The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1893-08-18

seemed to make the air he breathed de-
lightful, and his nerves thrilled with
joy. How could he help loving her?
Seeing her in all the glory of her youth
and beauty. he forgot the car and all
Russia.
They were standing beside a high rock,
and with an impulse prompted by his
great passion he knelt at her feet, kissing
her hands madly and begging her to tell
him her name.
Her Soor heart beat wildly. For the
first time she loved, and at the cost of
her life she resolved to be true not to her
oath. but to the man who knelt before
her.
'sGol Flee for your lifer she cried.
my name is-nihilist.
He started to his feet and turned to
leave her in a dazed manner. A sharp
report of a pistol sounded in the air, and
the courier of the czar fell wounded.
With lightning quickness Nodine knelt
beside her lover, and while smoothing
back his hair with one hand, with the
other she stole the imperial letter and
slipped it into her breast. Then she left
him, for she had made up her mind that
she would carry the important message
to the czar herself.
After travelling day and night without
food or sleep she reached the palace and
delivered the letter to the car.
"What can l do for your" asked the
czar of all Russia.
"What do you do for nihilists" she
asked him.
w shoot them, "he answered angrily.
"Then / shall be shot" She said it SO
calmly and deliberately that the car
looked at her in surprise.
''Nihilist or no nihilist, my child, you
have saved my life, and therefore l spare
yours. You may return to your home in
safety"
With a cry like a hunted animal she
fell at his feet.
"Don't send mt back. The bullet that
struck the courier was meant for me. l
heard the word 'Traitressv Kissed by my
own father, and if l go back he will not
miss his aim again. He has sworn to
kill me if I prove false to the cause, and
he will keep his oath. Ipray you. don't
send me back"
lie saw her agony was genuine, and
placing his hand on her head said: Rise,
child. You stay here" At thatmoment
Ivan Liveresky, the courier of the car,
dashed into the room. His clothes were
covered with mud and his body weak
from loss of blood.
"Thank God!" he cried when he saw
the czar "Otarof, the traitor, is CAP
tured, has confessed all, and you are
safe"
He was my father" said Nodine
softly.
The courier caught the back of a chair
for support, and the czar turned to her
in anger.
eyes, do with me what you will. l
am Nodine Otaroff, who despises her
name, her father and most of all her.
self"
"Wait a moment" said the courier to
the car; 'there is some mistake. Otaroff
gave me some papers and confessed hay
ing stolen a child out of revenge from
the rich Cordisky. He name was No
dine" And Liveresky handed the docu-
ments to the car, who in turn, after
glancing over them, gave them to the
young girl.
81 will send a messenger to Moscow,
and n who would travel night and
day, without sleep or food, to deliver this
letter is the noblest of Russians" So
said the czar and left the room.
"You have saved my life!" the courier
cried.
"And you mine," answered Nodine.
"Yet, my loved one, it is worthless
without yours"
"Then," she said, with glad tears in
her eyes, 81 give mine for thine. Hove
thee, Ivan Liveresky."
He took her in his arms and kissed her
many times. When Cordisky arrived he
found he had gained a child only to lose
her again, for Nodine gave her heart and
hand to a young soldier decorated with
the Order of st. George, given to him by
the czar of all Russia.-Exchange.