Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-01-28

| come or nef! W as Sne Stlu trying tO
traverse the invaded provinces, or,
ra,her, had she already been for long
time prisoner? Wassili Feodor could
not find any solace for his sorrow ex-
cept when lie had some opportunity OF
fighting against the Tartars, opportu-
mites which were too seldom for his
liking. Now. when Wassili FeOdOr was
Informed Of the unexpected arrival Of
a courier from the cZar he had pre-
sentiment that this courier could give
him some t.dings Of his daughter. 1t
was only very slight hope. but still
he clung 10 1t.
Wassili Feodor went to find Ivan
Ogareff. who avaled himself 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 10y himself? Could he believe
that a Russian. even political exile.
could be so mean as to betray his coun-
try? Whatever was the case. Ivan
Ogareff met with skillfully feisncd ca
gerness all the advances made TO hin
by the father of Nadia. The latter, the
very next morning after the arrival or
the pretended courier, went to the pal
ace Of the governor general. There he
informed Ivan Ogareff Of the crc.n
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. nl'
though he had met her at the post
house of Ichim the day on which sic
was there with Michael Strogolf. But
then he had paid no more attention 10
her than the two journalists, who were
at the same time in the posthouse. lie
could not therefore give any news of
his daughter to Wassili Fcod0r.
"But at what time," asked Ivan Oga.
ref. had your daughter TO leave Rus
sian territory"
AT nearly the same time as you re-
piled Wassili Fcodor.
81 quilted Moscow on the 10Th OF
July"
"And Nadia also had to leave Moscow
on that date. Her letter told ne SO ex'
pressly."
"She was at Moscow OH the 10TH OF
Julyy" asked Ivan Ogareff.
"Yes. certainly at that date"
every we'll" replied Ivan OgaWif
Then, recollecting himself. he added.
"But no: was forgetting. was
about to confound dates. 1t is unfortu
nately too probable that your dauGh.
ter has had to cross the frontier, ana
only one hope remains-that she may
have stopped on receiving news OF the
| Tartar invasion!'
| Wassili Fcodor hung down his head
| He knew Nadia and he knew well that
nothing wo;id prevent her setting of
BY this statement Ivan Ogareii had
just committed gratuitously an act OF
real cruelty. With one word he coulo
reassure Wassili FeodOr.
Although Nadia had passed the frcn-
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 il. would without dUUbt draw
this conclus.on-that Nadia could not
have been exposed to the dangers ot
an invasion and that she was still, I'D
spite of herself. on the European terri
tory of the empire.
Ivan Ogareff might have said that
word. He did not say 1t. 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 Strogoff and had
| him repeat all that he had heard in the
imperial cabinet of the New palace.
Ivan Ogareff. prepared for all those
questions. answered without ever hesi-
| tating. He did not conceal designedly
| that the government Of the cZar had
| been altogether taken by surprise by
the invasion; that the rising had been
prepared with the 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 in the Russian provinces
| to throw into Siberia troops sufficient
to repel the invaders.
| Afterward Ivan Ogareff, entirely
| free in his movements. began TO study
| Irkutsk. the state Of its Notifications.
| their weak points, in order eventually
| to make use of those observations II
| any circumstance should prevent the
| consummation of his treason. He de-
voted himself more particularly to the
| examination Of the Bolchaia gate.
| which he intended treacherously to sur
render. Twice ut 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 well that lie was
not exposed-nay. even that he was
recognized He had had n glimpse or
a shadow which had glided to the foot
| Of the ramparts.
Sangarre. risking her life, had just
come to try to put herself in communi'
cation with Ivan Ogareff. Besides, the
besieged for two days had enjoyed
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
what relaxed. In any case, at the out
posts several thousand Tartars were
.Aching Joints