The record-union., 1896-01-25

In all cold, proud and naughty Rus
sia there existed no woman to compare
with the Princess Prozorovska, and
scarcely one man who could boast that
he had seen a, smile dimple for mo-
ment the calm disdain of her habitual
composure Once, and only once, had
she loved, and that in the past, so long
ago that it seemed to be blurred almost
to oblivion. except perhaps at times,
when the ghost of what had been rose
up before her, moments of sentimental
weakness, when, even at the very steps
of the throne, she would have forsaken
all for that one man who disappeared
suddenly years ago-so suddenly, so
quietly, that his friends scarce dared
to breathe his name. He had gone,
and-as is best in Russia-was for
gotten.
Unmindful Of the past, of Ivan, her
lover in the days long gone by, and of
Siberia alike, the thought of the Prin-
cess are only with the present.
so, then" she muses., "St. Peters
burg has noticed the preference which
has been evinced for me, and may yet
live to occupy the proudest position of
all women Of Russia
Smiling eomplacently, she surveys
herself in the mirrors of the apartment
and shrugs her noble shoulders with
evident satisfaction at the reflection of
her regal beauty, her splendid head so
proudly poised upon her slender throat,
and almost fancies she can catch the
sparkle of the imperial coronet nesting
amid those raven tresses.
A sharp click, as of a fastening being
forced. interrupts her reverie, and turn
ing. she walks to the window, and
throws back the heavy curtains, only
10 clutch them again, as she sees a
mans white face pressed against the
glass. An icy blast rushes into the
room as the intruder thrusts the win
dow wide open, and, springing through,
swiftly draws the hangings together
again and faces her.
You, Ivani You, risen from the
dead"
mo. not from the dead-from a liv-
ing death Have you no word of well
come, or are you like the rest, afraid
to breathe the same air with the outcast
the escaped from Siberia? p
From Siberian
yes. Siberia, the hell where nihii-
ism is engendered where each man
swears. if he but sets foot in civilized
Hand again. for every blow and indignity
he has endured he viii be avenged a
thousand-fol Yes. Siberia, where
every bowed and prematurely withered
victim is a conspirator with but one
aim. one object-escape. and then re-
venge."
eReveage. Upon whom
s.rThe Car. the head of the vilest sys-
tenn of Government in the world; the
man who. to the disgrace of paternal
solicitude. is styled The Father of his
People. As / swore it. so shall it be.
Even to tho~e dreary wastes the news
will fly ike the wind. and the broken
! AID decrepit wretches there will laugh
with Joy as the tidings reach them that
Yet another Car has been done to
death. for they will know that I, Ivan
Novikoff. have kept my oath
OLGA Prozorovska stands motionless
as this torrent of words bursts forth.
and with her fingers buried deeply in
the siIkcn hangings, still clings to them
for support.
rs this your greeting2" she asks at
length. You. who left me with words
of love. left me TO dream of the NOR
row when should see you again. Is
this your greeting?"
"olga. do not speak of that time; it
is gone.
I thought that love had led you on
ward" she whispers; had conquered
all obstacles and brought you back to
me. / see I was but fattering myself.
it is hatred and revenge"
Yes. it is hatred: for love cannot live
in that earthly he'll where have been
| imprisoned At first. on that long,
pitiless journey. it was love that kept