Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-09-01

husky voice. tnouSnt suo uelonSoo
to the free command yonder."
"She is the daughter of Colonel Mel
ikoff, the governor of the mines,' re-
piled the officer "She went out for a
walk this morning and wandered up
here from the lower diggings. / was
sent in search of her. 1t looks as though
you were in a pretty bad scrape this
time, Daroman.
The commandant grew still paler.
"But tell me-" he whispered, "can
nothing be done to smooth matters over!
Why, ! didn't even know that Colonel
Melikoff had q daughter.
"She just came OIL visit from r.
kutsk," }" replied Sudekin coldly. "Ev.
erything rests with her, Daroman.
Don't talk to me-"
The commandant hcsitated a second
or two, and then in a cringing manner
that must have been bitter as gall to
his proud spirit approached the girl.
"Miss Melikoff," he began humbly,
but at the first word she indignantly
moved to one side.
Before you dare speak to me, she
said angrily, "release that brave man
there"
The commandant gave the necessary
orders, and then, while the soldiers
were unbinding Maurice, he made an
abject apology, and in the most piteous
tones begged that his offense might be
overlooked and kept from reaching her
father.
1t was q strange scene, the savage
Captain Daroman suing for mercy in
the presence of his own soldiers and Of
the convicts who had felt so often his
iron rule.
The girl listened calmly to his ap-
peal, and when he had finished she
walked proudly away like IN offended
princess, not deigning to give him so
much as glance.
"Take me home, Lieutenant Sude.
kim" she said. II have heard quite
enough"
The lieutenant pointed across the
plain. "a sleigh was ordered to follow
me-" he replied. II see it coming
now." The conveyance quickly reach
ed the spot, with merry ringing Of
BELLS
Miss Lora darted grateful glance at
Maurice and stepped in among the furs.
The driver whipped up the horses, and
the sleigh sped rapidly off. attended
closely by Lieutenant Sudekin on his
black charger.
Captain Daroman watched it until it
was dim in the distance. Then, turning
on Maurice one glance so venomous and
malignant that tho lad shuddered, he
put spurs to his pony and galloped off
without word.
"Get in line there" cried the sub
officer harshly. The convicts instantly
obeyed, the Cossacks surrounded them
with shouldered rifles. and the inter-
rupted march was resumed as calmly
and monotonously as though the event
just witnessed had never occurred.
Maurice, assisted by his two compan-
ions, staggered forward with the ut
most difficulty. He was suffering from
a violent reat ton. Ee had bravely at
tackled the conmandant and faced the
certainty of death without tremor,
but the sudden restoration to hope was
too much for him.
The officer in command perceived his
enfeebled condition, and feeling doubt
full as to the bearing which the recent
incident would have ON the young con-
vict he wisely concluded to be Oh the
safe side and act with leniency.
He gave Maurice a few drops of vod-
ka from his own flask and mounted him
on pony until the mines were reach
ed. This treatment was speedily effect
i've, and Maurice was ablo to work as
usual with his fellow prisoners, for the
officer refused to extend his leniency
any further. He was kept vigorously
apart from Phil and Platoff, however,
and put to work some distance away.
The rest of the day was not destined
to pass uneventfully. During the noon
period of rest an ominous incident oc-
Cured, and one from which Maurice
drew an inference favorable to himself.
Twenty mounted Cossacks rode up to
the mines, headed by middle aged Of
ficer with dignified bearing, who stern
ly asked for Captain Daroman.
When told that tho commandant had
not accompanied the convicts to the
mines, he appeared much concerned,
and presently the whole party rode
away at full speed.
Trudging home at sunset, thrco diff
ferent squads of soldiers were encounter
ed, and on reaching the settlement sup
pressed excitement was visible OH the
faces of all whom they met. Within the
prison much whispering was going on
among the convicts, and the new arriv-
ais were speedily acquainted with a
dozen different versions of what was
indeed startling tale.
The facts of the case, as CLEANED from
these different stories, which had enter
ed the prison in some unaccountable
manner, appeared to be as follows:
Captain Daromun, OH leaving tho
convict gangs that morning, had return
ed in haste to the prison, changed his
clothes in his own apartment, armed
himself heavily and then galloped
away on a fresh horse, in what direction
none observed.
Shortly after his departure a troop of
soldiers arrived from the lower dig
gings with warrant for his arrest. 1t
was no secret that the commandant had
sought safety in flight, and now half
the force in barracks was securing the
country in pursuit.