The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1902-05-10
CHAPTER XII.

H6d1zSNfNG the toptschi-baschi gave
&9WeEsI the order to start.
Alcide and Blount hav-
ing bought horses, had already taken
the road to Tomsk
Among the prisoners brought by Ivan
Ogareff to the Tartar camp was an old
woman, whose taciturnity seemed to
keep her apart from all those who shar-
ed her fate. Not murmur issued from
her lips. She was like statue Of grief.
This woman was more strictly guarded
than any one else and, without her ap-
pearing to notice or even to suspect,
was constantly watched by the gypsy
Sangarre. Notwithstanding her age,
she was compelled to follow the con.
voy of prisoners on foot, without any
alienation of her suffering.
However, a kind Providence had plac-
ed near her courageous, kind hearted
being to comfort and assist her. Among
her companions in misfortune a young
girl, remarkable for her beauty and a
taciturnity equal to that of the Sibe-
rian. seemed to have given herself the
task of watching over her. No words
had been exchanged between the two
captives, but the girl was always found
at the old woman's side just when her
help was useful. At first the mute as
sistance of the stranger was not ac-
cepted without some mistrust. Grad
ually, however, the young girls clear
glance, her reserve and the mysterious
sympathy which draws together those
who are In misfortune thawed Marfas
GOODNESS.
Nadia-for it was she-was thus able
without knowing it to render to the
mother those attentions which she had
herself received from the son. Her In
stinctive kindness had doubly inspired
her. In devoting herself to her service
Nadia secured to her youth and beauty
the protection afforded by the age Of
the old prisoner.
On the crowd of unhappy people, i'm
Filtered By sufferings, this silent pair
one seeming to be the grandmother, the
other the granddaughter-im a
sort Of respect.
After being carried off by the Tartar
scouts on the Irish Nadia had been
taken to Omsk. Kept prisoner in the
town, she shared the fate of all those
captured by Ivan Ogareff and conse-
quently that of Maria Strogoff.
Thanks to Her young companion,
Maria Strogoff was able to follow the
soldiers who guarded the prisoners
without being fastened to a saddle
bow, as were many other unfortunate
wretches. and thus dragged along this
road of sorrow
May God reward you, my daughter,
for what you have done for my old
age!" said Maria Strogoff once, and for
some time these were the only words
exchanged between the two unfortu-
nate beings.
Nadia also, If not completely silent,
spoke little.
However, one day her heat over
flowed, and she told, without conceal
Ing anything, all the events which had
occurred from her departure from
vladimir to the death of Nicholas Kor-
panoff All that her young companion
told intensely interested the old Sibe-
rian.
Nicholas KorpanoffY said She "Tell
me again about Nicholas. / know only
one man, one alone, among all the youth
of the time in whom such conduct
wolld not have astonished me. Nicho-
las Korpanoffl Was that really his
name? Are you sure of it, my daugh-
ter"
why should he have deceived me In
this" replied Nadia, when he deceived
me In no other way?"
Moved, however, by a kind of pre-
sentiment, Maria Strogoff put questions
upon questions to Nadia
"You told me he was fearless, my
daughter. You have proved that he
has been So" said she.
"Yes, fearless indeed" replied Nadia
1T was just what my son would
have DONE" said Maria to herself.
Then she resumed:
did you not say that nothing stop
ped him, nothing astonished him. that
he was so gentle In his strength that
you had sister as well as a brother in
him and that he watched over you like
a motherT
Eyes, yes" said Nadia; brother, Sis
ter, mother-he has been all to me-"
"And defended you like lion?"
"A lion indeed" replied Nadia. "Yes,
lion, hero"
''My son, my sonp thought the old
Siberian. "But do you say that he has
submitted to a terrible affront in the
posthouse of Ichim?"
"He has borne with it." answered Ma.
dia, lowering her head.
HAS he submitted to itY' murmured
Maria Strogoff, trembling with fear.
Mother, mother" cried Nadia, do
not condemn him. There is a secret
there Of which God alone is the judge
at the present timer
And" said Maria, raising her head
and looking at Nadia as though she de-
sired to read the depth of her soul In
this hour Of humiliation, "have you de-
spised this Nicholas KorpanoffT
II have admired him without under
standing him." answered the young
girl II have never felt him to be more