The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1895-03-28
mercy's sake be quick! the blood-hounds
will soon be here !?

mercy's sake be quick! the blood-hounde
will soon be here?
Courageous Sophie helped me to put
on my disguise, placed a roll Of bills
in my hand, and telling me to be brave
and to flee to Geneva, she kissed me
gOod-by, her tears moistening my
checks. Disguised as q catle-driver
l succeeded in passing the frontier,
and soon reached Geneva. I have been
here now for a week without having
heard word from Sophie. What has
happened tcl her and to my babe? Good
God! Why did I fee? Surely the police
must have searched my home. and
though, happily no compromising pa
! perS were there, the papers found on
7PctlOw IRE full proof of my parttcilm-
ton in Nihilism. What has become of
Sophie? Is she arrested ?&Oh! my God!
how the picture OF that woman will,
her baby, dragged by the hair on that
fatal night haunts me! can stand it
no longer l have resolved to leave for
Warsaw. if SHOULD receive no news
Tomorrow"
Here his fist came down upon the
little table with such force that it
shook the piazza.
II will return into the tigers den,'
he continued, land if Sophie is arrest
ed, I shall rescue her or perish in the
attempt.
"Now." he added. breathlessly. II
feel as if great load had fallen from
my heart, since my terrible secret is
out. l may trust you. may I not? Oh
If you knew how sorely 1 need a
friend! VIII you be that?"
N-ar,n1v nrnSSoH hic hand op1 nv
claimed:
"Whatever can do, I will, so help
me God!'
''Oh, thank you!' he exclaimed, and,
springing up he threw both his arms
about my neck and kissed me.
On reSumins his seat, he continued,
very calmly.
"NOw listen. If do not hear any
thing by to-mOrrNw's mail, I leave in
the evening for Warsaw. I shall en-
deavor to liberate Sophie. If God
Will. we will return together. but this
Is hardly possible. However. I have
many friends in Warsaw. and if she
has not been carried off already. l
| think I can liberate her. If she should
come here without me, you will pro-
tect the poor woman, will you not?
And you and your sweet wife will con-
sole and love her. and YOU will tell
her how l adored her and my child?'
Here his frame shook: he was sob
bling like child I laid my hand on
his shoulder, and whispered:
Ivan, your wife will be my wife's
sister; your boy will be my boys
brother. Be assured that I will love
both as if they We're my own"
How can | ever thank yOu?" he OK
claimed. May God rev ard you, if I
cannot"
He strobe up and down the piazza
for moment. and then said:
when joined the Nihilists. made
provision for an occurrence like this.
will write letter tonight to my
banker in Paris. telling him of what
what about to happen, and appointing
you as the guardian of my son. If
you should never see me again teach
him to love the memory of his father,
and tell him." he said. choking with
! tears. ''oh. tell him that l died for his
saker'
He shock my hand and hurried Off to
| his room.
Next morning, when camc down to
; breakfast, Madame NJ, pale, and with
tears in her eyes, handed me a letter,
and whispered:
May God have mercy on the poor
manw
1 fastened back to my room, opened
the letter and read:
I'm the middle of the night dispatch
t was brought to me, Sophie arrested.
You Know our agreement. I leave on
an early express. May Heaven bless
my efforts. Once more be a brother
to my wife. father to my boy. IN
| closed is a letter for my banker, which
! you will use as you deem best. Fare
! well! God bless you'll
Tor a week 1 did not hear anything
| from my friend, and supposing that
he had been arrested in his mad at
tempt, I pictured him in one dungeon.
| his wife and babe in another. and
pitied them from the bottom of my
! heart
! I had only told my wife the sad
story, preparing her for the reception
Of Sophie, in the event that she should
: be saved, and we were just talking
! about them and dcploring the hopeless
ness Of lvan's attempt, when :; waiter
entered with card. Handing it to me,
he said:
''The Lady is in the parlor''
Judge of my surprise! L read Sophie
! Petrovitch.'
I told the waiter to show the lady
to our rooms, and requested my wife
! to leave us for the first moment alone,
but she, with her woman's intuition,
did far better, as l found out after
ward. She received Sophie herself.
The door opened. A tall. beautiful
woman with blonde hair and the blu
est Of eyes l ever saw, stood on the
threshold. with a babe in her arms.
Without saying a word my wife rush
ed toward her, laid her arms caress-
ingly around the woman's neck, kissed
her repeatedly, and I heard her soft
ly. murmur:
"Dear sweet sister,"
The blue eyes We're instantly filled
with tears, and, kissing my wife. she
held out her baby toward me, sand Sob
bling piteously, exclaimed:
''Protection for 1vanovitch!'
I took the child in my arms.
My wife led the sobbing woman to a
sofa, made her sit down by her side
and laying that magnificent blonde