The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1893-06-21
THE COUNTESS REIESKy.

An ugly, muggy, chilly evening, in
spite of the fact that it was midsum-
mer; but then found that weather in
St. Petersburg was not to be depended
on. The streets were deserted, save
when the death-carts ratified along un-
of their CHASTITY burdens. The
city clocks had struck-10, and / was
hurrying home-or rather to my den
to write my special" to an American
daily. Correspondents letters are
generally built upon frail foundation
Of truth, but now, in these cholera
times, / could hardly find time or
words strong enough to depict the hor-
rors I saw on every side. had de-
layed writing a little longer than
usual so that might go more deeply
into details, for the benefit of my hor-
countrymen, and I was in
haste. was obliged to go through q
part of the city most infected with the
awful plague, where the air seemed
reeking with infection, but being pret-
ty we'll seasoned l did not mind it very
much. AS I hurried along I saw,
standing under lamp, whose dim rays
shed light but few feet around it, a
woman dressed in white. "Ah" l
beneath my breath, "some
hapless one of the demi-monde, driven
out in despair"
AS I passed her she stepped forward
and said, with tone of recognition:
81 have been waiting for you"
paused, and to my surprise recog-
nized my beautiful friend the Ceun-
tess Reifsky, the toast of a hundred
bathrooms, who had been flirting with
me fast and furiously for some weeks
why / could not imagine.
With reproof in every accent l ex-
claimed:
MADAM, what are you doing here
in this deadly atmosphere, and alone,
at this hourP"
81 have been waiting for you," she
simply.
'How in the name of wonder did she
know 1 was coming this way when /
did not know it myself" 1 asked my
self.
assumed a severe air.
"You must not stay here"
"No; mean to take you with me to
the final meeting of society to which
l belong. Tonight we disband, and
L want you to be there to describe the
affair with your versatile pen to your
great American people. You know
we nihilists are so misrepresented.
No, you need not shrink away, you
will come to no harm. Perhaps you
do not enjoy being with suspect.
Tonight the far-reaching grasp of the
czar himself would find it hard to
reach me, and 1 shall place you be-
yond his power, too. But we must
hurry"
Half reluctant and wholly fascinated
1 allowed her to lead me along through
the deserted streets until we came to y
small, low building, which showed not
a ray of light. Here she tapped soft.
ly. The door swung back on noiseless
hinges. Along dimly lighted hall
ed in the same quiet fashion, and we
stood in the dazzle and glitter of 8
ballroom.
In my business suit 1 ought to have
felt embarrassed, but / did not, for
was too much impressed by the scene
before me.
1t reminded me of what had known
in my younger days as phantom par
ties," at which youth and nader
draped themselves in sheets. Yet that
memory should not have given me s
feeling of repugnance, for of those
happy days l had the pleasantest rec
ollections. AS looked closer I recog
nized the fact that these people were
masquerading in grave-clothes-mock
ing the Destroyer which held the city
in it's grasp; and great horror tilleC
me.
heard low, musical laugh from
the woman at my side.
Monsieur does not approve of ou
masquerade We laugh at death
Come in whatever fashion it may, b,
pestilence or in Siberian mines, we dt
not fear it. Swift or slow, it matter
not to us"
"Yes, madame; l have heard tha
you nihilists, if l must class yoV
among them, care not how swift b
the death to which you consign you
Victims"
81 see you do not approve of ou
methods, but you see we know of n
other way more honorable. With u
the end justifies the means, but whe
we must send death it is alway
quick"
"Not always. Bombs don't alway
work surely"
A CLEAN in my fair companions eye
warned me 1 was on dangerous ground
but it was gone almost instantly, an
she continued:
"Now, in the case of the late prim
minister-when his fate was sealed w
decided"
1 caught her arm, not KNOWN
what damaging revelation she Nigh
make.
Countess, you are insane. In you
country walls have ears"
"Monsiea, these walls are safel
guarded. But we miss the music an
the dance"
Never, so long as memory last
shall forget that evening. Noble an
artisan met on equal ground. Soci:
distinctions seemed for the time bein
mon cause were the passports to tn
brilliant society. Words were spoke
which would condemn a man to S
IBERIA for a lifetime. The jests an
epigrams flowed freely, like the sparl
ling wine my friend pressed upon mt
and which, strange to say, refused
not from conscientious scruples, but b.
cause when I saw its exhilarating e
fects feared my excitable America
temperament could not stand it; and
felt that l needed a cool head in sue
an unscrupulous company as this. \
one seemed to notice me very mucl
beyond courteous recognition, ar
as looked among the guests l saw N
brother correspondent and compatrio
John Mcpherson, who was also clad
a business suit, and who also SCENE
like myself, a visitor.
The hours flew fast. l Thought som
what uneasily of my neglected lette
but could not drag my reluctant fe
away from the fascination of tt
scene.
The music grew faster, and mo-
weird were the strains. My feet fai
ly ached to tread to their measure, b
something held me back.