Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-12-07
THE COURIER OF THE CZAR
AZ JULES VERNE.

dancers disappeared. Ihe cercmon!
was terminated. and the torches alone
lit up the plateau which some lnstants
before was so full Of lights.
At a sign from the emir Michael Stro.
goff was led into the middle Of the
square.
Little desirous Of assisting at the tor.
ture reserved for this unfortunate man.
Harry Blount and Alcide Jolivet then
re-entered the city.
An hour later they were Fastening
along the road to Irkutsk. and 1t was
among the Russians they would at
tempt to follow what Alcide Jolivet
called by anticipation 1.-The campaign
Of revenge"
The emir made q gesture. Michael
Strogoff. pushed by the guards. ap-
preached the terrace. and then In that
Tartar language which he understood
Feofar said to him:
Russian spy. you are come to see.
You have seen for the last time. In an
instant thine eyes shall be forever shut
to the light"
II was not with death, but with
blindness that Michael Strogoff was
about to be stricken. Loss Of sight.
more terrible perhaps than loss Of life!
The unhappy man was condemned 10
lose his eyesight.
Nevertheless on hearing the penalty
pronounced by the emir Michael Stro.
goff did not become weak. He remain
ed impossible, his large eyes open, as
If he were wishing to concentrate all
his life in this one last look.
To ask for pity from these fierce men
was useless and, besides, unworthy Of
him. He did not even think Of 1t. All
his thought was concentrated on his
mission that had irrevocably failed, on
his mother, on Nadia, whom he should
never see again! But he did not allow
to be seen any Of the emotion which he
felt.
Besides, the feeling of vengeance, to
be accomplished at some future time.
carried away his whole being.
"Ivan," said he, with a menacing
voice, "Ivan, the traitor, the last threat
of my eyes shall be for thee"
Ivan Ogareff shrugged his shoulders.
But Michael Strogoff deceived him
self. 1t was not in looking. at Ivan
Ogareff that his eyes were to be fixed
never more to open.
Maria Strogoff came and stood before
| him.
my motherw cried he. "Yes, yes,
on thee must be turned my last look
and not on this miserable man! Re
main there before me. that may still
see thy beloved figure; that my eyes
may close while looking at thee"
The old Siberian, without uttering
word, came forward.
Drive away this woman! said Ivan
Ogareff.
Two soldiers pushed back Maria Stro-
goff. She drew back. but remained
standing some PAGES distant from her
son.
The executioner appeared. This time
he held his naked sword in his hand.
That sword. heated to white heat. he
had Just drawn from the iron pan
where the perfumed Goals were burn
/ ing.
Michael Strogoff was about to be
made blind according to the Tartar GUS
tom. with a heated blade passed over
his eyes!
Michael Strogoff did not seek to re-
sist. Nothing else existed in his eyes
than his mother. whom he devoured
then with his look. All his life was in
this last vision.
Maria Strogoff. with her eyes wide
open and her arms stretched toward
him. was looking at him.
The white heated blade passed over
the eyes Of Michael Strogoff.
A loud cry Of despair was heard. Old
Maria fell lifeless to the earth!
Michael Strogoff was blind.
His orders having been executed. the
emir retired with all bis household.
Soon there only remained on the pla-
teau Ivan Ogareff and the torchbear-
erS.
Did the miserable wretch wish to in
suit him still more and after the ex-
ecutioner give him the last blow?
Ivan Ogareff slowly approached MI
ehael Strogoff. who heard him coming
and at once Strengthened himself.
| Ivan Ogareff drew from his pocket
the emperor's letter. He opened 1t and
as the last insult placed 1t before the
eyes of the courier Of the czar. before
those eyes whose light had been bru-
tally extinguished forever. saying mt
the same time:
Read now, Michael Strogoff; read
and 20 and repeat at Irkutsk what you
shall have read. The true courier or
the czar is myself"
Having said this, the traitor placed
the letter In his breast. Then, without
turning round, he left the place. and
the torchbearers followed him.
Michael Strogoff remained alone,
come PAGES from his mother. who was
l!feless, perhaps dead.
One heard at distance the cries, the
songs, all the noise Of the orgies.
Tomsk was Illuminated and was bright
as a city during great feast.
Michael Strogoff listened. The scene
Of the late revels and crime was silent
and deserted.
He dragged himself by cropping to-
ward the place where his mother had
fallen He found her with his hand
He bent down toward her. He brought
his figure near to hers. He listened
to the bcatings Of her heart. Then one
wnnll haun Sni1N Nthat he smoke to her