The Washington times., 1894-08-12

against Col. Miliutin. Instead. however. OF
doing his best for the defendant, Gorski
seemed anxious only to make 4 brilliant and
patriotic, not to say revolutionary, speech on
his own account Col. Miliutin, lie admitted.
had in strictly legal sense done things
which. under an arbitrary government, could
scarcely perhaps lie regarded as quite iustifi-
able But the colonel was n man of heart
and conscience, who wished TO rise ahove the
existing order of things. and to raise his
soldiers with him. He had undoubtedly de-
sired to inspire them with free ideas; and il
these ideas did no. suit the ruling powers,
then all he could say was 80 much the
worse for the powers that rule,''
These sentiments expressed with the ut
most fervor, carried away the jury and pro-
voked the applause of the general public
Even the prisoner a sensitive and impulsive
man, seemed touched by the eloquence OF his
own advocate.
The judges, however, could not give their
approval to such subversive ideas. which, set
forth as if in exculpation of Col. Mil;utin,
went really to aggravate his offense. Accord
incly they ordered silence, and threatened to
clear the court should any fresh demonstra-
ton be indulged in. They then at once
charged the jury, and in such manner that
there was no alte rnative for the jurymen but
TO return n verdict of guilty.
Gorski had betrayed his client; had betrayed
MIN deliberately, that the unhappy man might
be sent to Siberia. fnr away from his young
and beautiful wife.
Private Borodin was OF course in court,
though by previous arrangement with the
police authorities he was not called upon to
give evidence against his commanding officer.
The examining magistrate had, indeed. at the
preliminary inquiry, obtained a full avoval OF
the facts from DIiliutin himself, who, however,
rcpudiated the extreme inferences drawn from
them. Borodin would not have missed the
trial oven if his absence from barracks had
been likely to bring down upon him the
severest punishment. But he had finished his
duty early In the morning. and had received
permission to go out for Jew hours.
When Borodin heard the verdict-exiled for
twenty years to Siberia-he was shocked be-
yond measure. He had not enlisted in the
army with any idea Of becoming spy, but
simply in the hope of getting rapid promotion
and n commission, SO that be might not be
deemed altogether unworthy OF aspiring to
the hand of Natalia Gontcharon. In mo-
ment of spite. cnraged ut the idea Of Col.
Miliutin's marrying the girl on whom he,
Borodin, had set his heart, he had informed
against him; and though he deeply regretted
his baseness the moment aftcrward, he had
then already placed himself, as well rs Muliu-
tin, beneath the power OF the dreaded Third
Section. He was filled with remorse when he
thought Of the mean, dastardly part he had
played.
How did you like my speech?" asked
Gorski, rs. Just outside of the tribunal, no
met the indignant Borodin.
THAT is how 1 like it, replied the young
soldier, giving the traitor advocate at the
same time violent blow in the face.
Gorskd could, had he pleased, have COM
planned to the colonel-in-chief OF Borodin's
regiment. But the officer, who had just been
condemned to twenty years exile, was much
liked by his brother officers, and Gorski
knew well tnat it would be vain to look to
any Of these for redress.
Besides, he hated Borodin personally, and
now more than ever; and to hate a man thor
oughly is to desire his death. He determined,
therefore, that Borodin should die. He re-
solved, that is to say, to kill him. This it
would be impossible to do except in a duel,
and he accordingly, after returning Borodin's
blow, challenged him to fight that evening in
o lonely cornes Of tho island Of BASIL Each