Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1892-09-15
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Arama ana said:-
Speak ,or me, pray YOU for she think:
me guilty , 49,.
did not br ng about Moshka's arrest"
| "And you believe it," she asked, with
something like an incredulous smile play
! ing about her mouth.
| AYE. for he has sworn it"
"And swear it again" broke in Ivan. II
did not influence his arrest did not know
| he was to be arrested. Nay death strike
me before can speak again ifthis be not
true!"
Rachel fixed Ivan under her ravishing
eyes, hut he qua!led nor tiinched not under
their piercing gaze. Then, thinking per-
haps rs her father thought, that it would be
better to have him as u friend than all en-
emv, she said
Il will believe you, )" and she extended
her hand to him, and he pressed his lips to it.
Thus were their differences adjusted: but
she dreamed not then of allowing him to
talk love to her. Ivan AleNieif however,
had no intention of abandoning his suit.
He had all his fathers stern determination
OF purpose, but was without his father
faults. For Ivan was honest while his
father was an Inscriptions knave. And so
the son, having n goal in view, pressed to-
wards it, and that goal was to win the
beautiful Rachel, and take her to wife, for
his love for her burned tiercer and stronger
day by day. And yet, though gracious and
kindly to him. she would give him no hope.
Her answer al ways was
My heart is Moshka' 5: and MoShka takes
it with him into his exile
And this repetition lrrltated Ivan, though
he concealed his irritation; but he felt that
he hated Moshka with a hatred that could
not be expressed by words.
So far his visit to Arama's house and
h;c into 1,it1, Rookie al haI hoor
secret from his people: at least. he hoped
and believed so; for, though he had shown
that he had nothing craven i'll his ia ure,
he dreaded the consequences of his father
coming to know But he had forgotten
how his ,ather'S spies were everywhere
and had his hot love all owed him a little
time for cool reflection he must have fore
seen that sooner or later his secret would
be a secret no longer. And SO it came to
pass that one evening, when he returned
to his home. messenger babe him repair
to his fathers presence. He obeyed the
command. and when he looked at his faith
or he must immediately have felt that a
storm ofviolence was ABOUT to burst.
Peter AleXieff was q hard, stern faced
man, with cruelty writ large upon his
countenance. Such thin drawn lips, and
such cold, watchtul eyes were never seen
in connection with a humane and genial
disposition. Peter AleXetf com bined with
the purring, docile, cringing nature Of the
courier the tigers ferocity. He had cruel
and he had a beak that could tear out the
heart OF his enemy. This is tigura-
tive language. but it aptly describes
Peter Alexiet1's disposition. He had
climbed to power by tram bling into the
dust everyone who would have opposed
him; and if any such thing as pity had
ever held place in his breast he must long
f,ava rtI1rl-pH # on Nv tho
cast it from him. Peter Alexietf was pitt
less.
He was in his own sphere petty king,
AS chlet of the Administrative Bureau OF
Police he had tremendous power in his
hands. and he used that power like
tyrant and despot. He had thousands Of
men subject to his beck and nod, and his
spies were scattered through Europe. He
knew that there were Nihilists and Jews
who thirsted tor his blood and so he was
ever surrounded with hodyguard o; SER
vile creatures whom he believed were de-
voted to him. Perhaps they were. for
knowing that his lie depended on the
them with every indulgence. His pre-
decessor in office had been treacherously'
assassinated, and Peter, when he came
to power-which was only little
short of that welded by the Gar himself
resolved to avoid the errors that brought
about that predecessors death.
AS Ivan entered the room his father eyed
him with sternness that plainly indicated
what was coming.
1.-The pride cfmy race seems not to dwell
in you, he began, "since you have so far
gotten Wa is due to me and your kns-
men as to spend your time in the company
of a iewess."
Your spies, sir. seem to do their duty
we'll, remarked Ivan with a faint suspi-
cion of sheer in his tone.
if they did not" returned his father. but
do You deny or con ess the report true?"
1T is quite true"
This bold answer caused the fire OF pas
sion to leap into Peter Alexietf's eyes, and
as he struck the table violently with the
palm Of his hand he exclaimed
You must be mad, or you would not
dare to tell me this to my face" But
there there; the mere dalliance with Jew
ess may be tolerated in one fmy own flesh
and blood much as hate the whole race
oil accursed unhelievers. "But--"
"Let ME correct your mistake, SIR" in.
terIupted Ivan. ut is not dalliance on my
wife"
His father leaned back in his chair aghast.
The power OF speech was almost taken from
him by this daring AID startling announce
ment.
'Now do know that you are mad" he
cried ct last.
mo, am not mad, father"
Better ten thousand times 'or you that
you were" said his fathe, fiercely, "for
then would pity you. But since you are
not mad you are dangerous. Know you,
sir, that were you to bring a Jewess into
my family 1 should feel that we were con-
taninated, tainted. and accursed, even as
the whole Jewish raceis accursed. No, Ivan
Alexieff, this thing shall not be while All
oubliette remains in St. Peter and Paul.
A perceptible look of concern swept ,~er
VANS face. and it did not escape his .sth-
er's keen eyes. The youth had not thought
until that moment that his father wou:I
push his power to such an extreme as to
immune him in one ofthe drea1:ul dun
geons of the dread fortress. Bat now he
saw at once, that if the dark threat were
carried, his father would have no difficulty
in finding an excuse for SO doing. Nor
could he uoubt for a moment, si!op,Ig his
fathers nature as lie did, that he "nuld
not hes tate to take even such an eAt1snie
step as that. rather than have his dcspv;ic
will thwarted. Nevertheless, he answered
boldly. after some reflection
Your power to fulfil your threat I do
not doubt. But / should not be the first
mar, who had suffered martyrdom for
loves sake"
BAH" exclaimed Peter Alexeff, with
Il l.