New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-07-17
EXILED FOR FAITH.
A STARTLING APPARrrlON IN THE Ao'-
TRAN CAPITAL.

almost in the shadow OF the Twin spne' %
Votiye Church, when man passed. y! -,
hurredly, and attracted their earnest ,o.,
lie bore himself as a soldier ana no"'e
yet was dressed q civilian Ol Huh'o'e
There was about him apparent disgu''o' ~
he had the air of being some one far othet ''"A
what he seemed The three officers starteo a''I'
him. then followed him, whispering eagerly " cav"
other; and at last, losing sight OF MIN Al wv
throng, repaired " the Legation, whence q ioHs
dispatch was presently forwarded to 81. re'e'o
burg. The despatch stated that they hao J"''
seen walking alone and In freedom Of the streetS
OF Vienna, either Prince Khikoh, or his eXac'
counterpart. What answer the Imperial Govern
ment made or will make is, of course unKnowh'
Nor has any one succeeded in positively ascer-
tanning whether or not the suspicion Of the three
officers was correct But the incident has arouseu
afresh the greatest possible interest IN rrihco
Khikof and his mysterious fate. And as many
stories are afoot as there are tongues 10 @ii
them Some will have it that this was indeea
Prince Khkoff and then there are innnmerapie
versions Of the story of his escape iroih
Transcaucasia and of his future plans O'hers
lust as positively declare that he has for some time
been living at his old home in Russia the UoV-
eminent having quietly given him permission 10
return And yet others just as positively contch"
that he is dead, and that it must have been his
ghost that stalied across the Macmillan Platz.
Which story is true, Mr.. Pobedonstzef, the auto
crat Of Russian souls can tell
Tie known story Of Prince khilkof is, however.
one Of the most striking imaginable No Romance of
fiction can surpaSs il in interest. Nor Is there any
much more shameful in the whole story of Rus
sian Orthodoxy and its intolerance toward freedom
of religious thought. Prince Khilkof is-or was
a. really great nobcman. There are plenty OF So
called Princes" in Russia who are the most III
significant creatures imaginable. But he was
real Prince, and a son OF fun General OF the
Russian army Thanks 10 the latter TACT, he was
educated in the Corps des Pages which Is proDa-
bly, the most select and exclusive institution III
EUROPE None but the children Of the highest
nobility and none Of lower rank than the child
rem OF generals n re admitted TO it. Each graduate
receives a commission In the Imperial Guard, and
is decorated with the Cross of Malta. Prince
Khk0f pursued his studies with distinction, and
was graduated with the highest possible honors
| A commission in the Hussar Guards was given to
him. that being the most select and aristocratlc
regiment in Russia And it seemed likely that he
would one day rise 10 the very highest possible
rank ia the military service. Endowed with all
the graces OF body and mind handsome, gen
crous, accomplished, and extraordinarily brave, he
was the idol OF all his comrades, and was marked
by the authorities for the most rapid promotion.
At the outbreak OF the Russo Turkish war, he
went into Asia Minor commander " regi-
ment OF Cossacks. There his most
brilliant A volume might be written about his
gallantry and his tactical skill. All through the
Caucasus. his name is household word, and
romantic tales Of his proves and daring are on
every tongue Later in the war lie served in
higher capacity with the army in European Tur-
key lie was there brought into close contact
with the Grand Duke Nicholas and with the
Car himself, and won from them both unstinted
c0mmen dalton, well prompt promotion. BY
the end Of the war. young a. he was, he would
have been General had not an incident occurred
10 change the whole tenor Of his life. That in
cidcnt was, for war-times. Il triliing one IL
was only the killing Of a Turk. But II came to
Prince Khillsof as the thundcrbot came TO Luther.
~ was in one of those terrible contests before
Plcvna, in the Gercest Of the fight. Russians and
Turks were mingled together in an indiscriminate
mas lighting like tigers, hand to hand, man
agair.t man. There was no room for muskets
or for bayouets Knives and pistols. and fists,
and even teeth were the weapons used and the
carnage was terrible As usual Prince KhilkOf
was among the foremost in the thickeSt OF the
fray Suddenly Turkish soldier sprang upon
him, with knife appraised, at his very throat.
But the Prince put his pistol to his enemys hos IN
and fired and the Turk fell, writhcd in agony and
died Prince Khilkof had doubtless killed many
men before and ha1 led his own troops 20 victory
through the Likelihood Of multitudcs But never
before had hc killed man at such close quarters.
aud seen him die in agony nj his very feet. Inc
sight startled him. overwhelmed him lie dropped
the smoking pistol at the dead mans side and
stood there. horror struck. obyioIs Of the battle
/ la
fight was ended and then he sought the tent Of
his commanding General.
Il have come, General he said. 10 give you
NV rcsigna,ion-rhe resignation of my commits
sion
What. Won? The most promising officer IN
tbe army ." exclaimed the General. Why do
you resign
General killed a man to-day
well | suppose you did; many OF them.
bonc That is what we are here for, is IL not =
I'm, | was close 10 him, and he died at my
very feet | saw his last agcrV. II was horri-
Bile horrible And 1t was repeated thousand
hines. all over the field. General, II this Is war,
Ms | now see it, if this is war, just personal
agony. multiplied by thousands. | can take no
more part in IT,.
The General stared at him In amazement, then
sor, for the surgeon TO sec il the young man
Ind gone crazy; then he cNhorted him, and swore
NJ and ravcd aad ragged at him; and finally
seized him by the shoulder and dragged him of
to the Car The Car listened 10 the story. then
literally gaspcd for breath, and calculated:
Mailman" But there was persistence In the
madness, and the Prince renewed the oher OF
| rcspnation IL was not accepted. Even IN time
of pcace the Car wodd have hesltated to lose
so GOOD an officer But Oh the very field of bat
! tIc. in IA great foreign war, IL WAS not TO he
! thought Of and the Prince was told SO, very
bluntly.
Very WELL" replied the young man. II will