Morris tribune., 1902-02-15

y
was your son! am Nicholas Korpa'
nor, a merchant Of Irkutsk,"
And suddenly he left the public room
while for the last time the words re-
echoed;
| y son. my son.
| Michael Strogoff, by desperate sf-
fort. had gone. He did not see his old
mother, who had fallen back almost in,
animate upon a bench. But when the
postmaster hastened to assist her the
aged woman raised herself. Suddenly
thought occurred to her. She denied
by her soni 1t was not possible. AS
for being herself deceived and taking
another for him equally impossible. It
was certainly her son whom she had
just seen, and if he had not recognized
her it was because he would not, It
was because he ought not, it was be
cause he had some eogent reason for
acting thus! And then, her mother
feelings arising within her, she had Dat
one thought Can unWittingly have
ruined him r
81 am mad" she said to her inter-
rOgators. My eyes have deceived me!
This young man is not my child. He
had not his voice. Let US think no
more of it. If we do, shall end by
finding him everywhere"
Less than ten minutes afterward a
Tgstar officer appeared in the posting
house
ssMarfa Strogoffg ~ he asked.
SIT is l." replied the old woman in a
tone so calm and with q face so tran
quill that those who had witnessed the
meeting with her son would not have
known her.
Come said the officer. Maria Stro-
goff, with firm step, followed the Tar.
tar officer and left the posting house.
Some moments afterward, Maria Stfo-
goff found herself in the chief square
and in the presence of Ivan Ogareff, to
whom all the details of this scene had
been Immediately reported.
Ivan Ogaref, suspecting the truth. in
terrogated the old Siberian woman.
'HThy name?'' he asked In a rough
voice.
MafLA o[FOgoH.
s"Thou hast a son|
( ayes
she is a courier Of the ezarT'
"Yes." ssE.sxs
'FWhere is he?" 5 49,
"At Moscow"
''Thou has; heard no news. of him p
s'No news"
"Since how longw . a..
"Since two months"
"Who. then, was that young man
whom thou didst call thy son a few
moments ago at the posting, house?''
"a young Siberian whom took for
him. replied Maria Strogoff This is
the tenth man in whom | have thought
recognized my<son since the town has
been so full Of strangers. think see
him everywhere" ..#E
80 this young man was not Michael
Strogoff?"
at was not Michael Strogoff"
''DOst thou know, old woman that
can torture thee until thou avowest the
truth p s1
Il have spoken the truth, and torture
will not cause me to alter my words in
any way"
.sThis Siberian was not Michael Stro,
goff?" asked a second time Ivan Oga>
ref. ~...~
mo, it was not he" replied a second
time Maria Strogof. DO you think
that for anything in the world l wsuld
deny a son whom God has given me?"
Ivan Ogareff regarded with an evil
eye the old woman who had braved
him to the face. He did not doubt but
that she had recognized her son in this
young Siberian. Now, if this son had
first renowned his mother and if his
mother renowned him in her turn it |
could occur only from the most weighty |
motive.
Every circumstance went to confirm |
ais suspicious. If he could but lay his |
land upon this pretended merchant Of |
rkutsk and strip off his disguise, would
he not find treasure indeed? Would |
lot his superiors well reward his adroit-
less and his success?, Would not the
gar of Russia seowl with rage when
lie learned that his courier was in the.
lands Of his foes?
Ivan Ogaref had therefore no doubt
hat the pretended Nicholas Korpanoff
vas Michael Strogoff, courier of the
Ear, seeking concealment under a false
lame and charged with some mission
which it would have been important
or him to know. He therefore at once
ave orders for his pursuit. Then he
aid: -.".. 49,
"Let this woman be conducted to 1
'omsk," returning toward Maria Stro- |
off.
And while the soldiers brutally dra :
ed her along he added between his .
aeth: 4, -..> f.,
'sWhen the moment arrives, SHAH
now how to make her speak, this. I'd
,sEt.
CHAPTER TX.
~ =. 7 was fortunate that Mi
NIE chaelStrogoff had left the
81 l. :