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


S2&O the action of the redhot
blade which the execu
toner of Feofar had passed over his
eyes. One remembers that at the mo-
ment of that terrible punishment Mar
ia Strogoff was there, stretching on,
her hands toward her son.
Michael Strogoff looked at her, as q
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 to
restrain and, filling 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 a
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 for 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 Ogareff had placed the emperors
letter before his eyes, which he be-
lieved to be blind, Michael Strogoff 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 unchanging
will to reach Irkutsk and on arriving
there to fulfill with his own voice his
mission. He knew that the town was
Ito 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 a 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 TAX
en- in these events.
who is this young girl?" asked the
grand duke.
1.-THE daughter of the exiled WassilI
Feodor," answered Michael Strogoff.
1.-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 Irkutsk."
: Nadia, less strong in joy than she had
been in sorrow, fell at the feet of the
grand duke, who raised her with one
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 Eco
dor, were reunited. 1t was on all sides
complete happiness.
) The Tartars had been repulsed in
their double attack upon the town.
Wassili Feodor, with his little troop,
had crushed the first assailants who
had presented themselves at the Dol
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 fire.
Before daybreak the troops Of Feofar-
Khan had returned to their encamp-
ments, leaving a good number of dead
under the ramparts.
t Among the dead was the gypsy San
garre, who had tried in vain to rejoin
Ivan Ogareff.
Z For two days the besiegers attempt
ed no new assault. They were discour-
aged by the death Of Ivan Ogareff.
That man was the soul of the invasion,
and he alone, by his long continued
plots, had sufficient influence over the
khans and their hordes to be able to
lead them to the conquest Of Asiatic
Russia.
/ Meanwhile the defenders of Irkutsk
had held themselves on their guard,
and the investment continued, but on
the 7th of October from the first streaks
of day the boom Of cannon resounded
on the heights around Irkutsk. 1t was
the relieving army which had arrived
under the orders Of General Kissely,
who thus signaled his presence to the
grand duke.
The Tartars did not stay any longer.
They did not wish to risk a battle I'M
der the walls of Irkutsk. The camp Of
the Angara was Immediately raised.
Hrkutsk was at last delivered.
! With the first Russian soldiers two
friends Of Michael Strogoff had entered
the town. They were the inseparable
IBlount and Jolivet. By gaining the
right bank Of the Angara along the
barrier Of ice they and the other fugi-
itives had been able to escape before
the flames of the Angara had reached
the raft. This had been put down by
iAlcide Jolivet in his notebook and in
this manner, 'sWas near ending like q