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

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a reason unknown to hel
did not belong to himself; that he had
not the power Of doing what he de-
sired, and that In this instance especial.
" he had heroically sacrificed to duty
even his resentment at the gross injury
he had received.
Nadia, therefore, asked no explana.
ton from Michael. Had not the hand
which she had extended to him already
replied to all that he might have beer
able to tell her?
Michael remained silent all the even
ing. The postmaster not being able to
supply them with fresh horses until
the next morning, whole night must
be passed at the house. Nadia could
profit by it to take some rest, and Q
room was therefore prepared for her.
The young girl would no doubt have
preferred not to leave her companion,
but she felt that he would rather be
alone, and she made ready to go to her
room.
Just as she was about to retire she
could not refrain from going up to Mi
chael to say good night.
Brother" she whispered.
But he checked her with gesture.
The girl sighed and left the room.
Michael Strogof did not lie down.
He could not have slept even for an
hour. The place on which he had been
struck by the brutal traveller felt like
a burn.
"For my country and the Father" he
muttered as he ended his evening pray
er.
He especially felt grea: wish to
know who was the man who had
struck him, whence he came and where
he was going. AS to his face, the fea-
lures of it we're so deeply engraved on
his memory that, he had no fear OF
ever forgetting them.
Michael at last asked for the post
master. The latter, Siberian of the
old type, came directly and, looking
rather contemptuously at the young
man, waited to be questioned.
"You belong to the country?' asked
Michael.
EYES,"
"Do you know that man who took
my horses?'
mo"
'"Had you never seen him before"
"Never."
"Who do you think he was"
"a man Who knows how to make
himself obeyed.'
Michael fixed his piercing gaze upon
the Siberian, but the other did not
quail before it.
do you dare to judge me?' exclaim-
ed Michael.
eyes" answered the Siberian, "for
there are some things that even q plain
merchant cannot receive without re-
turning"
"Blowsw
"Blows, young man. I am Of an age
and strength to tell you So"
Michael went up to the postmaster
and laid his two powerful hands on his
shoulders.
Then in a peculiarly calm tone he
said:
"Be off, my friend; be off! could
kill you"
The postmaster understood this time.
"I like him better for that" he NUT.
tered as he retired without adding an
other word.
At S o'clock the next morning, the
Oath Of July. three strong horses were
harnessed to the tarantass. Michael
and Nadia took their places, and lchlm,
with it's disagreeable remembrances'
was soon left far behind.
The next day, July 25, at 3 o'clock in
the morning, the tarantass arrived at
the posthouse in Tioukalmsk, having
accomplished a distance Of 120 Tersts
since it had crossed the Ichim.
They rapidly changed horses. Here,
however, for the first time the driver
made difficulties about starting, declar-
ing that detachments Of Tartars were
rowing across the steppe and that tray
elers, horses and carriages would be q
fine prize for such robbers.
Only by dint Of a large Dribe could
Michael get over the unWlllingness OF
the driver, for in this instance, as in
many others, he did not wish to show
his podorojna. The last ukase, having
been transmitted by telegraph, was
known in the Siberian provinces, and q
D-,-;oD eo,oio11v oyonnfp5 from obey