The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1893-07-01
A LUCKY RUSSIAN.

be The wiser, unless the stoppage Of the
monthly stipend revealed the fate Of the |
man. Once m awhile one tries to es-
eRpe, not often, however, for they are
always caught and always shot-as a
warning to others-for the attempted
treaoheTy.
II was a crisp October night In the lit
tie village Of Obvinsk, about 200 milee
from the great iron works. The weather |
was sharp the trees and vegetation
turned to a reddish brown--all but the
hchens and moses. which seemed 10
crouch into the very bowlders In their
effort to shield themselves from the keen
wind, sweeping knifelile from the snow |
coyered Ural.
Petrof Nofvitsh entered hts poor hut
as his wife Kartina placed their scant
supper of dry bread and potatoes on the
little fI table. on which fickered and
hared bit Of candle end stuck In gourd |
for oendlestick.
II am tired through, wife" said he, |
"and with go to bed, but cheer up before |
l goI sunshine is always back Of the |
clouds. True, the crops have failed and
cOn get no work, but the Blessed Vir-
gin will surely see us through the win
ter"
And With Q tender kiss TO wife and
babies Perof sought the rest be so much
needed. BE shut his eyea, but not to
sleep, md only to turn over and over In
his fevered brain the probability Of see
ing his family starpe and freeze. he
was brighter. more hopeful, when he
rose next morning. but any one could
have eeen that his cheeTfulness was
Ibostly assumed. Eating his breakfast
one potato again-PetroR kissed the
babies more 'tenderly than usual, and
evading his wifes questions as to where
be was going he bade her keep up her
beeTt and once more left the bouse.
But once Que Of sight Of her eyes he
flung himself down by the roadside, and,
strong man as he was. he bowed his
head in his hands and sobbed like child.
But PetroR was a sturdy fellow, and
after few moment given to uncoatrol.
liable grief be wiped away his tears and
strobe down the highway. From time
to time he begged bit of bread from a
passing serf, and when nightfall settled
over the valley clawied Into a thicket
and sunk into heavy sieep- The sun
was peepins bold and hrassy over thu
Ural mountains hefoEe he avol1e and
stiff and sore began again his tramp TO-
ward the tTop woTka 10 had crossed the
meridian, the shadows were lengthen-
ing, and still not a morsel Of food had
passed his lips this day, every one Of
whom he had begged bite needing it
for their own uses.
Suddenly TO the right a gunshot
sounded, and ptarmigan fell within
reach.
"a providence for mer cried Petroff
joyously seizing and thrusting it under
his jacket and looking about him to
make sure that the sportsman had miss.
ed the effect Of his shot. AS soon as he
dared he stopped. made q fire and cook
ed the bird, and though he ate il with
out breed or salt il gave him strength
to keep his way. Sleeping IN the night
air had stiffened aud made bis bones
ache, SO he had decided that he would
not again try the thicket II he could help
it, and as night had come on dark and
nurky he begap to look about him for
place Of shelter. He was then, though
4 he did Dot-know II, passing the estate of
the celebrated Comte Roipanoh
Looming through the darkness stood
the great turreted castle with Its battle
mented wells and close by the highway
J barn. into which PetFof slipped
through an open window and stretched
himself ON the sweet smelling hay, his
, troubles for the time forgotten in slunl.
beC.
n was pitch dark and close on to mid.
night when tie sound Of vo4ces reused
2 him-suppressed voices talking in eau
, tious tones, which ut once awakened his
suspicious, He lay still and listened.
But this isn't the stable" voice al
y the door murniured complainingly.
3 "No. devil take it," replied another
II took the wrong turn; the stables art
back of the castle. Come on. Get three
r Of the best horses and bring them 10 tht
n gate by the lodge, tidy addition, you
y know, TO the ransom we will get for th,
i capture of Romanoh. It is 12 o'clock now
4 We must be al the rendezvous by 3
: Hurry we have 20 time to lose here"
7, Rorvitsh lay still till the sound Of theii
e footsteps died IN the distance. Then h
e arose and dropped from the window b
l. vhioh he had entered, hurried to IN
. castle and ratified the mockeT vigorous
e ly. A servant responded aud inquire
what was wanted
"Your master, said Petrof. 81 mus
4, soc him at once"
= "Return tomorrow" said the mar
''Ths comte's abed, fatigued by hun
ing"
-, II must see him now, tell you" p
: troR persisted. 1T is life OF deathl G.,
r as bid you"
\. Guessing from Horvitslds manner thu
le Eomething'serious did demand his ma
& tsr's attention, the servant obeyed, al
is Petrof hve minutes later was enterin
lls the room where the comte, IN dressiu
e. gown and slippers, sat upon the edge
~ his bed sleepily rubbing his eyes an
considerably eXasperated at his int
Fupted nap.
lie \ "What do you want, fellow" cried
eY angrily as Petroff entered What mes
you by disturbing me at this unseen
hourS"
ne ITO secure your safety, SIR, perhaps
by Petroff answered boldly, and In a fe
words told his story. The oomte, wh'
., Petroff finished, was no longer yRwnin
:, but angry and alert.
y, well" said he, ''if that isn't imp
ID. dencei Once. some years ago, the Kros
pass bTigands caught me and made 4
pay round price for freedom, but wi
Ia would have dreamed Of their ventura
D. TO the castle to try the game sgai
Use This time, If know myself, Wen tu
- the tablesf'
And the comts jerked the bell. T
he same man that had answered Petrol
81 knock and wakened the comte answer
:, the SUMMONS and was told the details.
'i There's no use rousing the hOul
master, said he, unless you order
ills We three can manage them. They c
IAN get IN only by the scullery windows, a
wen have them when they enter I
house"
YER Aplan arranged, they noiselessly sta
ON ed below stairs, the eomte carrying
lantern over which he had thrown
is cloak 10 hide Its rays. Taking tn
Inc stand IN cautious silence, they feverisl
awaited events. AS the castle clo
~, struck /, as il Il had been a signal, q
- was heard swiftly and nearly noiseles
''' cutting the iron grating. In q short ti
] q seetion Of grating was out. and a w