Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1902-07-15
A TRAP FOR THE CAR.


00IGHT was falling over st. Pc
JNl tersburg-one of those raw,
damp, gloomy nights which are
worse by far than the hard dry, crack
ing frOsts Of the Russian winter-when
tall man, in the long gray fr.eze over
coat and military cap of an infantry
officer, came slowly across the great
square in front of the Winter Palace.
On such an evening there We're nat
urally very few fOot-passengers about
the streets; but if this officer wished
to take his walk undisturbed, he had
done wisely to slouch his cap and turn
up his cOat-collar so as to hide his face;
for any one who had got good look at
him, even for one moment, would have
recognized at glance the Gar him
self. Alexander l., of Russia.
And to think that there are plenty
of people who envy me and think me
the happiest man alivev' muttered the
Emperor, as he halted for a moment
near the south gate Of the palace to
look about him. 1t was just here
l remember it well-that l was stand
ing when l got the news that Napoleon
was marching against me with all the
soldiers in Western Europe, and that
every man in Russia must fight for life
and death. When we had driven the
Frenchmen out Of the country, l
but now it seems as if they were only
just beginning. Trade falling off, har-
vests failing. laborers wanting work,
and every one laying all the blame OH
me, of course. HoIlo!'
Too much taken up with his own
thoughts to notice where he was going,
the Gar had stumbled over a small,
thin, ragged boy, who was sitting on
a stone in front of the palace, and star
ing up at the long line of carved tur-
rets and brilliantly lighted windows
Don't be angry, your honor
couldn't help it, really stammered the
boy, who evidently expected this big
officer to give him a kick or blow for
being in the way.
mo harm done, my boy. 1t was my
fault" said the Emperor, kindly. Il
hope L haven't hurt yOu?"
"Oh, I'm not so adly hurt. MASTER"
uHS elcu TIC DoS, ny Tie
friendly tone. Il fell off a horse last
week, and it didn't hurt me bit. It's
not often that I'm THROWN" he added
proudly, but he was young beast
and very skittish."
You're n good rider. then" said
Alexander. Have you had much to
do with horses?'
Yes, I'm in stable downtown
Ivan Shapirotfs stable, in Resurrection
street. If you ever want to hire a horse.
he can give you good one"
WELL" said the Gar, beginning to
be interested as we'll as amused by the
little fellows prattle, when do want
a horse, I'll get one there, and take you
with me to show me the way"
'"Will your" cried the boy, eagerly
"All right; just ask for 'Vaska Bill
for they all know me. I'll run beside
you as fast as your horse can trot, any
day you like; only you mustn't gallop,
for I'm not up to that"
And then Vaska, delighted to find a
'real live officer" talking to him so
kindly and seeming interested in hear
ing about him. told how he belonged to
village about fifty miles from the
capital; how his father and mother
had died of cholera in the previous
summer, with many of the other viii
layers; how, finding himself left quite |
unprOvided for, he had begged his way
to st. Petersburg, found out the stables
keeper Shapiroff, who had been friend |
to his father, and got work, and how |
he was now earning the very hand |
some salary-for such he evidently |
thought it-of twenty kopecks fifteen |
cents day.
And what were you doing here |
when l came up?" asked the Emperor.
Looking at the palace" replied the |
boy. land thinking what a grand place |
1t must be, and if could only get a |
peep at the inside of it-just once-I
would be quite happy"
We'll, If that's ALL said the Gar,
''it is easily done. Shall l take you in !
with me?"
Your echoed Vaska, cycling him |
doubtfully. "Will the Emperor let |
your
II think he WILL" answered Alexan-
der, with good-humored laugh, for
am the Emperor himself"
Then the boy laughed in his turn,
and looked up in his new friends face |
with a knowing grin.
"Ah, your honor. why do you want |
90 make a fool of me like that? Do |
you think I'm going to believe that |
Co.