Rural Retreat times. [volume] (Rural Retreat, Va.) 1892-1918, 1893-04-14

repuised without another eHors, ana
again making her way to the side of the
carriage, she repeated her earnest sp-
peal. The Emperor requested the sol
diers to bring the maiden closer. With
downcast eyes, and cheeks flushing
| hotiy, she told of her love for the exiled
| nobeman, and again implorcd His Ex-
celency to pardon him.
"Never will I pardon that rash boy.
Go to your lover, and starye with him
IN the mines.
The royal party moved on, the soldiers
iostling her roughly as they passed. She
stood but moment gazing after them
with horror stricken eyes. Go to hims
Yes, she would, and stay by his side.
The train seemed to drag along, but at
last she reached Moscow. Determined
not to leave stone unturned. she called
on the Metropolitan of Moscow. As His
Eminence appeared, attired in a brown
MORE antique robe glittering with jewels,
and wearing the white Grape hat of a
Metropolitan, with diamond cross in
front, she forgot her rank, and, falling
on her knees at his feet, she kissed the
hem Of his robe. In passionate tones
she begged him to use his influence with
the E nperor to have her lover pardoned.
'sMy child, it is utterly impossible. If
it were any one but Smoloff, there might
be hope, but can give you none. The
Emperor will never pardon him. !"
He could but pity her as she left the
room with dazed look on her sweet
face. She must go to her lover. The
kind old man procured passport for
her, and she was enabled to cross the
border. How slowly the train crept
She sat with pale face pressed agains
the window, watching the snow-capped
| mountains. After crossing the Obi al
daybreak, she was compelled to walk
| for miles through the binding snow,
often falling on the rough stones, bu,
bravely trying to keep up her courage
| for Ivan's sake. Gusts of snow blew in
her face, singing Ike lashes, and so ne
| times the wind forced her back, and she
stood still. Her clothes were tattered
and soiled when she reached Tobolsk.
Here she inquired how long it had been
since the convicss had passed.
Three days ago." the station guard
/ snqwerad.
i "Was--Ivan smolof with then2' she
asked
'sNo, ne died just before they reached
here. He was shot," "Shot!" How
the word rang in her ears! How strange
everything looked! The gloomy sta
ton, the grinning, evil faces of the
guards, as they eered at her. She
noticed even the cut of their whiskers,
and the dirty bulletin on the wall, an
notmcing the number of convlcts that
had passed there that year One of the
guards attempted to kiss her, but with
| iercelJ cleaning eyes she pushed him
roughly aside, and bounded like deer
out of the door. She forgot her suffer
ings Only to get away from those cruel
men, to get beyond reach of their jeers
aud cruel words! ''He is dead" she
murmured to herself again and again.
For days she retraced her steps, scarcely
knowing where she was going. Some
times rough men stareu as Aer, Dut Iae
look of absolute misery in her face served
as an arnor to protect her, for they only
stared and passed on. Once Tartar
man, who looked at her With his kindly
black eyes, thinking she was but a child,
picked her up in his arms aud carried
her long distance. They are very
strong, those Tartars, who inhabit this
part of Siberia. She could not under
stand his language, but knew he was
trying to speak kindly to her. HIS
swarthy skin, black hair, and high
cheek bones contrasted oddly with her
pale face and sunklssed hair. He doffed
his small embroidered skull cap as he
left her at the door of his cabin, and
shook his head when she slipped