Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-10-02
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THE fAfllEl! AMI IN. LOVER OF AN AMER.
Ir.E CHI

%E& IL r great TruuSSiberian railway
IA had progressed as far to the
"a eastward as the Obi, and
trains carrying soldiers, CON
viCts. sightseers, railway constructors,
laborers and supplies. with some goods
for trade with Manchura, ran from
Moscow.
The possibilities of this immense line
W railway made the people of Eu-
fopcan Russia gasp. 1t opened up such
n prospect of trade as they had never
dreamed of. 1t gave them a speedy
entrance into region Of their domain
The crossing Of which had formerly oc-
cupied months and involved much
hardship.
What IL change there was from tina
old slcdseS>or foot trains of convicts ia
the swiftly moving cars that were
drawn by the putting, screaming loco.
motives, at once source of delight
and terror to the people whose terri.
tory they crossed,
Among those who had made this
change so remarkable success was
james Gordon, an American engineer,
Who had charge of much Of the adj
vance work of the road.
Gordon was a typical American
ready to go anywhere to build q rail.
way so long as the pay was sufficient
TO make it an object for him to take
his daughter with him.
For Frances Gordon was her fathers
companion, secretary and comfort.
Left lnctherless at an early age. she
had been brought up by strict aunts
till she revoltcd. Her father had been
surveying route across New Mexico
for new road, fondly and longingy
thinking of his daughter in her far.
away home in New y DIRK. when. 10. the
young lady herself then aged nineteen,
put In an appearance mounted on a
broncho and accompanied by a half
breed guide TO whom She spoke in 50
authoritative a tone that he bowed be-
fore her slightest wish in abject obedi.
ence. Since that day Frances Gordon
was to be found wherever her father
was.
year and half after they hpd
finished the work in Mexico they Jour
neyed together to Russia, where Cor
don was to take charge of the mpor.
tant part Of putting through the rail.
way that was destined to revoutionize
the trade and commerce of the world.
This great railway had progressed as
far as the Obi river, in the government
or Iomsk, Siberia, when a meeting Of
managers. engineers and government
officials was ordered at Moscow. Thith.
or from the Obi iourneyed James Cor.
don and Frances.
Thither also journeyed Nicholas Ne
slerov, prince Of the empire and gov.
ernOr of the province of Tomsk.
Prince Neslerov was one Of the
wealthiest mobiles of the land, was
about thirty-five years of age and had,
besides his exalted position as governor
OF Jomsk. estates in various parts OF
Russia, particularly fine one at Gras
low, in the government of Perm.
1t was after the convention, which
had to do with certain concessions and
arrangements that We're necessary as
the road drew near the border of Man.
churia, the crossing of certain noun.
tains, the bridging of certain streams,
that Mr.. Gordon was preparing to re-
turn to the Obi, where the western end
of his operations was laid, the opera.
lions themselves reaching eastward TO
Lake Bakal. in Irkutsk.
To him one day as he sat smoking at
his hotel in Moscow came Prince Nesle.
rov.
Good morning, your excellency,"
said Gordon, who had met the prince
at several conferences and now knew
him because Of the fact that the opera.
tons had passed almost across his
province. Glad to see you. When do
you return to Tomsk?"
Il shall not be long behind you, my
friend" replied the prince. ut is a
fact, however, that upon your answer
to certain question which | shall put
10 you depends many of my acts in the
immediate future. NJ. Gordon, you are
an American"
! 80 believe, l have heard It limited
at" said Mr.. Gordon, wondering what
was coming
And / am a Russian Of the Rus.
slams"
That. too, believe, is n well au-
thenticated fact"
"Ah wealthy, IL SONtIuOT Oh II prov
ince and shall soon lie promoted to
better station. Since you entered the
rude territory in the southern part OF
my government we have met frequent
ly; we have been friends"
Yes" replied Gordon, rather dubi- ,
ously, stroking his chin.
when you needed protection, my
power protected you"
Il believe YOU" said Gordon, failing ,
to remember the time when he needed ,
the protection Of the prince.
II merely express myself thus to re. ,
call to you my friendship" said the s
prince. NOW l come to the real err. ,
rand that brought me here. l love I
your daughter" I
"Eh" exclaimed Gordon, rouslne
himself and stitrening perceptlbly. c
II repeat, sir, that love your daugh. I
ter. l want her for my wife. my prln.
CESS" i
cloud OF smoke came from Cor
don's lips He was looking at a distant 7
tower with eyes that saw no
church
on seem surprised" said the prince. q
rs 1t matter of surprise thar man
Should love so noble and beautiful a y
young woman as your daughterT ]