The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1901-12-25

A'N'-N' pAiSN -'4 iS1AS2 hollOSOAA ca
he drew near. the Tartars have rob-
bed Us, and ! have not a copeck to offer
thee, but if you will take my sister
near you l will follow the carriage on
foot. | will run if it be necessary and
will not delay YOU one hour"
Brother" cried Nadia, 81 do not
wish it! l do not wish it! Sir. my
brother is blind"
"Blindw' said the young man in a
voice moved with emotion.
"The Tartars have burned out his
eyesr' answered Nadia, stretching out
her hands as though to implore pity.
Burned your eyes? Oh, poor, dear
man. l am going to Krasnoiarsk.
Well, now, why do you not mount with
your sister into the kibitka? In sitting
little closer we shall hold each other
up. Besides, my dog will not refuse to
go on foot. Only do not so fast in or.
der to spare my horse"
Friend, what do they call you?"
asked Michael Strogoff.
81 am called Nicholas Pigassof."
''It is a name that I shall never. for.
get" answered Michael Strogof.
"Well, then, mount, my good blind
man. Your sister shall be near you at
the back of the car; in front to con-
duct. There are some good birch bark
and some barley straw on the bottom.
It's like a nest. Come, Serko, give US
room"
The dog jumped OF without much
asking. 1t was an animal Of the Sibe-
rian breed, with gray hide, medium
size, with q good, large and caressing
head, and which appeared to be very
attached to his master.
Michael Strogoff and Nadia il an in
slant were Installed in the kibitka. Mi
chael Strogof had stretched out his
hands as though to search those of
Nicholas Pigassof.
"Is it my hands you wish to press"
said Nicholas. Here they are, my
good man. Shake them as much as
you like"
The kititka was soon in motion. The
horse, which Nicholas never struck,
ambled along. If Michael Strogof did
not gain much in rapidity, at least new
fatigues would be spared to Nadia.
And such was the exhaustion Of the
young girl that, rocked by the monoto-
nous motion Of the kibitka, she soon
fell into sleep that resembled an utter
prostration. Michael Strogof and Mich
olas made q bed for her on the birch
leaves as well as they were able. The
compassionate young man was much
moved, and if a tear did not escape the
eyes of Michael Strogoff in truth it
was because the redhot iron had burn.
ed them dry.
"She is pretty" said Nicholas.
"Yes," answered Michael Strogof.
"These darlings would be strong, for
they are courageous, but they are real
ly only weak. Do you come q great
distarce?"
"From q great distance
"Poor young folks! It muf have
hurt you much when they burned your
eyes,"
every much" said Michael Strogof,
turning as though he could see Nicho-
las.
Did you not cry?"
eyes"
"I also should have cried. To think
that one can never see again those he
lowest Anyhow they see you. That is
perhaps some consolation"
Eyes, perhaps. Tell me, friend" de-
manded Michael Strogof, "haye you
never seen me anywhere before to-
dayw
"You, my good man? No, never"
at is because the sound Of your voice
is not unknown to me-"
"Do you see" said Nicholas, smiling.
"He knows the sound Of my Vsice.
Perhaps you ask me this to learn
whence I come. Oh, I am going to
tell you. l am coming from Kalyvan."
From kalyvan:" said Michael Stro-
yoff. "Well, then it is there that met
you. You were at the telegraph Of
ace?"
''That may be-" answered Nicholas.
Il lived there. was employed as tele-
graph operator"
"And you remained at your post to
he last moment?"
"Eh! 1t is especially at that moment
one ought to be there"
at was the day when an Enslishman
md a Frenchman, rubies in their
hands, disputed the turn at your wick
It, and when the Englishman telegraph
ed the first verses Of the Bible"
'That, my good man. is possible, but
do not remember it,
"What! You do not remember it"
81 never read the dispatches which
transmit. Ny duty being to forget
them, the shortest way is to be igno-
rant Of them."
This answer was characteristic OF
Nicholas Pigassof.
hOWeNcF, lNe hiOilhsI AeEI oA 80 So1S'
course, which Michael Strogoh would
have liked to render more rapid, but
Nicholas and his horse were accustom-
ed to gait from which neither the one
nor the other could depart. The horse
walked for three hours and then rest
ed for one, and this day and night.
During the halfs the horse pastured,
the travellers Of the kibitka ate in COM
oany with the faithful Serko. The ki-
oitka vas provisioned for at least
twenty persons, and Nicholas had gen.
erously placed the reserved food at the
disposal OF his two guests, whom he
believed to be brother and sister.
On the 22d Of August the kibitks
reached the town Of Atchinsk, which |
was $50 versts from Tousk. \ hun
lred and twenty versts still separated
It from Krasnoiarsk. No incident had
marked this journey. During the six
lays they had been together Nicholas,
Michael StrogoT and Nadia had re-
NAMED just the same. the one in his
lnalterable calmness. the other two