The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-01-04

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CW the doomed and the
~ damned - Siberia had
escaped from the long hard grasp of
winter and her meadows bloomed once
more in the short, warm summer time.
In a field close by Irkutsk two companies
of infantry stood in two ranks facing each
other. A crowd Of curious people lined the
walls OF the fortress. A little way from the
radks Of the soldiers a detachment Of Cos
sacks surrounded tw haine pris-
oners who we're to die under
the 'nagaika." One of the IN
fortunate men seemed completely over
come by the preparations for his punish
ment and had to be supported by two Co.'S
sacks. The other prisoner, a young man Of
noble appearance. remained, in spite Of the
terrible preparations going on under his
eyes. calm, resigned and even naughty.
An officer issued an order and two SOL
dieI@ sliced the trembling culprit. The
wretcned man clasped his hands and strove
to kneel for mercy. He wept, he prayed. he
entreated, he screamed and cursed. The
foam gathered at his lips. But the Cossacks
were silent and inexorable. They bound
him tightly to two muskets and pushed him
forward toward the path between the ranks
of soldiers.
One, who seemed to be high in authority,
stepped out from the group where he had
been standing and approached the youthful
and noble-looking prisoner. This man WAS
Que high in the police bureau of the empire
a man whose name WAS feared throughout
all the Russias. Withered, short, sallow
and unkempt, almost hideous, still his eyes
shone with intense and malignant energy.
He stood in front of the captive and eyed
him with TN air OF triumphant malice. The
prisoner looked on him calmly, without
fear and without bitterness.
II think you will a~cknowledge, my dear
THAT things are at last even between us.
Permit me to remind you Of the state of
our account"
He smiled terribly, but he whom he had
called Vladimir looked on him with the
same quiet, undisturbed eyes and answered
''You have pursued me and haunted me
even to the death. You have succeeded in
your desire. pity you and forgive you.
Schelm."r
The other sneered at him.
Forgive! You were ever q weak-minded
fool, Count Vladimir. But think! You
were handsome and noble and a favorite of
the emperor. Now you are. al exile. You
married one as noble and beautiful as your
self. 1t was strange that / also should have
aspired to one SO far above ME. But now
yon are a revolutionist and a convict. You
and your beautiful young wife laughed at
my pretensicns, i'll remember right. and
you find yourself helpless in Siberia. In
fact, my dear friend, you scorned me, ri
vailed me and dared me, and-you are SEN
fenced to a horrible death. How stands the
ACCOUNT"
Vladimir looked at him silently and
turned from him.
The Cossacks forced the other unfortun-
ate exile between the ranks OF the soldiers.
His cries were horrible, his agony was pitt
full, but the Cossacks were immoYable and
the %tyrannous law infiexible. Asoldiers
in each rank raised their canes. Down up
on the wretch's bare shoulders descended
the first two soldiers Weapons. The con-
demned man shrieked. Another step, more
blows, more shrieks. The blood streamed.
The flesh quivered and shrank. His face
grew livid. Forced EDWARDS by the pres
sure Of the muskets he staggered forward,
bleeding n shrinking, now leapinR in the
air at a fresh stroke, now shrinking to-
wards the earth from weakness. His cries
grew fainter. His shrieks and curses sank
to means and wailing: Before he had run
half the gauntlet his dead body hung limp
~ to the muskets of the Cossacks.
Schelm, the emperor's representative,
turned to Vladimir.
ut is not a pleasant death, l grant, dear
count" he said, ''but then you married
lana. Are you ready? 1t is your turn, you
know
Miserable and vindictive man, said the
young captive. as the Cossacks approached
to lead him to his death. FOR q fancied
wrong you seek a horrible revenge"
He advanced, with head erect and with
an eye that WAS clear and open, to the Off
eating priest, and said in an mistaken
voice:
Father, give me your blessing: / die loyal
TO the emperor"
Even as the priest raised his hands and
WAS about to respond to the unhappy mans
request, horses were suddenly heard to APP
proach and a great tumult arose in the
crowd. An officer rode along the line of
soldiers and issued n short peremptory
command. The ranks broke and the sol
diers throwing aside the canes they bore,
rushed to where their arms were stacked.
Atroop of wild horsemen had suddenly
appeared above the mounds in the near dis
lance and were advancing at a rapid charge
upon the soldiers. At their head rode a
tall, powerful man, dressed entirely in a
red costume.
A simultaneous shout arose from the
crowd: 1.-THE Car of the Nihilists."
The multitude of curious people fed to
the fort, and he who tainted the unhappy
victims, Schelm, the head of the police,
blancheu and would have fled with them.
Without a cheer. without a word the eader
in red led them on-led them through the
ranks of panic-stricken soldiery, led them
right up to the bound victim ready to die,
and to the flying, terrorized man who had
come to enjoy his rivals torture. In a
moment, and without a pause. the horse
man had caught both men and thrown
them across the saddle bows of two of the
band. The man ~ red waved his sabre
and without n word Nle troop wheeled, and
in two minutes were fleeing back. in n
cloud of dust, to the desert whence they
had come.
II was night, and beneath the stars whose
reflections glinted and laughed in the clear
waters of a broad, swift river, the followers
of the man whom they called the car of the
nihilists had lighted their fires and were
eating their simple supper. A a little dis
tance from the encampment three men
talked together. Count Vladimir stood be-
fore the chief, and with folded arms list
ened silently 10 what the other said:
what can l do" the man in red said. "to
prove to You my p~enitence, my remorse?
What can | offer you more than this2"
1T is useless.'' said Vladimir Lanin, 81
cannot do it, Muller. shall never raise
my hand against the emperor"
TIE ear Of the nihiiists responded, hur-
riedly and impatiently:
do You understand? Have | made IL
clear 70 vouS This man" Che struck the