Morris tribune., 1902-03-08
BY Jules Nerpe
s..... .;,:.:.::;: :: !.

1
"Look with all your eyes! Look!'
But this time Alcide Jolivet observed
i that the executioner did not hold hi,
/ naked sword in his hand.
Then suddenly, as IL at given sig
nal, all the fires Of the fantasia were
extinguished, the dances ceased, tn,
dancers disappeared. The ceremony
was terminated, and the torches alone
lit up the plateau which some instant'
before was so full Of lights.
At sign from the emir Michael Stro
/ goff. was led into the middle Of the
square.
1 Little desirous of assisting at the tor
ture reserved for this unfortunate man
/ Harry Blount and Alcide Joliyet ther
! re-entered the city.
An hour later they were Fastening
along the road to Irkutsk, and it was
among the Russians they would at
tempt to follow what Alcide Jolivet
called by anticipation ''the campaign
| of revenge"
The emir made a gesture. Michael
Strogoff, pushed by the guards, ap-
preached the terrace, and then in that
Tartar language which he understood
Feofar said to him:
Russian spy, you are come to see.
You have seen for the last time. In an
instant thine eyes shall be forever shut
to the ightv' .-#@.
It was not with death, but with
blindness that Michael Strogof was
about to be stricken. Loss of sight,
more terrible perhaps than loss Of life!
The unhappy man was condemned to
lose his eyesight. .-
Nevertheless on hearing the penalty
pronounced by the emir Michael Stro-
goff did not become weak. He remain
ed impossible, his large eyes open, as
If he were wishing to concentrate all
his life in this one last look.
To ask for pity from these fierce men
was useless and, besides, unworthy of
him. He did not even think Of 1t. All
his thought was concentrated on his
mission that had irrevocably failed, on
his mother, on Nadia, whom he should
never see again! But he did not allow
to be seen any Of the emotion which he
felt. 49,
Besides, the feeling Of vengeance, to
be accomplished at some future time,
carried away his whole being.
'Tvan," said he, with menacing
voice, Ivan, the traitor. the last threat
Of my eyes shall be for thee"
Ivan Ogaref shrugged his shoulders.
But Michael Strogof deceived him
self. 1t was not in looking at Ivan
Ogareff that his eyes were to be fixed
never more to open.
Maria Strogof came and stood before
him.
'My mother" cried he. eyes, yes,
on thee must be turned my last look
and not on this miserable man! Re
main there before me, that may still
see thy beloved figure; that my eyes
may close while looking at theer'
The old Siberian, without uttering
word, came forward.
"Drive away this womany' said Ivan
Ogareff.
Two soldiers pushed back Maria Stro-
goff. She drew back, but remained
some PAGES distant from her
son.
The executioner appeared. This time |
he held his naked sword in his hand. !
That sword, heated to white heat, he |
had just drawn from the iron pan
where the perfumed Goals were burn
ing.
Michael Strogof was about to be
made blind according to the Tartar Gus
tom, with a heated blade passed over
his eyes!
Michael Strogoff did not. seek to re-
sist. Nothing else existed in his eyes
han his mother, whom he devoured
hen with his look, All his life was in
his last vision.
Maria Strogoff, with her eyes wide
open and her arms stretched toward
him, was looking at him.
The white heated blade passed over
he eyes Of Michael Strogoff. ~>
A loud cry of despair was heard. Old
Maria fell lifeless to the earth! < 7
Michael Strogoff was blind. @~.
His orders having been executed, the
mir retired with all hisShousehold.
Soon there only remained on the pla-
eau Ivan Ogareff and the torchbear-
rs. .xs
Did the miserable wretch wish to in
ult him still more and after the ex-l
cutioner give him the last blow?
Ivan Ogaref slowly approached Mi
hael Strogoff, who heard him coming
nd at once Strengthened himself.
Ivan Ogareff drew from his pocket
he emperor's letter. He opened it and
s the last insult placed it before the
yes of the courier of the czar, before
hose eyes whose light had been bru-
ally extinguished forever, saying at
he same time:
"Read now, Michael Strogoff; read I
nd go and repeat at Irkutsk what you
hall have read. The true courier of
be ezar is myself!'
Having said this, the traitor placed
he letter in his breast. Then, without
1rning round, he left the place, and
no forchI,eao Pcrc fol1nyvnd him tEstl *