The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-01-11
Hi CAR OF THE NIHILISTS
A RUSSIAN MONTE CRIsTo.



vantage by a beard to old age, had changed
Andrew for the better. This youth, al
most a child, appeared moro tidy without
tho iaxen down scattered over biz face: III
hair. cut close to his head, left hiss high
forehead free and gave a certain elegance
to the curve Of his neck.
The nabob said 10 Andrew: Come here,
my son, and answer my question frankly.
right to control your will. He has not
been pleased to answer his authority"
tone: NO"
Polsno was about to protest. The nabob
did not give him time.
II wish to have you near mo. Do you
consent TO leave this gentleman, with whom
You live, ] think, and to come and live in
Andrew gave no answer. Poleno could
no longer contain himself; he advanced
tnreateiingly, and raising his voice cried:
Would you consent. wretched man, to
leave your teacher, to resume the chains Of
slavery: to 1--we ns n parasite with n great
iord, VINO Will cause you to repay him, ~
these Lanines have already done, for his
so-ca!ied II by + thousand humilia.
tIons?"
Poleno was not skillful on this occasion.
Perhaps Andrew was still hesitating. but at
these words he at once drew himself up
An. SAID ne. do you dare speak to me Of
humiliationa! Can there be any greater
one b that which I ave to-day under
gone, WHOM, clad in the livery Of a lackey,
l met my old friends the Lanines face to
trsnes! see through them now. / do not
know which most to despiss, their mon
strous depravity or their stupid impractica-
bility. l a III suffering. | am weeping. /
despise you. And you come and toll me,
with your endless big phrases, that nothing
/ 6Y1Qfa A6Nv I hafo tnufn1f fnp hays~r ~
lieved and admired you for almost q years.
lyon have always had q leaning towards
the lackey's business" interrupted Poleno.
"Lackey! u WAS you who forced me TO
be one, but | shall never be one again. All!
how much l regret what / have done, sir.'
ne added. looking staight at Poleno: II
/ should say my lord. l met this fellow at
the university. ] was happy then. The
Countess IIanine wished to make Of me an
educated and useful man. ] was living at
her house. l WAS treated like one Of the
family; but. as / WAS only sixteen. when the
great men OF the empire were invited to
dine with my benefactfes ! WAS served in
my room. and this humiIiated me. Fool
that 1 was. 1 forgot that I was but a child
that my place Was not anon grave
men. This man, this old man, who called
himself a student, doubtless only to cor
rupt the young, pretended to be my friend:
be stimulated my stupid rancor, opened up
il prospect which filed my INEXPERIENCED
aoul with enthusiasm at the prospect OF
equality; the world is idiotic. To
explain it required = whole creed.
To prove it. he tortured himself, went hun
cry. insulted the persons whom ] most
reverenced, and did so with impunity. lie
taught me the dispersion and the reunion
of atoms and ! believed in these absurdi-
ties and ] fed from my home. 1t il true
Il that n rvr0nI tu anf.thAs srArarr- --A
bnt for HMM a word, / now curse The
moment when | met him, for my mother
has perhaps died Of despair and II have
sunk into poverty"
Hear me. my Lord" cried he. throwing
himself on his knees. II know not what
you to talk to two wretches such ms
we are. ! shall not be your Iackey, bnt il
there is a spark of pity in your heart. save
inc from this man, take me, do with me as
you like: Send me to India-I will he a
soldier"
The nabob asked cody: "WelI, M. Po-
leno what do you say to this?" Poieno had
grown livid with rage and establishment.
The prey, which he believed within his
grasp. WAS escaping. The Intervention
Of the nabob, one of the chiefs of
the order to which he belonged.
perplexed him. He knew not what to
answe At this moment a door in the SIDE
of the room opened II four lackeys ap-
peared on the threshold. TIT nabob gave a
signal. Andrew and Poleno sat with their
backs to the door and saw nothing, for the
lackeys had entered the study on tiptoe.
The nabob said: This child is unhappy;
by torturing him you commi. n crime
against religion and society. God has given
me power; 1 use it for his glory. take this
young man under my protection. Your
blameworthy doctrines--''
What" interrupted Poleno. beside him
self. when you yourself-are you the
traitor! Andrew, our creed is sublime.
This man is"
He could not finish: the Iackeys had
rushed upon him, gagged him and carried
him off. Andrew trembfed with terror and
establishment. As for the nabob, without
losing a particle of his disdainful calm, he
pointed the young man to n chair and said
kindly: Now. my son let us have a talkn.'
CIJADTEp ITT