Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1899-04-13

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think of. But it was useless to think
self once more on my hard bed, and
before knew it ] was fast asleep.
l The snow came with the morning,
and it soon became evident that
Irene's expectation was to be fulfilled.
There was nothing to be lost by a
short delay, and the Prince decided
that might remain where I was until
the weather moderated and tine roads
We're more fit for travelling.
Three-four days went by, and the
weather had become bright and clear.
The nights frost had made the roads
hard, and there was nothing to delay
our departure. All this time had
heard nothing from Irene. was sure
that she would strain every nerve to
do something for my release, but I
quite understood that she might not be
able to effect anything, and was re-
signed to the thought that must be
taken to st. Petersburg; and there, I
resolved, 1 would make the best fight
1 could to persuade my judges that l
had nothing to do with the Committee
of Public Safety.
| There had been rrmor in the vii
lage, Serge told me, that one or two
suspicious trangers had been seen in
the neighborhood: end thought it pos
sible that the Prince was waiting to
find out who they We're before leaving
home. But if so. he resolved to wait
no longer. On the morning of the
fourth day of my imprisonment 1 had
a fresh gaoler to attend to me; and he
told me that the Prince was going to
st. Petersburg along with me, though,
of course, not in the same sledge, and
that he would have started that morn
ing, if he had not been detained by
some unexpected business.
AS I was eating my midday meal
that day, the small loaf that had been
sent up to me broke in two somewhat
easily. and, to my surprise and joy 1
saw bit Of paper, folded several
times, in cavity in the middle of the
bread Irene had taken this well
known plan of sending me note with
out the knowledge of the gaoler.
With trembling fingers 1 unfolded it,
and this is what / read:
"My father is going out this after
noon, and l am going to make an effort
to bride your new guardian to leave
the door of your room and the door AZ
the foot of the stairs open for a few
moments after o'clock. 1t will then
be dark, OF nearly so. If I succeed in
persuading him to do this, will leave
some sheepskin clothes, such as the
peasants wear at the foot Of the
stairs. This is all can do for you.
would do more-I would shed the last
drop of my blood to save you. You
know that, do you not, dearest? l
have tried to speak for you to my ia
Their, but he flies into a dreaful pas
sion if your name is mentioned. l can
do nothing with him. But this new at
tempt may succeed. If it does, 1 may
forgive myself for having detained
you that other time. Farewell, my
love. and have courage! Irene"
Little need to tell me to have cour-
age! The blood coursed through my
veins like q flood of fire. I felt as it,
once outside these walls, I could de-
| fend myself against an army.
Slowly, as if the minutes were hours,
the time went by, and at last darkness
/ fell upon the snow-covered landscape.
NV ears were on the alert, and just as
the twilight was changing into night,
I heard the key softly turn in the lock
of my door.
For a minute / sat perfectly still, to
give the man who had just set me free
time to get out of the way. Then I
ran lightly down the stairs and out
into the corridor. No one was visible,
and there were no clothes lying about.
Either Irene had been unable to pro-
cure what she wanted, or had been
prevented from placing them where 1
could find them. However, I did not
feel at all sure that 1 could personate
Russian peasant so as to escape de-
lection, and did not much regret the
loss.
1 made my way quickly through the
corridors, with which, of course, 1 was
perfectly familiar, and succeeded in
gaining the open air without being
seen by anyone. 1 could not help
thinking that the man whom Irene had
bribed had smoothed my way in this
matter, also.
How sweet the keen wind was,
blowing on my check. AS sasHl as
was beyond the immediate neighbor-
hood of the Castle broke into run.
My intention was to gain the road to
VinorOsk and lose myself in the i'm
mense country that lay beyond; for !
knew that to make straight for the
frontier would be madness.
l was still in the park, but not fa1
from the main avenue that led to the
Castle from the high road, when
heard the jingle Of sledge bells. Think
ing it must be the sledge of the Prince
returning to the Castle, I stood stock
still, till I could hear them no more,
Then 1 stepped out cautiously and
gained the avenue.
The great, solemn pines made the
way so dark, that had it not been fol
the snow could not have seen q step
of the way. AS it was, could see but
very little way in front of me.
went on cautiously, till I could bea1
the delay no longer, and, thinking
there might be safety in speed, broke
into a run.
There was no lodge at the gate was
making for, 1 knew very we'll
reached the gates. They were stand
/ ing wide open, and I dashed through
between them, into tire highway, anG
ran into man whose footsteps on tn
snow [ had not heard, nearly knock
ing him down.
Instinctively. l began an apology, bt1