Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1893-05-08

Two days later Cecil found herself on
the de;k of au outward-bouud steamer
the parting over, the voyage begun.
On the ship the time seemed endless
to her, and she could settle to nothing.
Every day seemed a week. She was in
fever OF impatienc, to reach her desti-
nation, and get the critical period over.
Yet, such is human nature, when she was
told by fellow passenger that they
would arrive the next morning, she
would have given as much to retard
tNeir progress as previously she would
have given TO accelerate it.
She was awakened about S O'clock in
the morning by the sudden CESSATION Of
accustomed motion as the Korniloff came
to standstill beside the quay at
Odessa.
Already the deck was strewn with
luggage, crowded with passengers, aul
in wild state of commotion. Officials
in uniform were affixinJ large seals to
all trunks and packages, large ani
small, prior to dispatching them to the
custom house to be opele1 and searched.
Other officials were scanning every
hole and corner OF the steamer itself, and
one stood in the gangway, apparently to
prevent any one from going ashore.
"Do they always search the ships like
thisl" asked Cecil of one of the officers,
with whom she had grown friendly
during the voyage.
mo, it isn't usu.l. You see they're
on the alert just now to stop certain
papers getting into this country. The
pas siengers-some Of the n at least-will
very likely be searched, too. Nobody
has been allowed to land yet."
She felt herself turn red and then
white, and she nervously fingered the
imitation rose which she had that morn
ing pinne1 for the first time at her
throat.
"Mrs. Petrowitch will be waiting fo7
me. Surely they'll let Tie land now."
al dare say they will. I'll fad out
for you," said the sailor, kindly.
He went up to one of the custom
house men and spoke to him in Russian.
"This young English lady wishes to
go ashore at once. There is nothing to
detain her; supposes"
The official called another, and the two
eyed Cecil and consulted together. OF
course, she could not understand word
of what was passing, and in consequence
had to endere awful suspense with as
sumed indifference.
1t was evident to her at last, however,
that they had not the least suspicion
OF her, for one shrugged his shoulders
and walked away aud the other asked
in French, as a mere matter OF form:
Shave you anything about yon, any
papersi'
1t was for only an imperceptible in
slant she hesitated, and then she told the
first deliberate lie she had ever told with
calm face and the blood tingling to her
very finger tips.
"No."
"Very good, mademoiselle. You need
not remain"
Mrs. Petrowitch aud one of her girls
met her and took her home. She was
an amiable woman, and no doubt the
governess would have been very com
Portable beneath her roof; but all the
same, il she could secure her SO, 900,
Cecil did not intend to remain long in
Russia.
TIE following morning at about 8
o'clock the front door was thrown open
in common with every ot5er door in
Odessa, and stream of people began to
pass in and out.
Every man who entered, whether he
were gentleman or peasant, TOOK two
eggs from the pile on the table, broke
one and ate piece of it, and presented
the other to the hostess or any other
female member of the household with
the formula, "Christ is risen." To which
the lady replied, "He is truly risen."
Cecil was watching the scene from a
corner with considerable interest, when
dark man, dressed like peasant, ad-
vanced and extended IN egg to her. He
wore a white rose, and he placed himself
before her so that his figure shielded her
from the room.
"You bring me present from my
friend in London" he said softly and
! rapidly, in excellent English.