Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1893-08-31
THE COURIER.

"I intrust you with sacred duty
said the general as he handed his courier
a letter. Remember, you are to stoI
for nothing. If you fail, you will bt
shot, but if you succeed the Order of st
George will adorn Jour breast. Now go
and God be with you in all your perils.
The young courier knelt and swore tC
protect the life of the czar with his own
and then he pushed the curtain aside
leaving the general alone.
The evening was fair, cold and beau
tiful. AS the general leaned from thu
balcony of the palace he thought what {
farce this ball was when his heart wa.
full of terror for the czar and all Russia
In the adjoining room, near a marbl,
pillar, stood young girl covered with
magnificent satin and jewels. Looking
at her with flashing eyes was a man o.
about 40, with coal black hair and crue
expression.
''Nodine, this must be your work.
She shivered as he spoke, but Otarof
the traitor, had no mercy.
"And to it at oncer he said.
''What is my taskT' she asked him, ant
again she shivored.
"An easy one, my beautiful queen
Merely to throw yourself in his way, ant
this courier will forget the car and al
Russia"
II doubt it," she answered.
"You must not doubt it," he criet
fercely and held her wrist so tightly tina
the pain made her face white to the very
lips.
"Our scheme must go through thi
time, and the courier will arrive too late
You hear, my beautiful daughter?"
II hear you," she answered ant
wrenched her wrist from his grasp.
"But, father" she said pleadingly
"you have never used me as decoy be
fore. Oh, l beg of you not to do it now
cannot do it. cannot"
"Foolr' he Missed at her. "You littl
know your power. With your beaut!
you can do anything"
"And would you sell is:r che asked
He hesitated, then said:
"Yes, for the cause"
"You are strange father" she sal,
slowly, looking at him with no spark o
love in her eyes, "but l may prove traito
too. What, then, father"
He bent his head and whispered in he
ear. II will shoot you, my beautiful
queen; 80 take care. For the first tim
tonight l doubt you, but it's an insan
idea. Go into the ballroom and dane
an hour, then return to your house an,
prepare for your journey"
She went from him down the marbl
steps into the room beyond and neve
once looked back. Her heart was sal
and heavy. Many noticed the beautiful
woman, but wondered why her face wa
SO tragic.
It was about 8 the next night after tn
ball when the courier of the czar arrivet
at the first posthouse and asked for
change of horses.
''Stop a little?" asked the worthy post
master.
NO." answered the courier in ton
which silenced all other questions.
II want horses and nothing else."
The Russian looked with much admi
ration on this tall courier and speedil,
went for them. With clap of the whi]
the tarantass was off, and the little Rus
sian was alone, but not for long. Dow
the road he saw another tarantass com
ing at breakneck speed. 'Ah, perhap
they will STOP" he said to himself. TIL
little man had to fee for his life, for tn
horses dashed on, and he only caugh
sight Of very beautiful face in ret
hood.
Adreadful storm broke upon the night
and in the darkness a flying tarantas
dashed blythe one occupied by the cou
rier "Some one else in this dreadful
Storm" thought he. "God help them.
When the first dawn of day came, tn
rain had ceased, and they were almos
past the dangers. In the middle Of tn
road lay the figure Of a woman, ant
the horses almost ran over her.
''She is deadr' cried the courier as h,
laid his hand upon her heart. "No; sh,
lives. l cannot see a mortal die lik
this" So, with the help of the driver
he carried her to ths tarantass and lait
her gently down. There he sat, lookini
at the girls pale face and wonderin,
what he should do with her.
Suddenly she opened her large, darl
eyes and gazed into his face. Her won
drous beauty captivated him, and h,
forgot to ask her if she was hurt. H,
only gazed and said nothing.
"You are a courier?" she asked a.
length.
"No; am captain of the Fourteenth
guards. And you?"
II am going to meet my father al
Isham," she answered. Her voice wa.
wonderfully low and sweet, and he be
lieved all shs told him.
They journeyed on together, and thu
time sped rapidly away.
At last they reached Isham, and the
girl looked for her father, but of course
he was not there. She burst into tears
and would not be consoled. An Officer
had taken the last horses an hour before
and our hero had 80 wait for his own te
rest.
In the meantime Nodine, for it wat
she, wove a subtle charm around the
courier. He was not proof against the
glances from her splendid, half veiled
eyes. Her red lips seemed to say. Come
----
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diarrohoea in her children W n un
doubtedly be of interest to man,
mothers. She says: II spent severa
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great flood, on account of my husband
being employed there. We had sew
eral children with us, two of whom
took the diarrhoea very badly. go
some of Chamberlain's Collie, Cholers
and Diarrhoea Remedy from Rev. Mr.