleigh stopped. A shed was
visible between The trees at which the position
stopped. He jumped down from The box and
opened the door. Jana breathed again and
quickly got out.
Here we are at last" said the man. al must
take the horses out but In the meantime the Coun-
tess VIII ind so many SKINS In the house that you
VIII be wa IN there"
Position |" said Japa to him. "do not leave
ment -
PalSin laughed scornfully Jana leant on the
arm oil Inc position, VINO looked at her amazed.
lie huge shed seemed 10 be quite empty. In
The corners iurs OF reindeer. bears, wolves, foxes
ard SABLE were heaped up. Jana sank GREATNESS
on pile OF furs.
"Kemaiu here, my friend" she said to the
rostiiion. "lf your horses should run away, Pl
pay for them. You you self shall be richly re-
warded II you Will not leave me-"
Jana saw PaIkin enter.
Leave me-" she said TO him. This good man
Will surely protect me-"
fakin turned 10 tie position.
Take your horses away at once and do not re-
turn here III daybreaK. unless you wish 10 make
me angry"
Tile position left Immediately.
Palkin cast a fearful look. full OF bitterness
and seOrn, AT The Countess.
Position" she called after the man-when
suddenly she stopped, full OF establishment.
strange eommoiIon became perceptible I'M
der The tile OF furs and a sudden light illumined
the shed The Colonel crossed himself terrific ed
as he saw wolves aud bears come up against him.
soon The furs Tell of, and lanterns kent con-
S cesas uhiess now shed better light aud forty
:" My wifei" exclaimed one OF them Colonel
how did you get her, 90
The officer, whose presence uf mind never left
him, Whispered into Jaua's ear:
heep silence, Tor your husbands sake!"
Paikln's voice sounded like hidden threat,
and Jana was so fully convinced that for the
present Nladimirs fate lay IN PalkIn's hands
that with her usual devotion she consented ana
announced ii 10y naughty bend of the head.
ladrlnir. she exclaimed, "God sends you
to help Us. We have lost our way on the plain
What lucky accident brings you here?''
49,, l Iold you we prepared an expedition against
spector allowed us 10 lie IN ambush here"
Ihat was the hand OF GOd!" she said, look
lug sternly at The Colonel
But how could you miss your way? p" asked
one of The exiles. Were you not on your way
to Irkutsk?''
Yes, indeed"
Why. then do not see-unless the postil-
Ion was drunk, or perhaps brlbed; otherwise lie
could not possibly miss the road"
Jana Was determined to keep silent She
said:
must go on at once. Could you perhaps
SHOW us the way TO the nearest station? Ihe
horses can very well make a few veTsts more,
Colonel, you VIII kindly permit my husband and
one OF these men 10 accompany us ?"
But" Pal in Tried 10 obi ct.
Oh, you certainly permit IT," she said. look
ing him INTO the face; " my husband can return
TO ny colony IN post sleigh. So much you can
Palkin saw that lie could not refus He con-
scented, with rage In his heart. Orders were
given not 10 lake Tie horses out and IN quar-
Ter of an hour the four took their seats in the
coach. Jana tried 10 k ep up The same conduct
as before Win Palkin, but she was so utterly ex-
hausted that she recllned in corner of the
coach, saying:
Il am very tired. must rest"
she leaned back upon the soft cushions and
soon seemed to sleep quietly. Palkln was silent.
AT 3 O'clock they reached the station; they now
had the high road before them, which could
easily be seen III the snow. All danger was
over. Jana parted with her husband full OF
love- The horses were changed and the dark
side.
Far of the white mIsts allowed the towers OF
lrkutsk with the tall walls to pierce the veil here
and there. Jana's coach was already descending
toward the AEgara and the eve was now able 10
discern cupoas aud sterples rising high above
the pines ana laicheS This was the convent OF
81. George, which lies several wersts from the
-. -. "i"uS a ounu iu ine salley III
grand dimensions, aud then SENDS It's waves
straight upon The walls OF Irkutsk. From this
point The city presents a truly magnificent
pect. The town Is surrounded by lofty, fortified
walls, and above the houses rises quite a forest
OF cupolas and smaller towers. The whole scene
Is again surrounded by nils, covered with snow
anu pine forests, which seem TO embrace aud
protect the capital of East Siberia.
now Paikin formed sudden resolve. He
turned TO Jana, saying:
countess, VIII you not forgive me IL forgot
hiyseii Tor moment? IL was a passing attack
OF madness; did not know what L was saying
Jana trembled, and In the look with which she
answered The officer there was SO much contempt
mat he instinetIvely cast down his eyes.
countess" lie continued, nevertheless, in
very submissive tone a know how much de-
serve your scorn and your contempt l wish only
10 say how much repent what l did. IL must
nave been Tie bad brandy. Do not Il eat me with