The Portland daily press., 1900-06-22
THE COLONEL'S
DAUGHTER.
"A Story Of Polish Revolutionists.
ny CASTOR DoBRovOLsKI.
SION DoBRovoLsKI.

Twas a member of the local group and
enjoyed the confidence of the leading
vevolutionists at the university. TO heip
free my country from foreign oppression
was the ideal OF my family, ana even
my old mother, who shed tears over my
ftturc, was proud of the part piayeu
Ia the councils Of the movement she
f@lt sure | would be arrested and exiled
or executed. and she spent many a sleep
less night on account of it, but she was
willing to give me 10 the cause, to sac
rifiec her only child on the altar OF 10
lands freedom. as she often put it, trem-
ulously, using the solemn language which
her overfowing heart prompted. Poor
womanl So full was she of these
thoughts and anxieties that she had not
the heart to go near uniformed Rus
sian. "Sooner or later they will kill my
son." she would say. How can bear
to look ut themF
We were all very busy in those days.
The committee had no difficulty in snug
Cling over pamphlets and leaflets, and
we had plenty to do to distribute them.
The city was full of spies; but, then,
many OF the officials upon whom the gov
ernmcnt relied in its struggle against us
were devoted members of secret groups.
Each of us could have been arrested at
any moment, but our heads were too hot,
our hearts too full Of enthusiasm to real
lie the danger which surrounded us
wherever we turned. / remember how
we joked each other upon our chances
of being locked up and hanged. TO judge
from the way we discussed these matters
you would have thought it all child's
play, or, at least, that we took it for
. child's blay. But | can assure you we
did not. At the bottom of our hearts
each Of us knew that he was playing
with fife and that II was only matter of
months, or weeks, perhaps, when it
would be all over with his freedom. But,
as have said, we were too excited TO
mind 1t.
One morning as I was about to enter
the house of one of Dur leaders my at.
tention was arrested by young man
who was sauntering along the opposite
sidewalk My pockets were full Of com
promising literature, and as l took n
look at the man out of the corner of my
eye it struck me that he was watching
me. Was he spy? Whether he was
or not, l would take no chances. To en-
ter my friends house was out of the qucs-
ton; to quicken pace or take a cab would
be equally unwise. l had to disappear
without attracting attention, and how
was / to do it? l took out a cigar and
lit it as slowly as l could, observing the
man across the street all the while. He
paused in front OF n window, but took up
such a position that he could pretend to
be gazing at the window and at the same
time keep his eye on me. 1t seemed TO
be clear that the fellow was shadowina
me. The blood rushed into my head, but
forthwith steadied myself and regained
my composure.
remember that one of the houses on
the next block had an open court, and
without stopping to think what good ii
would do me l started thither. l never
turned back, but could hear the spy's
footsteps behind me. l walked on at q
leisurely gait. not daring to look round
until l came in sight OF the Office of the
colonel of gendarmes, when a queer
thought flashed across my brain. Why
not go in? The gendarme's office was
the last place on earth where revolu
ZIONIST was likely TO call, so the spy
would give me up as the wrong man,
What l would do with myself inside ]
did not stop to consider 1t was all ]
could do TO worry about the present mo
ment.
was mounting the steps. cudgeling
my brain for something to say, when
door flew open on the second floor, and
modestly dressed young woman came
out, hurriedly drawing on her gloves.
When we came abreast of one another,
we both paused. She seemed familiar to
me, and there was no doubt that she
knew me, too, for she started, dropped
her eyes and fixed them on me again in
q manner which showed plainly that she
was surprised and panied to see me there.
4 S.Ir as MN
hat and bowling. "but l seem to have en-.
joyed the pleasure
"Yss, we have met before, although
we have not been introduced" she inter.
rupted me. did my father call for
youT'
81 beg your pardon, but don't have
the honor off,
Don't you know my father is the colo
mel of the gendarResT she asked, red.
dening.
was stupe6ed. 1t now came back to
me that had seen her at a gathering Of
revolutionists. The idea Of the daughter
of a colonel Of gendarmes being friend
Of the Polish cause was the queerest
thing / had yet heard in our queer move
ment Was she sinceref II she was
not, IL she was only a spy. helping her ia
Their in his crusade against the self sacri-
uClHS NV was ~ iAst SNs
people let her attend their meetings
Those questions were crowding my
brain, but her face told me that she was
a real friend. It was one Of the noblest
faces had ever seen, face full of spiy-
itual life. / knew that the greatest
knaves sometimes had the features Of
saints, but this woman had certain
something in her look which disafmed
all suspicion on my part
II see you are surprised" she said
under her breath. "Come into my room.
We win be safe there. Fathers Office Is
sver yondsy."
followed her into her her room, and
few minutes later we sat talking over
cups OF tea which q servant maid had
brought In at her command.
To reasspre he she named several mu-
tual friends Of ours, among others one
whose knowledge of men and women
Ras generally considered iefslljhls. III