The Press., 1893-09-21
"But your ladyshp will change her


 much had been wasted. Hastily slip. ping the fur mantle over her ball dress, which she had not yet removed, Alba filled her purse with money, and bidding the maid tell no one where she had gone she left the house. Making her way alone to St. Petersburg, regardless of impudent glances from travellers, she thought only of Ivan, who was going farther from her every moment.
 It was dull, cold morning when she reached the city. Snow was falling in great flakes. The princess drove to the palace, but was refused admission when she told her errand, as they compelled her to do. For hours she wandered aim- lessly through the streets, attracting much attention by her rich attire. At last, weary and heartsick, she entered church to say a prayer for her hapless lover. As she left the edi6ce she was startled by the tramp of soldiers. It was the emperor's escort. They were pass ing up the street in the direction of the palace, the emperor lowing right and left to the crowds of people on the side walks.
 Pushing through the crowd she reached his carriage and implored him to save her lover. He scarcely heard her, and turning to the soldiers demanded the cause of the disturbance. They rudely forced her back, and the carriage moved on slowly. But she was not to be re- pulsed without another effort, and again making her way to the side of the car. riage she repeated her earnest appeal. The emperor requested the soldiers to bring the maiden closer. With down cast eyes and cheeks flushing hotly she told of her love for the exiled nobleman, and again implored his excellency to par don him.
 'Never will I pardon that rash boy. Go to your lover and starve with him in the mines."
 The royal party moved on, the soldiers jostling her roughly as they passed. She stood but moment gazing after them with horror stricken eyes. Go to him? 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 moire antique robe glittering with jew els and wearing the white crape hat of 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 emperor to have her lover pardoned.
 My child, it is utterly impossible. If it were any one but Smoloff, there might be hope, but l 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 tho border. How slowly the train creptl She sat with pale face pressed against the window, watching the snow capped mountains.
 After crossing the Obi at daybreak she was compelled to walk for miles through the binding snow, often falling on the rough stones, but bravely trying to keep up her courage for Ivan's sake. Gusts of snow blew ill her face, singing like lash es, and sometimes the wind forced her back, and she stood still. Her clothes were tattered and soiled when shereach- ed Tobolsk. Here she inquired how long it had been since the convicts had passed.
 "Three days ago." the station guard answered.
 "Was-Ivan Smoloff with them?" she asked.
 ''No, he died just before he reached there. He was shot," ''Shotr' How the word rang in her ears! How strange ev- erything looked! The gloomy station, the grinning, evil faces of the guards as they leered at her. She noticed even the cut of their whiskers and the dirty bull letin on the wall announcing the num- Der of convicts that had passed there that year. One of the guards attempted to kiss her, but with fercely gleaming eyes she pushed him roughly aside and bound ed like deer out of the door. She, for got her sufferings. Only to get away from those cruel men, to get beyond reach of their jeers and cruel words. "He is dead" she murmured to herself again and again.
 For days she retraced her steps, scarce ly knowing where she was going. Some times rough men stared at her, but the look of absolute misery in her face served as an armor 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 child, picked her up in his arms and carried her long distance. They are very strong, those Tartars, who in- habit this part of Siberia. She could not understand 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 sun kissed 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 some rubles into his hand.
 It was night when she reached Tiu- men and found shelter in miserable inn. AS she sat near the fire in the smoky room she attracted the attention of an old man, who addressed her in Polish.
 ''Are you in trouble?' he asked. She was such child in spite of the care in her face!
 "Yes," she replied wearily.
 sI am pardoned exile from Obdorsk. was sent there for drunkenness. I have suffered too."
 His worn, attenuated frame and sunk en eyes seemed to echo his words.
 'Did you ever see any of the political exiles?" she asked eagerly.
 "Yes. I met some at Tobolsk. From there they go to the Trans-Baikal dis trict."
 "How long were you therey She searched his face with her restless eyes to see if she could read there any sign of his having seen her lover.
 'Five yearsp' He wondered that she expressed no sorrow. It was long time to spend in that godforsaken country,