Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1892-05-05

has been heard. as leaning forward
the driver calls 10 his horses:
Away! Fly, my beauties - nv
pretty iluttering doves my Goloblsi.
Haste my brothers, TO thy stables in
St. Petersburg.
The long low howl of the oncominr
foe sounds nearer. but, unmindful OF
danger the officer sits with his bride
envelopcd in furs, too much absorbed
to give heed TO outside events They
arc out now on the tracklcss stcppcs
tho horses uncertain of their foothold
plnnging with frcnzicd snort through
the drifts while The wolves speed in
their tracks Timothy's voice rings
out again:
''lli! Hi! Whoa there. my beauties,
Speed onward doves officer of
the ear rides behind thee Flv quick
ly for Thy lives Onward. Haste
my brothers,
Again there sounds ,ba, long. low
howl and the swiftly moving black
mass gains steadily upon the sleigh.
They are upon il now, running swiftly
10 gain the sides. the whole yelpiny
pack lcapins up with cleaning eyes
and cruel hungry jaws Aroused
from his dream of bliss the officer
sees their peril and leaning forward
fires right and left into the bowling
mass The cry OF the wounded
seized upon and torn limb from limp
by their fellows is almost human in
its agony, and in the momcn,ary
respite Timothy shouts:
Haste little doves Spread thy
wings straight for It Petersburg.
Haste. and heaven help thee
The hungry demon which would
have locked its jaws in the leaders
throa. drops before the officers uncrr.
ing shot. and the horses gallon on.
ward.
Pctcrkin sits nwcd by the great
peril, but for all he is 50 quiet, there
Is no cowardly though, is the little
peasant who, with each painting
breath. is making a bold resolve. bid
ing "ood-by, brave heart to his cher.
ishcd drcams--thc golden visions OF
fame in the great city. Those two
behind the officer and his bride whose
sweet voice pleaded 50 earnestly in
his behalf have everything to live
for while hc-only those dreams and
a soul full of unuttcred music. The
violin is slung across his back mu;e]v
waiting for the bows light touch,
Quick as thought he will kiss ii. viii
give it one parting carcss OF exceed
ing bitterness and then
A cry OF terror smites the air as
Petcrkin rises to throw himself to GER
tain death, and he turns to see the
uplifted arm pointing straight
al him the pistol. whose last shot has
been reserved for that purpose In
both minds there has been the same
thought. a seconds pause us peasant
and officer gazcd into each others
eyes then Pcterkin noting the de-
tanning hold Of the day wife upou
her husband 5 arm, calls out:
Hold will save thy life and
mine!"
With q sudden powerful blow he
smitcs the violin Us he rcgains his
seat, and strong and clear the first
sounds are lost in The loud
rapid movement of u Polish measure
picked up somewhere upon that weary
tramp. The effect is magical, as the
sounds rise above the
bowling Of the wolves They pause
hold up their heads TO listen rs though
seeming danger, and slackening speed
almost halt.
Bravo. lad, thy music doth give
good cheer to the horses See how
the leader runs. Bravo. If thy fingers
grow not numb we shall make the
city
The boyish figure swaps adroi,ly
with the motion Of the sleigh. for the
peasant knows the lives of all depend
upon success IN keeping dry the
strings which vibrate with one loud
note strain after another. But It's no
easy thing. with the snow cutting keen
and chill. while the fearful cold al
most paralyzes the willing fingers.
Timothy brcathes aloud prayer TO
heaven. for ahead faint light grows
upon the horizon-a light telling 10
the practiccd eyes OF the ncarness of
the city.
Courage brave fellows! Fly. doves,
10 thy maven: the city Is In sight
Keep, lad to the music and we shall
be saved"
The wolves are following close
again with their long swinging ,rot
the chase telling upon the horses and
upon Peterkin. TO whom the strain IS
almost beyond his strength. stout
hearted and stout armed as he is.
His eyes flash with renewed cour-
age; he had not thought thus to enter
St Petersburg: keeping death at bay
with that violin which should grant
him the hearing OF the ruler of tho
Russians. The city of the cars, with
its broad streets and massive stone
quays, rises now before their eyes,
minaret dome and spire, cleaying the
sky in a bla of light.
A little longer and over the frozen
Neva resounds the battied yelping Of
the vanouished wolves. as tearing
along the ioaming steeds dash into st.
Petersburg and the gallant leader.
under whose douga tangled the merry