The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1901-12-04

spies are ever on the watch for any
reasonable expressions which may be
uttered
At the Vladimir station fresh trar'
elers entered the train. Among others,
a young girl presented herself at the
door of the carriage occupied by Mi
chael Strogoff.
A vacant place was found opposite
the courier Of the czar. The young girl
took it after placing by her side a mod.
est travelling bag Of red leather which
seemed to constitute her luggage. Then,
seating herself with downcast eyes, she
; prepared for a journey which was still
to last several hours.
Michael StrogoE could not help look.
ing attentively at his newly arrived fel.
! low traveller. AS she was SO placed as
to travel with her back to the engine,
he even offered her his seat, which she
might prefer 70 her own, but she thank
ed him with a slight bend of her grace
! full neck.
The young girl appeared to be about
i sixteen or seventeen years Of age. Hel
head, truly charming, was OF the purest
Siavonic type slightly severe, and
which would when few summers had
passed over her unfold into beauty
ratLer than mere prettiness. From be-
meath q sort of kerchief which she wore
on her head escaped in profusion light
golden hair. Her eyes were brown,
soft and expressive Of much sweetness
Of temper. The nose was straight and
attached to her pale and somewhat thin
cheeks by delicate mobile nostrils. The
lips were finely cut, but it seemed as #
they had long since forgotten Low to
| smile
The young traveller was tail and up.
right, as we'll as could be judged Of her
| figure from the very simple and ample
pelisse that covered her. Although she
was still very young girl in the literal
sense of the term, the development Of
her high forehead and clearly cut fea-
lures gave the idea that she vas the
possessor Of great moral energy, a
| point which cid not escape Michael
Strogoff Evidently this young girl had
already suffered in the past, and the
future doubtless did not present itself
to her in glowing colors. But it was
none the less certain that she had
known how to struggle and that she
had resolved to struggle still with the
trials CT life. Her energy was evident
ly prompt and persistent and her calm
ness unalterabie even under circum.
stances in which 4 man would be likely
to give way or lose his self command.
Such was the impression which she
produced at first sight. Michael Stro'
gof, being himself Of an energetic tenn
permanent, was naturally struck by the
character Of her physiognomy, and,
while taking care not to cause her an
noyance- by q too persistent gaze, he
observed his neighbor with no small in
terest.~ The costume Of the young tray.
eler was both extremely simple and
appropriate She was not rich-that
could easily be seen-but not the slight
est mark Of negligence was to be dis
cerned in her dress. All her luggage
was contained in leather bag under
lock and key, and which, for want CT
room, she held on her lap.
She wore long, dark pelisse, which
was gracefully adjusted ct the neck By
blue tie Under thiS pelisse short
skirt, also dark, fell over robe which
reached to her ankles and Of which the
lower edge was ornamented with some
simple embroidery. Half boots Of work
ed leather and thickly soled, as if cho-
sen in the anticipation Of long jour.
ney, covered her small feet.
Michael Strogof fancied that he rec
ognized by certain details the fashion
Of the costume of Livonia, and he
thought that his neighbor must be q,
native Of the Baltic provinces.
But whittier was this young girl 60
ing alone at an age when the fostering
care Of father or the protection Of q
brother is considered q matter Of ne
cessity? Had she now come after an
already long journey from the prov
inces of western Russia? Was she
merely going to Mini Novgorod, or was
the end of her travels beyond the east
ern frontier CT the empire? Would
some relation, some friend, await her
arrival by the train, or was it not
more probable, on the contrary, that
she would find herself as much isolated
in the town as she was in this COM
partment, where no one, she must
think, appeared to care for her? It
was probable.
Michael Strogoff observed her with
interest, but, himself reserved, he
sought no opportunity Of accosting her;
although several hours must elapse be-
fore the arrival Of the train at Mini
Novgorod.
At last the train, at half past 8 in the
evening, arrived at the station of Mini
Novgorod.
Before any one could get out of the
carriages the inspectors Of police pre-
sented themselves at the doors and e1-
amined the passengers.
Michael Strogof showed his podo-
rojna made out in the name Of Nicholas
Korpanoff. He had consequently no
difficulty.
AS to the other travellers in the COM
partment, all bound for Mini Novgo-
rod, their appearance, happily for them.
was in nowise suspicious.
The young girl in her turn exhibited
not a passport, since passports are no
longer required in Russia, but permit
indorsed with private seal and which
seemed 10 be Of a special character
The inspector read the permit with at
tention Then, having attentively ex-
amined the person whose description it /
contained, he said:
you are from Riga?'
EYES," replied the young girl.
"You are going to Irkutsk"
eyes"
"By what route"