The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1891-03-12
THE EXILES.
A RUSSIAN STORY.

of the Bay of Onemene towards the open
sea, the frozen masses surging threatening
~ against its sides as if they wished to re-
tain it a prisoner. The harsh roar Of the
waves sounded like protest against the es-
cape of the fugitives from the rough grasp
of Muscovite despotism.
CAPTAIN Andreyeff had decided to shape
his course towards California and land
Yegor. Nadege, Ladislas and M Lafeur IN
San Francisco Once in free America, 1t
was the design of the exiles and the dancing
master to cross the continent by rail to New
York and there take passage to France In Q
French steamer.
The VOYAGE down the Pacific Ocean was
unmarked by any incident OF Importance,
and one morning the F'rancEs-Joseph anchor
ed in San Francisco Bay. After all due
formalitjes had been complied with, the fug-
itives, accompanied by Captain Andreyef,
landed in the Queen City of the Far West,
the American commercial metropolis OF the
Pacific coast.
The captain had furnished his passengers
with suitable attire, and the whole party had
quite a presentable appearance. Yegor,
Nadege. Ladislas and M Lafeur did not
look the least in the world like refugees
from the ice fields of the boreal pole.
Yegor, who spoke English with tolerable
fuency, acted as spokesman and Interpreter.
He explained as best he could to his com
panions, as they went along, the wonders OF
the strange city in which they found them
selves.
Captain Andreyeff took leave of them at
the railroad depot, promising to visit them
in France as soon as he could return his
vessel to its owners in Trieste. The fare
well was affecting in the extreme. Nadege
and Ladislas wept outright; Yegor and M
Lafeur silently Wrung the captains hand
and tears stood in their eyes, too. AS to
Wab, the intelligent animal, which had &C
companied its master on board the Francis
Joseph and been his companion during the
voyage, licked the tips of Boris fingers as
if in token Of adieu.
Once rafting over the Pacific railroad, the
enthusiastic M. Lafeur could no longer con-
tain himself.
'eVive la liberte!" he almost shouted sew
eral times: he was with difficulty prevented
from producing his pocket violin and tri-
umphantly playing the Marseilles Hymn be-
fore all the American passengers.
''Do be calm, Monsieur Lafeur!" said
Nadege, at last, trife impatiently
Impossible" cried the excited French
L
States is so full of Freedom that it intoxi
Gates mel"
New York was reached in due time, and,
after a few days rest at quiet hotel, the
party sailed for France.
Joyous chimes were pealing in the town
Of Chateau-Thierry, and the streets of La
Fontaine's birthplace were alive with merry
Ghrongs. The peasants were chatting to-
gether with charming French vivacity; the
gentle folks watched the progress of the
fete with evident relish. Garlands of white
roses hung everywhere, and some munif-
cent hand had provided repast in the
public square to which everybody had free
access.
What was the cause of the joyous chimes
and this festivity? Whose was the hand
that had spread the feast?
Two peasant girls were talking earnestly
at a street corner.
''What did you say the brides name was,
Marie2" asked one Of them.
Il can't pronouce it," replied the other.
''But Ii sounds heathenish and they say she
is a Russian escaped from Siberia!"
''And the bridegroom, Marie-What is his
name?o
'Worse than the other! I could never
master it if I tried all my life!"
''Is he Russian, too?"
"Oh, yes! And Pauline told me last might
that he was exiled to Siberia for txsing to
murder the Car! He looks as if he could
murder anybody"
Goodness gracious! But hush, Marie,
they are coming from the church-the civil
marriage was performed at the mayors Of
flee yesterday, was it not?"
eyes, Berthe-but viii you never stop
talking2"
The two peasant girls relapsed into sill
ence; at that moment, emerging from the
church, the bridal procession advanced up
the street.
Nadege and Yegor came first. Nadege,
in a white satin dress and with a wreath of
orange blossoms GROWING her flaxen hair,
was the very incarnation Of beauty; Yegor
clad in the usual attire of bridegroom had
quite Partisan look
M. Lafeur followed, holding little Lads
las by the hand.
Then came host Of the dancing masters
relatives.
The procession was greeted with loud and
joyous shouts from the men, while the wo-
men and girls waved their handkerchiefs
and scattered flowers along its path.
At last, a small but very picturesque cot
tage was reached It WSs NJ. Lafeur's
property. Every door in it was open, and
every window admitted the fragrant sum-
mer air which seemed anxious to kiss the
cheek of the fair bride as she stood in her
new home
M. Lafieur had thoroughly reftted his
cottage on his return to Chateau Thierry.
IT oliStened with glossy naint the f11rnit11rel
was all new, and in the parlor, spread out
upon several tables, was the dancing-mas-
ter's famous collection of Siberian curiosi-
ties that was to gain him honorable mention
from all the savans in France
When Nadege and Yegor had entered the
parlor, a number of invited guests gathered
about them to wish them joy. When they
stood aside, Ladislas came shyly up and
took his adopted sisters hand. Nadege
bent down and kissed him, and as she did
so the remembrance of his devotion to her