The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-11-21

thing happened again; the queen o
hearts at the tor, meaning love, the kins
of clubs TO the right of her, showing ne
role. character, and the seven OF spades
I'm the last three, showing that the sigr
was 10 be fulfilled Immediately.
had always hoped that / shouldn't MARI!
a heroine; l can't stand your masculine
women" He sighed with Slavoaic res
ignation. and added. "Roku ne minoVa''
which is Russian for Kismet.
/ pitied him from the bottom OF my
heart. and was glad that the caros hao
no such power over destiny in England as
they have i'm Russia.
We were marching along the whi'e
road under Kislovodsk, down into the
green valley OF the Terek, ] with my wan
derer's wardrobe and sketching pack
slung over my shoulders. The six SOL
diers of the lieutenant's detachment
tramped behind us. softly singing the
big corporal was taking his turn as solo
ist, the five privates Joining in with mo-
notonous "Ay lulf. lulf" at the end of
each line. The shadows OF the hills were
creeping slowly up TO the white top OF
Mount Elbruz which faced us impertur-
badly over velvet forests from the dis
tance.
The lieutenants orders were To reach
Col Orsha's house, on the lower slopes
OF the Okova, by nightfaH, and hold IL
against the rebellious Chechens. and i,
the peaceful landscape painter, had been
swept away protesting i'm the current OF
his march. sketching umbrella and all
from my roadside attitude or artistic un-
concern with the ouarrels OF governments
and subjects.
The trouble between the tribesmen and
the Russians had arisen from the invet-
crate incompatibility OF their ideas al 10
the right method Of acquiring property In
horses Arak, son OF the powerful chief
tain Feraz. was to be married TO Bella OF
Sizi-aul: and by way OF kolym. or dowry
the bridegroom was To present Bela
father with 20 mountain horses. Feraz
had no horses To spare. What Chechen
hasg' They must be got But la matters
OF horsefesh a Chechenian aristocrat
cannot stoop TO the sordid methods OF
purchase; nor would Chechenian bride
groom be respected by wife who could
say OF him: "He bought q horse" There
fore father and son raided the War Of
fee pastures. A hreling watchman ne
trayed them; orders were issued for their
arrest. apd six villages went on the war;
path for the honor OF the tribal custom.
IL was plain that the tribesmen would
try TO hold the Okava range. as they huu
done in '9s: the business OF the lleuten-
ants regiment was to anticipate them
and Col. Orsha's house was one OF the
first TO be occupied. for IL commanded
access 70 the hills from the Terek side
The lieutenant and / stopped at the d.
vide and waited for the soldiers 10 come
up
(which IL the way, Pavel?'ask my
companion of the big corporal.
up here. replied the giant. pointing TO
Q narrow path which wound its way up
among the fir trees to our right.
Lead the way" said the lieutenant,and
the corporal Joined us I'm the front.
He willingly impaired his large knowl-
edge Of the people and places about us.
He told us Of the exploits of Col Orsha
against the hillmen in the days before he
lost his right leg in an aul OF the Cruz
ians.
THE apple lies near the apple tree. as
the saying Is. masters: like father, like
daughter. varvara Petrovna's fine
LASS, tall and strong. and as bold as a Hon.
When the Gruxians broke into the empty
barracks that day and the stablemen fed
TO their stalls, she faced the rebel like
man and rated them for their cowardice,
TIL they skunk away from before her with
their tails between their legs.
fine lass, +. But you'll judge for
yourselves this evening when you see her
A heroine she IS. Every one says so;
true heroine
The lieutenant and eyed each other
with wild surmise." Were the cards
true prophets?
Half IAN hours climbing brought us TO
Col. Orsha's house "A low white building
on a rocky promontory. Passing the wall
which cut off the prromontory from the
hillside, we stepped on TO fresh green
lawn running up TO the house. From the
rocks TO the right bubbled a spring. whose
waters ran In a little stream across the
lawn and flashed down the sheer hillside
TO the left Beyond the stream stood a
Rirl-a little slender figure clad in pink
and topped by a broad straw hat She
vas feeding a flock OF white Caucasian
pigeons; some were picking the bread
crumbs from the grass at her feet. others
were poised in the air Waiting for NOR
sci 10 be thrown them, and one was seat
ed on her arm helping himself from the
plate which she held i'm her hand Her
back was turned to us. and she did not
notice our approach, but as we stepped
on. TO the planks which bridged the
stream, the pigeons flew up into the ce-
dars. and she turned toward us--a bright
oval face, with loose brown hair shading
the soft eyes. Her lips quivered I'm sur
prise at the sudden apparition OF the
armed band.
Forgive our intrusion. mademolselle," :"
said the lieutenant. saluting her; Have
j the honor OF addressing Mile. Orsha-"
mo, that Is my cousin: but
what are the soldiers come for?"
ITO defend your house. mademoiselle
] regret TO say that the hillmen are in
revolt. And permit me TO suggest that
under the circumstances Il will be better
for you 10 retire within doors" .
There. was no need for the recommend
alton. Before the lleutenants sentence
VAS ended the little pink figure was In
fall flight for the house. Another figure
appeared In the open doorway as the
fugitive disappeared: TALL handsome
young woman. with n high aquilne nose
and . commanding presence. came down
the steps 10 meet us. She listened with
cut any appearance OF surprise. while
the lieutenant stated his mission.
Pray send your men TO the kitchen" r"
she said. '-and follow mo 10 the drawing
room. MY father will be glad OF the op-
yortunity Of putting his house and goods
st the service OF his country"
The evening parsed without alarms
The doors were barricaded. the windows
Ioopholed with mattresses and bags OF
sand. and sentines were posted on the
hillside and a watchman on the roof At