Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1902-12-04
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'THE MYSTERY
L OF GRASLOY
By Ashley Towne
Copyright, 1901, by
Charles 3. Etherington
CHAPTER NH.
vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvyv'
Continued from last Week.


cious rooms. The governor himself
was at his best and was proud Of the
beautiful relative for whom he had
given this suddenly arranged recep-
tiOn.
Princess Olga, who had slept much
of the day after her wearying expert
ences of the night before, showed no
effects of her exhaustion. but received
the guests with that calmness, that
queenly style, which was all her own.
The garrison band blared its Russian
music, and the atmosphere in the rooms
was laden with perfume. 1t was a
strange and motley gathering, but Oh
ga, who had travelled much in strange
places, as well as in centcrs of civiliza-
ton, looked upon the crowd with com
placency.
\ colonel of cavalry, with his hand
some wife, when they came to greet
her was followed by Il Cossack chief
clad in the barbaric splendor of his
rank 4 Manchurian mandarin, with
q long sword on one side and 4 short
one on the other, wearing his native
dress marched with the crowd, dis
tinctive figure. He had come to T0msk
to confer for his government with Ne
Slerov concerning the crossing of the
border into Manchuria The new rail
way brought to Tomsk mighty men
from places never before heard of by
many who lived in Tomsk
A Persian prince who had but the
where he had spent n week studying
the convict system-a system impossi-
ble TO his country added his gorgeous
ness to the throng.
If Olga was surprised that at so
short Il notice SO great a gathering
could be summoned in that Siberian
capital, she gave no sign. She accepted
the homage as one who was born to it,
Young officers We'd with one another
to be near her. Grizzled veterans
looked at her and smiled, for it made
them glad to see so lovely princess
at Tomsk. BY far the most distin-
guished looking man in the throng was
the colonel of cavalry, whose wife
had long been Il semi-inyalid. He
found time to devote some attention
to the princess while his wife rested
from the weariness the excitement
brought upon her
Olga, whose travels had given her a
clear insight to human character,
singled Colonel Barakoff out at once
as a man Of sterling integrity and a
fearless soldier. To him she was eX-
tremely gracious, and encouraged him
to talk, and he was proud of her at
tention. When the dancing began, the
crowd scattered through the palace,
and it was not long before Colonel
BarakOff and Olga found themselves
sitting in a retired spot with the
coloneIs wife.
1T is the first time in my expert
ence" said the colonel, 'and that has
not been a short one, that one of our
noble ladies has condescended to visit
our capital. And now one of the pow
erful house Of Nesleroy is here. 1t
causes wonder that she would fOrSake
the pleasures and gayeties Of St.
Petersburg for this dismal place"
81 have seen enough of st. Peters
swered Olga. MY life is not all spent
in pleasure. | am not yet your age,
colonel, but | have learned that to be
happy and to be contcnted with one
self one must find some work to do,
and do it we'll"
You are very young" said the
colonel slowly, "and very wealthy to
MT Of
learned it long ago. but my age is three
times yours You say you have found
pleasure in work. Would it be pre-
sumptuous to ask what work has
found favor in your eycsE
"Presumptuous? Not at ALL colonel.
| am always pleased to talk with one
who is able to appreciate it. | have
become thoroughly convinced that there
are faults in our social system. | am
neither a nihiliSt nor a socialist, but
do think that the wealthy mobiles OF
Russia are not doing their full duty to
those who, it is true, are dependent
upon them, but upon whom also they
are dependent"
1T is a bold stand for young wom-
an to take. Men have been sent to 81
IBERIA for those sentiments"
"And the sentiment sent me to Sibe-
ria, but not under sentence. | have
come partly to visit the governor, who
is a relative, and, more than that, to
study the convict system as worked
out under his rule in Tomsll"
The colonel became cautious.
'You will find plenty to study" he
answered, but | fancy you win not
proceed rapidly. Our system-weIl, it
is the same, ! suppose, as that in vogue
at Tobolsi."
Perhaps it viii prove SO. l am ac-
quainted with Count de Muloff, govern
or general, and | know that while he
is a stern man, he is just. When he
can be merciful without lending an
apparent aid to the unworthy, he does
not hesitate to show lonieucy / hope
shall find the same spirit prevailing
here"
The colonel smiled grimIy.
"ShaIl you, then, write n book upon
the penal system"
81 may do so. although that is not
yet one Of my plans. l may tell you in
confidence, however, that l have the
entire confidence Of the czar and that
he is Interested in the outcome of my
studies"
"In my youthful days we did not hear
Of such things" said the colonel. "a
young woman who at your age and
with your wealth and position took
upon herself 50 great a task would be
sent forthwith to n lonely castle and
kept a semiprisoner.'
Il fear that some of that same spirit
dominates our society today"
Il think it viii prevail for Il time"
where would YOU advise me to 90 to
study the convict system at its WorstT
Its worst? DO you not wish to see
it at its bcstF'
Il understand it at its best
well. it is a serious matter to ad-
wise, yet if you are working under the
protection Of the ear we must help