The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1902-04-12
(coNTINUED)
CHAPTER ".

N&R<2Zy9 stinctiyely Into the mind
Ky<X1AS&& Of Michael Strogoff.
what singular coin
cidence," thought he, "between this
proclamation expelling all foreigners of
Asiatic origin and the words exchanged
last evening between those two gyp-
sizes of the Zingari race! The Father
himself sends us where we wish to go,
that old man said. But the Father is
the emperor. He Is never called any
thing else among the people. How
could those gypsies have foreseen the
measure taken against them? How
could they have known 1t beforehand,
and where do they wish to go? Those
are suspicious people, and 1t seems to
me that to them the government procla-
nation must be more useful than In
furious"
But these reflections, though certain
ly correct, were completely dspelled by
another, which drove every other
thought out of Michael's mind. He for
got the Zingaris, their suspicious words,
the strange coincidence which resulted
from the proclamation. The remem-
brance of the young Livonian girl sud
denly rushed into his mind.
Poor childw he thought to himself,
"She cannot now cross the frontier"
In truth the young girl was from
Riga. She was Livonian, consequent
ly Russian. and now could not leave
Russian territory. The permit which
had been given her before the new
measures had been promulgated was
evidently 10 longer available. All
routes to Siberia had just been pitiless-
~ closed to her, and whatever was the
motive which was taking her to IT.
kutsk, she was now forbidden to go
there.
This thought greatly occupied Mi
chael Strogoff. He said to himself,
vaguely at first, that without neglect
ing anything Of what was due to his
important mission it would perhaps
be possible for him to be Of some use
to this brave GIRL and this idea pleased
him. Knowing how serious were the
dangers which he, an energetic and
vigorous man, would have personally
to encounter through a country Of
which, however, the roads were ia
miliar he could not conceal from him
self how infinitely greater they would
prove to young, unprotected girl. AS
she was going to Irkutsk, she would
be obliged TO follow the same road as
himself; she would have to pass
through the bands Of invaders, as he
was about to attempt doing himself
If. moreover. and according to all prob
ability, she had at her disposal only
the resources necessary for journey
taken under ordinary circumstances,
how could she manage to accomplish it
under conditions which late events
would render not only perilous, but ex-
pensive?
well" said he, "if she takes the
route to Perm it Is nearly impossible
but that shall fall in with her. Then
l will watch over her without her sus,
pecting 1t, and as she appears to be as
anxious as myself to reach Irkutsk she
will cause me no delay"
But one thought leads to another.
Strogoff had till now reasoned
on the supposition of doing kind ac-
ton, OF rendering service. but now
another idea flashed into his brain, and
the question presented itself under
quite a new aspect.
1.-The fact is" said lie to himself.
that l have much more need of her
than she can have of me. Her pres
ence will be useful In drawing off sus-
picion from me. A man travelling alone
across the steppes may be easily guess
ed to be a courier to the car II, on
the contrary, this young girl accompa-
nies me, | shall appear In the eyes Of
ali the Nicholas Korpanofr of my podo-
ROMA. Therefore she must accompany
me. Therefore must find her again
Mt any cost. 1t is not probable that
since yesterday evening she has been
able to &c. carriage and leave Mini
Novgorod. ! must look for her. And
may God guide mep'
Michael left the great square Of Mini
where the tumult produced
by the carrying out of the prescribed |
measures had now reached its height.
determinations from the banished
strangers, shouts from the agents and |
Cossacks who were using them SO bru-
tally, all together made an indescriba-
BILE uproar. The girl for whom he
could not be there. 1t was |
now o'clock in the morning. The
steamboat did not start till H. MI |
chael Strogofr had therefore nearly
three hours to employ In searching for
her whom he wished to make his trav-
cling companion. t
He crossed the Volga again and hunt
ed through the quarters on the other |
side, where the crowd was much less |
He visited every road,
both In the high and low towns. He
entered the churches, the natural ref
uge for all who weep, for all who suf-
Ter. Nowhere did he meet with the
young Livonian.
And yet" he repeated, "she could
not have left Mini Novgorod yet. Wen
have another look"
AichAel wandered about thus for two
hours He vent on without stopping.