The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1902-01-30

"a redhot iron is perhaps insufficient
to destroy the sensibility Of the optic
nerve. To be modified"
j Afterward the two correspondents,
well installed in Irkutsk, occupied
themselves in putting in order the i'm
lpressions of their journey. From thence
two interesting chronicles of the Tartar
invasion were sent to London and Par
Is, which, strange to say, only contra
dicted each other on points Of less mo-
ment.
For the rest the campaign was bad
for the emir and his allies. That inva-
sion, useless, as are all those that at
tack colossal Russia, was most fatal to
them. They soon found themselves cut
off by the troops of the czar, who re-
took successfully all the conquered
towns. Besides. the winter was terri
BILE, and of those hordes, decimated by
the cold, only a small number returned
to the steppes of Tartary. The route
from Irkutsk to the Ural mountains
was free.
The grand duke was in haste to re-
turn to Moscow, but he delayed his
journey in order to assist at a touching
ceremony which took place some days
after the entry Of the Russian troops.
! Michael Strogoff had sought out Ma
dia and in the presence of her father
had said to her, NADIA, my sister still,
when you left Riga to come to lrkutsk
had you no other regret but that Of
leaving behind you your motherT
"No," replied Nadia; none what
ever"
$50 that no part Of your heart has
remained down thereT
"None, brother"
"Then, Nadia" said Michael Strogoff,
"I do not believe but that God in bring
ling US together. in allowing us to pass
Through these great trials together. has
wished US to be united forever"
"Ahw said Nadia as she fell into the
arms Of Michael Strogoff, and. turning
toward Wassili Feodor, my father"
she said. blushing deeply.
NADIA" said Wassili Feodor, my
joy will be to call you both my chill
ldrenw
The marriage ceremony took place in
the cathedral of Irkutsk. 1t was very
simple in it's preparations, but very
beautiful in the concourse Of the mill
Itary and civil population, which thus
wished to show it's gratitude to the
young couple, whose strange journey
had now become legendary.
| Alcide Jolivet and Harry Blount Of
course assisted at the marriage, Of
which they wished to give an account
to their readers.
"And does it not make you envious to
Initiate them?" asked Alcide Jolivet to
his companion.
"Pshawr' exclaimed Harry Blount.
eff, like you, had a cousin!
"My cousin is not any longer mar
r!ageable," laughingly answered Alcide
Jolivet.
"All the BETTER" added Harry Blount,
''for they speak Of difficulties which
are about to arise between London and
Peking"
would you not like to see what is
passing there?"
"Why, my dear Blount," cried Alcide
Jolivet, Il was about to propose it to
your
This is he two inseparables set
out for CIl..-,
Some days after the ceremony Mi
chael and Nadia Strogoff, accompanied
by Wassili FeodOr, started on their
journey to Europe. That road of sor-
rows was only one of happiness on
their return. They travelled very rapid
ly with one of those trains which glide
like an express over the frozen steppes
of Siberia.
Meanwhile, arrived at the banks of
the Dinka, just opposite Brlskoe, they
stopped there one day. Michael Stro-
goff sought out the place where he had
inferred poor Nicholas. A cross was
planted there, and Nadia prayed for
the last time on the tomb of the hum
BILE and heroic soul which neither the
one nor the other would ever forget.
At Omsk old Maria was awaiting
them in the little house of tie Stro-
goffs. She pressed in her arms that
noble girl whom in her heart she Lad
already a hundred times called Ler
daughter. The brave Siberian on that
day had the right to own her son and
to say that she was proud of him.
After some days passed at Omsk, Mi
chael and Nadia Strogotf returned to
Europe, and, Wassili Feodor being we'll
fixed in ST. Petersburg, neither his son
nor his daughter had any occasion ever
to leave him, only when they went to
see their old mother.
The young courier had been received
by the car, who attached him specially
to his person and decorated him with
the cross Of st. George.
Michael Strogoff afterward attained
to high post in the empire. But it is
not the history of his success, but the
history of his trials. which has deserv-
ed to be chronicled.
THE END.