Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1898-12-08
By JOHN X. LEYS.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

you axe going to make out that it is the
paying a debt" he added, with 4
| laugh.
Pardon. Prince, did not say So"
said the stranger, gravcly. There was
Il sadness in his voice that could not
understand. The object of the log
Journey have undertaken is not mere
ly to be the bearer Of this news to you,
but to entreat you not to accept the
post when it is offered to YOU
For the moment the Princes face
was a perfect study Of amaZcment.
Then he burst into Il laugh, and
laughed until he was forced to throw
himself down on one of the great oak
en- chairs. what nonsense is this!'
he cried when the fit Of laughter was
over. Give up the command Of rich
provincial great province-because
you. stranger. desire it! l never
heard such assurance in my life"
AT first sight it does seem singular"
observed Won MitSchka: and as he
spoke an indefinable change came over
his face. Now that l had had time to
look at it more closely, that face
struck me as being a very remarkable
one 1t spoke clearly of intellectual
ability. No one could fail to notice
that. And vet, no one looking at Won
N1itschka would have exclaimed. what
Il clever man." but what will that
man has,
1t was the countenance of aAleader,
Of man to whom his own law, his
own will. was sutficient-a man who
would first work out his problems and
make his plans, and then allow others
to suppose that they were carrying out
their own ideas in obeying his will.
There was a light in those dark eyes,
cleaning under the black eyebrows,
which contrasted So strangely with his
snow-white hair, that marked the I'M
crowned king. He was as absolutely
unmoved by the open ridicule OF the
Prince as he had been by the :mpertl-
nence Of his ill-concealed sneers. With
out as much as glancing in my dlrec-
ton, he went on:
This matter concerns you and me
alone Prince. 1t is, as have said. my
object. and my sole object. to try to
persuade you to give up this office that
will be offered you
And your reaSonS-your reasons:
You haven't come to that yet.
My reason is. that it will not be safe
for you to undertake the duties Of the
post"
"What, sir not safe:'
every far from safe. The tempta-
tons will be great-both the temptation
to undue severity-for there are two
great prisons in the province, and polit-
ical prisoners are often sent there-and
the temptation to enrich yourself at
the expense Of the unhappy taXpay-
ers."
"By Heaven, this is too much!' cried
the Prince, striding up to the stranger,
with clenched hands. Won Mitschka
dod not move hairs breadth.
''Think what your reputation was for
cruelty when you had the prisoners Of
Vornik at your mercy! Think what
reputation you left behind you at Mon
olsk. 1t is not that you are, like some,
ficndishly cruel; but you are despot,
merciless to all who dare oppose your
will, and you have the temper of your
race. You will be tempted to further
excuses, and if you fall under the
temptation, you will not ounpun-
ished. 1t is this that have come to
tell you. Take my advice, and decline
the Cars Offer"
I marveled that the Prince endured
all this plain speaking; and marveled
vet more that the stranger knowing, as
he evidently did, what manner of man
the Prince was, should have dared to
beard him in his own castle in that
fashion. 1t is my belief that kropen-
ski was speeches. from Indignation
motionless from pure astonlshment.
But 10 sooner did Won Mitschka cease
to speak, than the Prince sprang on
him and caught him by the coat. Won
Mitschka did not stir.
"You dare to say this to me: By
Heaven, you have dared more than any
man has dared yet and lived"'
"Prince Kropenski, take your hands
from my coat" said til eobject Of the
Princes wrath, so quietly that his voice
was scarcely audible.
81 will kill you. at all events, I will
have you shut up in place you can
not easily get out Of
"No, Prince. You will not do any Of
these things you have in your mind.
You will let me 90 as came.'
"Why should l not have you fogged
out of the township by m yservants"
because I am your guest"
At these words, the hands Of the flu
rious Prince Slipped away from the
visitors collar. He fel hack pace
or two, and seemed to be regarding his
visitor with new interest.
WHO are you:' he cried. suddenly.
How did YOU get this information
about my appointments
I'VE have early intelligence Of such
matters said Won Milschka. with u
quiet smile.
These words. mildly spoken as they
were. seemed to cause in the Prince a
new access Of rage.
I'VE" he shouted, in a tone Of APP
palling fury. What do you mean by
We! You mean the Nihilists.'
There are no Nihilists now. that /
am aware Of l meant the Committee
Of Public Safety"
".Ah, | know your cant! But the
! Iamc matters nothing; the thing is the
same. You are Il Revoutionary-ies,
by Heaven, you must be the White
| Fox
y savage JOY that made the man
seem perfectly fcrocio,ls, cleaned in
the Prince, eyes rs he spoke these
! WOnrS.
You can srr," he cnniiucd, in Il calm
! or tone. "iha, must have you arrested