The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1901-12-11

market place Of Mini Novgorod.
The mujik and Michael resumed their
way and arrived at the posting house.
To leave CmsN by one Of the breaches
would not be difficult after nightfall.
AS for purchasing q carriage to replace
the tarantass. that was impossible.
There was none to be let or sold. But
what want had Michael StroGof new
for q carriage? Was he not alone. alas:
\ horse would suffice him. ana, very
fortunately. 4 horse could be had. 1t
was an animal of mettle, capable OF
enduring much fatigue, and Michael
Strogof, accomplished horseman rs he
was. could make good use of it.
The horse cost q high price, and
few moments later Michael was ready
to start. 1t was then o'clock in the
afternoon.
Michael Strogoff, compelled to wait
till nightfall in order to pass the forti-
fications, but not desiring to show him.
self in the streets Of Omsk, remained in
the posting house and there partook OF
food.
There was q great crowd in the pub
lie room, it being the resort Of numbers
Of the anxious inha bitants, who at this
eventful period collected there to oo-
tain news. They were talking OF the
expected arrival of a corps OF Musco-
vite troops, not at Omsk, but at Tomsk,
4 CORPS intended to recapture that town
from the Tartars Of Feofar-hahn.
Michael Strogoff lent an attentive ear
to all that was said, but took no part
in the conversation.
Suddenly a cry made him tremble, a
cry which penetrated to the depths OF
his soul, and these two words, SO to
speak, rushed into his ear:
"AIy son.
His mother, the old woman Marfa'
was before him! Trembling, she snalI-
ed upon him. She stretched forth her
arms to him. Michael Strogof arose
He was about to throw himself
The thought of duty, the serious dan
ger for his mother and himself in this
unfortunate meeting, suddenly stopped
him, and such was his command over
himself that net muscle Of his face
moved.
There were twenty people in the pub
lie room. Among them were perhaps
spies, and was it not known in the
town that the son of Maria Strogotf
haloneed TO the corps Of the couriers Of
the cZar?
Michael Strogof did not move.
"AIichael!' cried his mother.
"Who are you, my good lady" Mi
chael Strogoff stammered, unable to
speak in his usual firm tone.
'sWho am I, thou askest? Dost thou
no longer know thy mother?
You are mistaken" coldly replied
Michael Strogoff. "a resemblance de-
ceives you"
The old Maria went up to him and'
looking straight into his eyes, said:
Thou art not the son Of Peter and
Maria Strogoff?'
Michael Strogoff would have given
his life to have locked his mother in his
arms. but if he yielded it was all over
with him, with her, with his mission,
with his OATH Completely master OF
himself, he closed his eyes in order not
to see the inexpressible anguish which
asitated the revered countenance OF his
mother. He drew back his hands IN
order not to touch those trembling
hands which sought him.
Il do not know, in truth, what 1t IS
YOU say, my good woman he REPLIED
stepping back.
"Michaelr' again cried his aged moth
er.
MY name is not Michael. never
was YOUR son! I am Nicholas korpa'
noff, q merchant Of Irkutsk."
And suddenly he left the public room'
while for the last time the words re-
echoed:
MY son, my son.
Michael StrogoT. by desperate ef-
fort, had gone. He did not see his ola
mother, who had fallen back almost in
animate upon bench. But when the
postmaster hastened to assist her the
aged woman raised herself. Suddenly
O thought occurred to her. She denleo
by her son! 1t was not possible. AS
for being herself deceived and taking
another for him-eQualiy impossible. II
was certainly her son whom she had
Just seen, and if he had not recognized
ber it was because he would not, II
was because he ought not. it was be-
cause he had some cogent reason tor
acting thus. And then, her mother
feelings arising within her, she had but
one thought-"Can unwittingly have
ruined him"
"I am mad" she said to her inter.
rogators. "My eyes have deceived me!
This young man is not my child. he
had not his voice. Let Us think no
more of it. If we do, l shall end oy
finding him everywhere"
Less than ten minutes afterWard a
Tartar officer appeared in the posting
house.
Maria Strogoff?" he asked.
"It is l." replied the old woman IN a
tone so calm and with a face so traE-
ouil that those who had witnessed the
meeting with her son would not have
known her.
Come said the officer. Maria Stro-
goff, with firm step, followed the Tar
tar officer and left the posting house.
Some moments afterward Maria Stro-
gof found herself in the chief square
and in the presence Of Ivan Osareff, to
whom all tie details of this scene had
been Immediately reported.
Ivan Ogaref, suspecting the truth, in
terrogated the old Siberian woman.
THY name?" he asked in q rough
voice.
Maria Strogoff."
"Thou hast q son?"
ayes"
Gle is q courier of the cZarT'