Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1902-07-10

L
to tell US abOut?"
All my child" said Alexander, sad
ly. do you think the Gear has nothing
to do but to sit on throne all day!
You shall see for yourself what sort
of throne he sits on, II you like to come
with me into the palace"
The boy hesitated: but he thought
that, after all, this officer might be on
duty at the palace, and might really be
able to give him IA peep at its wonders;
or, II not. the man must be some
merry fellow who liked joke and
would end by giving him few ko-
pecks to buy something good for sup
per. So without another word. he
turned and followed his new friend
who went straight up to the main en-
trance Of the palace.
That his companion really was the
Car, Vaska did not believe for mo-
ment; but he began to have some mis-
givings on this point when he saw
with what profound respect the senti-
nes at the gate. and the richly dressed
servants within it, saluted his guide
as they passed.
The Gar noticed the boys cOnfu-
sion. and. hating suddenly, called out.
rs Droboff there?"
Here l am. at your majesty'S SER
vice." answered deep voice.
And out from the thrOng Of liveried
attendants came tall man in dark
green jacket, trimmed with gold lace,
whose Scared face and bold, upright
bearing showed him to be an old SOL
der
AT the word majesty" little Vaska's
eyes grew as round as saucers. but the
Gar, seeming not to observe his
amazement. said to Droboff:
Take this boy with you. give him
a good supper and find him some place
to sleep. Tomorrow you can show
him through the palace, and then
bring him to me again. Goodnight
Vaska."
When Vaska awOke the next morn
ing, he thought he must be dreaming
till the kindly voice of the old soldier
who may have had little fellow OF
his own somewhere. called to him to
get up for breakfast. And even more
like dream was the day that follow
ed, spent as 1t was amid marble pill
lars. and gold-fringed curtains. and all
the magnificence Of the Winter Palace
1t was rather blow to Vaska to
find that. after all, the Cars throne
was nothing more than a big chair,
covered with gliding. instead OF being
solid gold, as he had expected. But
the sight Of the imperial crown and
scepter with enormous emeralds and
diamonds, quite consoled him for this
disappointment.
mo wonder Father Alexander
doesn't wear those things when he
goes about the street." cried he.
They'd be stolen before he had 'em
on five minutes"
But what the boy enjoyed most of
all was the sight of the great picture
gallery. with the paintings Of all the
battles which the Russians had fought
against Napoleon during the war of
when old DrobOff, who had himself
been in all these battles, told him the
whole story Of the great war, and how
bravely the Russian people had periled
their lives to free their country from
the invader
And II ever such another war should
come in our time, my boy" the veteran
added, drawing himself up proudly.
''old as l am, I'd turn out and fight
for holy Russia and the Czar.
"And so would l." cried Vasta,
clenching fist about the size Of an
apple. I'D give my life for him any
day. since he has been 80 good to me-"
Now it happened that just at the
time when Vasta and his guide were
ending their tour OF inspection, the
Gear, who had been very busy all day.
was told by a messenger that foreign
ambassador Of high rank had come to
the palace to see him. and was then
waiting in the Hall Of Audience.
The nearest way from the Cars
cabinet to this hall lay along the great
corridor which had Just been opened
again after being closed for several
weeks during the repair Of part OF
its oaken flooring. Alexander and his
attendants were nearly half way along
it, when Vaska came suddenly out OF
a room little way beyond them.
The boy had been longing all day to
get a chance Of thanking the Gear for
the kindness exhibited. and when he
saw the familiar figure coming toward
him, he forgot all ceremony. and ran
forward to meet his friend. But scarce
ly had he stepped upon the newly re.
paired part Of the flooring when the
planks cracked and shook under his
feet. and then gave way with Il tre-
mendous crash. leaving a black and
frightful chasm Of unknown depth
yawning at the very spot where the
Gear was just about to set foot.
Vaska. who had had barely time to
spring from the falling planks on to
the solid flooring beyond. was so star
tied that he would have fallen back
into the gulf had not the Cars strong