Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1902-12-15

me that to them the government procla-
nation must be more useful than in
furious"
But these reflections, though certain
ly correct, were completely dispelled by
another, which drove every other
thought out of Michaeps mind. He for
got the Zingaris, their suspicious words,
the strange coincidence which resulted
from the proclamation. The remem-
brance of the young Livonian girl sud
denly rushed into his mind.
"Poor childv' he thought to himself.
"She cannot now cross the frontier"
In truth the young girl was from
Riga. She was L1vonian, consequent
ly Russian, and now could not leave
Russian territory. The permit which
had been given her before the new
measures had been promulgated was
evidently no longer available. All
routes to Siberia had just been pitiless-
ly closed to her. and whatever was the
motive which was taking her to 1r-
kutsk, she was now forbidden to go
there
chael Strogoff. He said to himself,
vaguely at first, that without neglect
ing anything Of what was due to his
important mission it would perhaps
be possible for him to be of some use
to this brave girl, and this idea pleased
him. Knowing how serious were the
dangers which he, an energetic and
to encounter through a country OF
which, however, the roads were IA
miliar, he could not conceal from him
self how infinitely greater they would
prove to young, unprotected girl. AS
she was going to Irkutsk, she would
be obliged to follow the same road as
himself; she would have to pass
was about to attempt doing himself.
If, moreover, and according to all prob
ability, she had at her disposal only
the resources necessary for journey
taken under ordinary circumstances.
how could she manage to accomplish it
under conditions which late events
would render not only perilous, but ex-
pensive?
"Well," said he, "if she takes the
route to Perm it is nearly impossible
but that l shall fall in with her. Then
I will watch over her without her sus-
pecting it, and as she appears to be as
anxious as myself to reach Irkutsk she
will cause me no delay"
But one thought leads to another.
Michael Strogoff had till now reasoned
on the supposition of doing a kind ac-
ton, Of rendering a service, but now
another idea flashed into his brain, and
the question presented itself under
quite new aspect.
''The fact isl said he to himself,
that I have much more need Of her
than she can have of me. Her pres
ence will be useful in drawing off sus-
picion from me. A man travelling alone
across the steppes may be easily guess
ed to be a courier to the car. If, on
the contrary, this young girl accompa-
MES me, | shall appear in the eyes of
all the Nicholas Korpanoff of my podo-
ROMA. Therefore she must accompany
me. Therefore l must find her again
at any cost. 1t is not probable that
since yesterday evening she has been
able to get carriage and leave Mini
Novgorod. l must look for her. And
may God guide mev'
Michael left the great square of Mini
NOvgorOd, where the tumult produced
by the carrying out of the prescribed
measures had now reached its height
determinations from the banisheC
strangers, shouts from the agents and
Cossacks who were using them so bru
tally, all together made an indescriba
BILE uproar. The girl fer whom he
searched could not be there. 1t was
now 0 o'clock in the morning The
steamboat did not start till Il. Nj
chael Strogoff had therefore nearly
three hours to employ in searching fol
her whom he wished to make his trav
cling companion.
] He crossed the Volga again and hunt
ed through the quarters on the othel
side, where the crowd was much less
considerable. He visited every road
both in the high and low towns. HI
entered the churches, the natural ref
! uge for all who weep, for all who suf
fer. Nowhere did he meet with tn,
! young Livonian.
"And yet" he repeated, "she could
not have left Mini Novgorod yet Wei
have another look
/ Michael wandered about thus for tw,
hours. He went on without stopping
feeling no fatigue, but obeying the pc
tent instinct which allowed him N
room for thought. All was in vain.
! 1t then occurred to him that perhaps
the girl had not heard of the order
though this was improbable enough, TO
such a thunderclap could not have
burst without being heard by ALL Evi
IDENTIFY interested in knowing the small
est news from Siberia, how could sh,
be ignorant Of the measures taken b.
the governOr-measures which concern
ed her so directly? But if she was ig