The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1902-01-22

toner of Feofar had passed over MS
eyes. One remembers that at the mo
ment of that terrible punishment Mar
ia Strogof was there, stretching ou'
her hands toward her son.
Michael Strogof looked at her, as 6
son can look at his mother when it Is
for the last time. Streams Of tears
welled up from his heart to his eyes
which his high spirit tried in vain tt
restrain and, filing the sockets Of his
eyes, had thus saved his sight. The
action of the heat had been destroyed
Just in the same manner as when Q
smelter, after having plunged his HAND
into water, thrusts it with impunity
into molten iron.
Michael Strogoff had at once under
stood the danger he would have run
in making known his secret to any one
He realized the advantages which he
might gain from this situation Tor the
accomplishment of his projects. 1t is
because they would believe him to be
blind that they would leave him his
liberty.
1t was necessary, then, that he
should be blind. that he should be
so for all, even for Madam short
that he should be so everywhere and
that not gesture at any moment could
cause any doubt Of the sincerity of his
role: His resolution was taken. Even
his very life must be risked in order
to give to all the proof Of his blindness
and one knows how he risked it.
His mother alone knew the truth
and it was on the square of Tomsk that
he had whispered it in her ear when,
bending over her in the shade, he had
covered her with his kisses.
We can now understand how when
Ivan Ogaref had placed the emperor's
letter before his eyes, which he be,
lieved to be blind, Michael Strogof had
been able to read, had read that letter
which disclosed the hateful designs OF
the traitor; hence that energy which
he displayed during the second part OF
the Journey: hence that unchanglns
will to reach Irkutsk and on arriving
there to fulfill with his own voice his
mission. He knew that the town was
to be given up by the traitor. he knew
that the life of the grand duke was
threatened. The safety Of the brother
Of the car and Of Siberia was still in
his hands.
In q few words all this history was
reccunted to the grand duke, and Mi
chael Strogoff told also, and with what
emotion, the part which Nadia had talk
en- in these events.
"Who is this young girl:' asked the
grand duke.
The daughter Of the exiled Wassili
Feodor," answered Michael Strogof.
THE daughter Of Commander Fec
DOR" said the grand duke, "has ceased
to be the daughter Of an exile. There
are no more exiles at 1rkutsk."
Nadia, less strong in Joy than she Lad
been in sorrow, fell at the feet of the
GC1Qu Uuhe, uO iGiSSN ASA "A'A Wv
hand, while he held out the other to
Michael Strogoff. An hour afterWard
Nadia was in the arms Of her father
Michael Strogoff, Nadia, Wassili Feo-
dor, were reunited. 1t was on all sides
complete happiness.
The Tartars had been repulsed in
their double attack upon the town.
Wassill Feodor, with his little troop,
had crushed the first assailants VINO
had presented themselves at the bol'
chaia gate with the expectation of find
ing it open.
At the same time that the Tartars
were driven back the besieged had rem
dered themselves masters of the fre.
Before daybreak the troops OF teoIar-
Khan had returned to their encamp-
ments, leaving 4 good number OF dead
under the ramparts.
Among the dead was the gypsy san
carre, who had tried IN vain to re0oln
Ivan Ogareff.
For two days the besiegers attempt
ed no new assault They were discour-