Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1893-09-05
THE COURIER.

1uLIuSb you WIFI a sacred QuGy,
said the general as he handed his courier
letter. Remember, you are to stop
for nothing. If you fail, you will be
shot, but if you succeed the Order of st.
George will sdorn your breast Now go,
and God be with you in all your perils :"
The young courier knelt and swore to
protect the life Of the car with his own,
and then he pushed the curtain aside.
leaving the general alone.
The evening was fair, cold and beau
tiful. AS the general leaned from the
balcony of the palace he thought what a
farce this ball was when his heart was
full of terror for the czar and all Russia.
In the adjoining room, near marble
pillar, stood young girl covered with
magnificent satin and jewels. Looking
at her with flashing eyes was man Of
about 40, with coal black hair and cruel
expression.
'tNodine, this must be your work"
She shivered as he spoke, but Otaroii,
the traitor, had no mercy.
"And to it at oncer' he said.
What is my taskG" she asked him, and
again she shivered.
"An easy one, my beautiful queen.
Merely to throw yourself in his way, and
this courier viii forget tho czar and all
Russia"
81 doubt it." she answered.
you must not doubt it," he cried
fiercely and held her wrist so tightly that
the pain made her face white to the very
lips.
"our scheme must go through this
time, and the courier will arrive too late.
You hear, my beautiful daughter?''
al hear you," she answered and
wrenched her wrist from his grasp
'tBut, father" she said pleadingly,
'you have never used me as decoy be-
fore. Oh, / beg of you not to do it nowl
| cannot do it. cannot"
"Fooll" he hissed at her. 'You little
know your power. With your beauty
you can do anything"
"And would you sell itg' she asked.
He hesitated, then said:
Eyes, for the cause
You are strange father" she said
slowly, looking at him with no spark of
love in her eyes, 'sbut 1 may prove traitor
too. What, then, father2''
He bent his head and whispered in her
ear. II will shoot you, my beautiful
queen; SO take care. For the first time
tonight doubt you, but tbs an insane
idea. Go into the ballroom and dance
an hour, then return to your house and
prepare for your journey"
She went from him down the marble
steps into the room beyond and never
cnce looked back. Her heart was sad
and heavy. Many noticed the beautiful
woman, but wondered why her face was
so tragic.
1t was about 8 the noxt night after the
ball when the courier of the car arrived
at the first posthouse and asked for q
change of horses.
stop ittleY' asked the worthy post
master.
mo" answered the courier in a tone
which silenced all other questions.
81 want horses and nothing else"
The Russian looked with much admi-
ration on this tall courier and speedily
went for them. With clap of the whip
the tarantass was off, and the little Rus
sian was alone, but not for long. Down
the road he saw another tarantass com
ing at breakneck speed "Ah, perhaps
they viii stop he said to himself. The
little man had to flee for his life, for the
horses dashed on, and he only caught
sight of a very beautiful face in red
hood
A dreadful storm broke upon the night,
and in the darkness a flying tarantass
dashed blythe one occupied by the cou-
rier. Some one else in this dreadful
storm" thought he. "God help them"
When the first dawn of day came, the
rain had ceased, and they were almost
past the dangers. In the middle of the
road lay the figure of woman, and
the horses almost ran over her.
''She is deadI' cried the courier as he
laid his hand upon her heart. mo; she
lives. cannot see mortal die like
this" So, with the help of the driver,
he carried her to the tarantass and laid
her gently down. There he sat, looking
at the girls pale face and wondering
what he should do with her.
Suddenly she opened her large. dark
eyes and ga=ed into his face. Her Won
drous beauty captivated him, and he
forgot to ask her if she was hurt. He
only gazed and said nothing.
You are a courierr' she asked at
length.
NO; am captain of the Fourteenth
guards. And youE'
Il am going to meet my father at
Esham," she answered. Her voice was
wonderfully low and sweet. and he be-
heved all she told him.
They journeyed on together. and the
time sped rapidly away
AT last they reached Isham, and the
girl looked for her father, but of course
he was not there. She burst into tears
and would not be consoled. An officer
had taken the last horses an hour before,
and our hero had SO wait for his own to
rest.
In the meantime Nodine, for it was
she, wove subtle charm around tho
courier He was not proof against the
glances from her splendid. half veiled
eyes. Her red lips seemed to say, 'sCome