The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1902-06-14
"The daughter of the exIled wassill

The daughter Of the exiled wassil
Feodor," answered Michael Strogof.
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 Fec
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 Boil
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 q good number Of dead
under the ramparts.
Among the dead was the gypsy San
garre, who had tried in vain to rejoin
Ivan Ogarcff.
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 10
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 9Th 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 sgnaled 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.
Irkutsk was at last delivered.
With the first Russian soldiers two
friends of Michael Strogoff had entered
the town. They were the inseparable
Blount and Jolivet. BY gaining the
right bank of the Angara along the
barrier of ice they and the other fugi-
tives had been able to escape before
the flames Of the Angara had reached
the raft. This had been put down by
Alcide Jollvet in his notebook and in
this manner, WAS near ending like a
lemon in bowl of punchp'
Their JOY was great to once more find
Nadia and Michael Strogoff safe and
sound, especially when they learned
that their brave companion was not
blind, statement which led Harry
Blount to jot down this observation:
"a redhot iron is perhaps insufficient
to destroy the sensibility of the optic
nerve. To be modified
Afterward the two correspondents,
well installed in Irkutsk, occupied
themselves in putting in order the i'm
pressions of their journey. From thence
two interesting chronicles of the Tartar
invasion were sent to London and Par
is, which. strange to, say. only contra
dicted each other on points of less mo-
ment
For the rest the campaign was bad
for the emir and his allies. That inva-
sion, useless, as are all those that at
tack colossal Russia, was most fatal to
fhom They coon found tbo,pcalvoc o,,+
off by the troops of the car, who re-
took successfully all the conquered
towns. Besides, the winter was terri
BILE, and of those hordes, decimated by
the cold, only a small number returned
to the steppes Of Tartary. The route
from Irkutsk to the Ural mountains
was free.
The grand duke was in haste to re-
turn to Moscow, but he delayed his
Journey In order to assist at touching
ceremony which took place some days
after the entry Of the Russian troops.
Michael Strogoff had sought out Ma
dia and In the presence of her father
had said to her, Nadia, my sister still,
when you left Riga to come to Irkutsk
had you no other regret but that of
leaving behind you your mother?'
NO" replied Nadia; none what
ever"
$50 that no part of your heart has
remained down thereY
"None, brother"
Then, Nadia" said Michael Strogoff, |
Il do not believe but that God In bring
Ing us together, in allowing us to pass
through these great trials together, has
wished us 10 be united forever"
"Ah" said Nadia as she fell into the |
arms of Michael Strogoff, and, turning
toward Wassili Feodor, MY father"
she said. blushing deeply.
NADIA" said Wassil Feodor, my
Joy will be to call you both my chill
1renp
The marriage ceremony took place in
the cathedral of Irkutsk 1t was very
simple In its preparations, but very
beautiful in the concourse Of the mill
tary and civil population. which thus
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