Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-12-24
THE COURIER
! OF THE CAR J;
BY Jules Verne

"No." answered Nadia; mo. he was
| not"
"Notw cried Maria. you dare to
tell me not:"
81 have said It. but 1t remains for me
to inform you that from motives un-
known to me aud which had to guide
him bsfore every other consideration
was given to understand that Nicholas
Korpanoff had to traverse the country
In the most absolute secrecy. 1t was
for him question Of life and OF death
and, more sacred still. question OF
duty and honor"
"Of duty in reality, Of imperious
duty" said the old Siberian, "of that
kind for which person sacrifices ev.
erything. for the accomplishment OF
which he would deny himself every.
thing. even the Joy Of coming to give
a kiss. the last perhaps, to his old moth
er. All that you do not know, Nadia,
all that l did not know myself at this
moment l know. You have made me
understand all. But the light which
you have thrown into the deepest dark
ness of my heart, that light, alas,
may not cause to enter your own. The
secret Of my son. Nadia. since he has
not told 1t to you, must keep for him.
Forgive me. Nadia. The good deed you
have done me cannot return to you"
Mother. ask nothing from you"
answered Nadia.
All was thus explained to the old 81.
berian, all, even the inexplicable con-
duct of her son with regard to herself
In the inn at Omsk In presence Of the
witnesses Of their meeting. There was
10 doubt that the young girls compan.
Ion was Michael Strogoff and that
secret mission, some important dis
patch to be carried across the invaded
country, obliged him to conceal his
quality of the cars courier.
"Ah, my brave boy!' thought Maria.
mo, I will not betray you, and tortures
shall not wrest 6om me the avowal
that 1t was you whom saw at Omsk."
Maria could with a word have paid
Nadia for all her devotion to her. She
could have told her that her compan-
lon, Nicholas Korpanoff, or, rather, MI
chael Strogoff, had not perished In the
waters of the Irish, since 1t was some
days after that incident that she had
met him, that she had spoken to him.
But she restrained herself, she was 81
lent and contented herself with saying:
"Hope, my child. Misfortune will
not overwhelm you. Yop will see your
father again. feel 1t. And perhaps
he who gave you the name Of sister is
not dead. God cannot have allowed
your brave companion to perish. Hope,
my child, hope. Do as l do. The
mourning which wear Is not yet for
my son."
Such was now the situation Of Maria
Strogoff and Nadia toward each other.
The old Siberian had understood all,
and II the young girl was ignorant
of the fact that her companion SO
much regretted still lived she knew at
least the relationship which he held
toward her whom she had made her
mother, and she thanked God for hav-
ing given her that Joy and pleasure
thus to be able to replace at the side
of the prisoner that son whom she had
lost.
But that which neither the one nor
the other could know was that Michael
Strogoff, taken at Kalyvan, was one OF
the same convoy and was bound like
themselves for Tomsk.
At length, on the 18th Of August, to-
ward evening, the convoy reached the
little town Of ZabedeirO. some thirty
yersts from Tomsk. At this place the
route again lay along the course OF tie
Tom.
All this night the prisoners were TO
camp on the banks Of the Tom. The
emir, in fact, had deferred until the
next day the entry of his troops into
Tomsk. 1t had been decided that a
military display should mark the In
auguration of the Tartar headquarters
In this important city. FeOfar-khan
already occupied its fortress, but the
body of his army bivOuacked under the
walls, waiting for the moment to make
q solemn entry.
Ivan Ogareff had left the emir at
Tomsk, where they had both arrived
the evening before, and he returned to
the encampment at Zabedeiro. Next
day he had to start from this place
with the rear guard of the Tartar army.
A house had been placed at his dispos-
al where he could stay the night. AT
sunrise, under his command, horse and
foot set out for Tomsk, where the emir
wished to receive them with all the
pomp and display Of an Asiatic sover-
eign.
When the orders for halt had been
given, the prisoners, worn out with q
three days journey; prey to the most
burning thirst, could at length quench
their thirst aud take some repose.
The sun had already set, but the hori-
zon was still lighted up by the twilight,
when Nadia, supporting Maria Stro-
eoff. reached the banks Of the Tom.
The two had not been able 80 far to
penetrate the ranks Of those who
thronged the high bank, and they came
| to drink In their turn.
The old Siberian bent over the fresh
stream, and Nadia, having plunged her
hands into 1t, carried 1t to the lips OF
Maria. Then she refreshed herself In
her turn. The cold water of the pure
stream seemed to give back life to the
old woman and the young girl Sud
denly Nadia, as she left the banks,
Strengthened herself. An involuntary
cry escaped her lips.
Michael Strogoff was there and only
some PAGES from her! It was he!
At the cry Of Nadia Michael Strogon