The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1902-01-08

1
ter, Nadia Feodor, had left Russia at
the date assigned by the last letter he
had received from Riga, what had be.
come of her? Was she still trying to
traverse the invaded provinces, or,
rather, had she already been for long
time prisoner? Wassili Feodor could
not find any solace for his sorrow eX-
cept when he had some opportunity Of
fighting against the Tartars, opportu-
mites which were too seldom for his
liking. Now, when Wass;li Feodor was
informed of the unexpected arrival Of
courier from the czar he had pre-
sentiment that this courier could give
him scme tidings Of his daughter 1t
was only a very slight hope, but still
! he clung to it.
! Wassili Feodor went to find Ivan
| Ogareff, who availed himsel: of this
opportunity to have daily relations
with the commandant Did the rene
gade think he could turn that circum-
stance to his own profit? DID he judge
all men by himself? Could he believe
that Russian. even political exile,
could he so mean as to betray his coun-
| try? Whatever was the case, Ivan
| Ogareff met with skillfully feigned ca
gerness all the advances made to him
| by the father Of Nadia. The latter, the
very next morning after the arrival Of
the pretended courier, went to the pal
ace of the governor general. There he
informed Ivan Ogaref Of the circum-
stances under which his daughter had
to leave European Russia and told him
now what was his anxiety in her re-
gard.
Ivan Ogareff did not know Nadia, al
though he had met her at the post
house of Ichim the day on which she
was there with Michael Strogof. But
then he had paid no more attention to
her than the two journalists, who were
at the same time in the posthouse. He
could not therefore give any news Of
his daughter to Wassili Feodor.
"But at what time," asked Ivan Oga-
ref, 'had your daughter to leave Rus
SlCu
"At nearly the same time as you," re-
piled Wassili Feodor.
81 quilted Moscow on the 18th of
July"
"And Nadia also had to leave Moscow
on that date. Her letter told me so ex-
pressly."
"She was at Moscow on the 18th OF
July?" asked Ivan Ogareff.
eyes, certainly at that date
every WELL" replied Ivan Ogaref.
Then, recollecting himself, he added:
"But no; l was forgetting. l was
about to confound dates. 1t is unfortu-
nately too probable that your daugh-
ter has had to cross the frontier, and
only one hope remains-that she may
have stopped on receiving news of the
Tartar INVASION
Wassili Feodor hung down his head.
He knew Nadia, and he knew well that
nothing would prevent her setting OF.
By this statement Ivan Ogaref had
just committed gratuitously an act OF
real cruelty. With one word he could
reassure Nassili Feodor.
Although Nadia had passed the fron-
tier under the circumstances previous
ly described, Wassili Feodor, by COM
pairing the date at which his daughter
was certainly at Mini Novgorod and
the date Of the order forbidding any one
to leave it, would without doubt draw
this conclusion-that Nadia could not
have been exposed to the dangers Of
an invasion and that she was still, IN
spite of herself, on the European terri
tory Of the empire.
Ivan Ogaref might have said that
word. He did not say it. Wassili Eco
dor withdrew heartbroken. After that
interview his last hope was destroyed.
During the two following days the
grand duke several times asked for
the pretended Michael Strogof and had
him repeat all that he had heard in the
imperial cabinet CT the New palace.
Ivan Ogareff, prepared for all those
questions, answered without ever hesi-
tating. He did not conceal dasignedly
that the government OF the car had
been altogether taken by surprise by
the invasion; that the rising had been
prepared with tie greatest secrecy;
that the Tartars were already masters
Of the line Of the Obi when the news
reached Moscow. and finally that moth
ING was ready u the Russian provinces
to throw into Siberia troops sufficient
to repel the invaders
Afterward Ivan Ogaref, entirely
free in lis movements, began to study
Irkutsk, the state Of its fortincahons,
their weak points. in order eventually
to make use OF those observations II
any circumstance should prevent the
consummat.cn Of his treason. He de-
voted himself more particularly to the
examination of tho Dolchaia gate,
which he intended treacherously to sur
render. Twice at night he came to IN
spect that gate and the Notifications
around it. He walked about there with
out any fear of exposing himself TO the
missiles Of the besiegers, whose first
posts were less than verst from the
ramparts. He knew we'll that he was
not exposed-nay, even that he was
recognized. He had had glimpse OF
q shadow which had glided to the foot
Of the ramparts.
Sangarre, risking her life, Lad just
come to try to put herself in comm0nl-
cation with Ivan Ogareff. Besides, the
besieged for two days had enjoyed q
tranquility to which they had not been
accustomed since the Tartars first in
vested Irkutsk. 1t was by order Of
Ivan Ogareff.
The lieutenant of Feofar-khan had
wished that all attempts to carry the
town by sheer force should be suspend
ed. Thus after his arrival at lrkutsk
the artillery was absolutely silent. Per-
haps-at least he hoped so-the vigil
lance of the besieged would be some