The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1893-08-30
THE COURIER.

" lCll4LASs IL w A1AAs y@1 "AA ~
shot, but If you succeed the Order of st.
George viii adorn your breast. Now go,
and God be with you in all your perils."
The young courier knelt and swore to
protect the life of the car 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 the
balcony of the palace he thought what .
farce this bali was when his heart vas
full of terror for the car and all Russia.
In the adjoining room, near a marble
pillar, stood a young girl covered with
magnificent satin and jewels. Looking
at her with flashing eyes was a man Of
about 40, with coal black hair and cruel
expression.
"Nodine, this must be your work"
She shivered as he spoke, but Otaroff,
the traitor, had NJ mercy.
And TO it at once!" he said.
What is my task?' she asked him, and
again she shivered.
San easy one, my beautiful queen.
Merely to throw yourself in his way, and
this courier win forget the car and all
Russia"
Il doubt it" she answered.
you must not doubt it." he cried
f~ercely and held her wrist SO tightly that
the pain made her face white to the very
lips.
Our scheme must go through this
time, and the courier will arrive too late.
You hear, my beautiful daughter"
tI hnp~ x-n,, - cha ayaoxuaral o-Na
wrenched her wrist from his grasp.
But, father" she said pleadingly,
you have never used me as q decoy be-
fore. Oh, / beg of you not to do it now
IcanLot do it. / cannot"
"Foolf" he Kissed at her. you little
know your power. With your beauty
you a do anything"
And would you sell it," she asked.
He hesitated. then said:
Eyes, for the cause"
You are a strange father" she said
slowly, looking at him with no spark OF
love in her eyes, ''butI may prove traitor
too. What, then, father"
He bent his head and whispered In her
ear. Il will shoot you, my beautiful
queen; so take care. For the first time
tonight | doabt you, but it's IN insane
idea. Go into the ballroom and dance
An hour, then return to your house and
prepare for your journey"
She went from him down the marble
steps into the room beyond and never
once looked back. Her heart was sad
and heavy. Many noticed the beautiful
woman, but wondered why her face was
80 tragic.
1t was about s the next night after the
ball when the courier of the car arrived
at the first posthouse and asked for a
change of horses.
"Stop a little?' asked the worthy post
master.
NO" answered the courier in o tone
which silenced all other questions.
Il want horses and nothing else"
The Russian looked with much admi-
ration on this tall courier and speedily
went for them. With a clap of the whip
the tarantass was off, and the little Rus
sian was alone, but not for long. Down
the road he saw another ~tarantass com
ing at breakneck speed. All, perhaps
they viii stop" he said to himself. The
little man had to flee for his life, for the
horses dashed on, and he only caught
sight of a very beautiful face in a red
hood.
dreadful storm broke upon the night,
and in the darkness a flying tarantass
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, the
rain had ceased, and they were almost
past the dangers. In the middle of the
road lay the figure Of q woman. and
the horses almost ran over her.
"She is deadIs' cried the courier as hs
laid his hand upon her heart. mo; shs
lives. ! cannot see a mortal die ikt
this" So, with the help of the driver
he carried her to the tarantass and lait
her gently down. There he sat, looking
at the girls pale face and wondering
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 il she was hurt. lei
only gazed and said nothing.
You are a COURIER she asked q
length.
mo; ! am captain of the Fourteent1
guards. And your
II am going TO meet my father q
Isharn." she answered. Her voice wa
wonderfully Low and sweet. and he b
lieved all she told him.
They jomneyed ON together, and til
time sped rapidly away.
At last they reached Isham. and tL
girl looked Cor her father, but OF cours
he was not thAre. She burst into tea,
and would not be consoled. An ofRcs
had taken tho Last horsss an hour befor,
and D haro had 70 wait for his v |
rest.
In tho meantime Nodine, Cor u WI
she, wovs q subtle charm GSpund q
courier. He wss mol proof 9e4tpDt \
chances from hr splendid haN pd1k
syea. Hsr rsd urs seemed 10 M, "cou