Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1899-04-20
whom could rely. I travelled as


We're charged to put the decree into
execution if we found that circum-
stances warranted our doing so. We
learned enough at the castle to make
us certain that it was you whom the
Prince had imprisoned in the tower,
and we did not mean to leave the vi
entity until we had made an effort to
set you at liberty. AS you know, fate
delivered that prince of scoundrels in
to our hands. He died as he had
lived, treacherouS and cruel. We will
speak Of him no more.
"You have not heard how matters
went after you left the Alexandra.
Our plans succeeded to perfection. No
one imagined-how could anyone i'm
agine?-that the half-tipsy under
steward whom his mates were kindly
assisting to walk ashore, in the midst
of feeble protests from him, was the
Gar Of All the Russias. He was tax
en- in a carriage that was in waiting
at a little distance, and driven to a
solitary spot on the shore, where a
boat from the NarlSa was waiting to
receive him. -Four days later His Mat
esty was safely immured in the secret
prison.
| 'eFhere he remains-well treated, ac-
cording to our promise to you-though
we should have treated the captive
monarch we'll in any case. We have
no quarrel with him, but only with the
| intolerable system Of tyranny, which
he has inherited.
II fear. the seclusion of His Majesty
| may last some time. But the situa-
ton can only end in one way. The
| people about the Court have kept the
secret we'll. Not a soul out Of Russia,
and very few in Russia, suspect the
truth. l trust you have some time
since safely landed in England, and
that by this time you have received the
reward for Which you risked so much.
Allow me to convey to you the united
thanks Of the Committee, and to as
sure you that you have contributed in
no small measure to the liberation Of
my unhappy country. FAREWELL
On the fourth page of the sheet I
read postscript:
81 open the envelope to say that this
morning, quite Unexpectedly, the Gar
sent for my, and told me that he &C.
ceded to all our demands! Words can
| not tell the emotions that swelled in
my heart and filed my eyes to over
| flowing as I listened to the gracious
| words that told me that the fond de-
sire we had cherished was to be, at
last. fulfilled. Yes; our country, after
centuries of semi-slavery, is to be a
nation of freemen!
eve have promised to set free all
our prisoners. Our establishment here
will be broken up.
'sThe Car, with true royal generosi-
ty having once made up his mind.
made no difficulties about the precise
terms of the compact. Henceforth he
is to reign only as a constitutional SOW
ereign. His will is to be no longer
above the law. A parliament is to be
at once convoked, and representative
government is to be gradually intro
duced. We are to have no more mar
tial law, no more secret trials, no more
detentions in prisons for an indefinite
time without trial, no more press pros
ecutions, no more arbitrary suspen-
Sions of newspapers, no more childish
spelling of foreign journals by pub
lie censor, no more opening of private
letters in the postoftice, no more fog
ging Of wretched peasants because
they cannot pay their taxes, no more
robbing prisoners Of their food. The
acceptance of a bride by a government
official will mean instant dismissal
and years Imprisonment These
changes will transform the face Of
Russia in five years time.
''The Gar is to be taken back to
Russia at once, and restored secretly
to his palace, so that his recent expert
ences and the reason of the admins
trative changes which are to follow,
will be known to none but the men,
bers of the Committee, the Gar and
yourself. In few weeks we shall
know whether the word of a crowned
monarch is any better than that OF a
simple prince.My belief is that the
Car is to be trusted. We shall see.
Again, FAREWELL
My wife had been reading with me,
line by line. When we had finished. l
turned and looked into her beautiful
eyes.
~ am so gladr' she murmured; but
there was something in her face that
| did not understand
What is the matter, 1rene?' l
asked. ''You have had letter, too,
see. Have you had bad news?'
SIT is very sad news" said she, turn
ing away her head. 1.The letter is
from my lawyers. They tell me that
my COuSlu-lliS DSen kllleu-lu Il uucl~
with an aid-de-camp of the Gar
''Must YOU go to Russia:' l asked,
after a pause.
'SThey seem to think it will be neces
sary. My cousin left no will"
We went together to Insterburg, and
waited there, while my wife, resum-
ing for the time her maiden name and
title, went on to st. Petersburg and ar
ranged her affairs. Some Of the land
she bestowed upon the tenants who
titled it; the rest she sold, and the
money arising from the sale is sufti-
Gent to give me a good start in my
profession and to insure us against
want. When all had been settled, we
returned to England, where we have
made our home. 1t is doubtful wheth-
err we shall ever revisit Russia Ger
| tally, years must pass, old memories
must grow dim and old wounds cease
to burn before my wife and 1 care to
see again the land Of the Black Ter
ror.
1.-THE End