Morris tribune., 1902-04-05

L1Oner OF FeOTar naQ passed over his
eyes. One remembers that at the mo-
ment Of that terrible punishment Mar
ia Strogoff was there, stretching out
her hands toward her son.
Michael Strogoff looked at her, as a
son can look at his mother when it is
for the last time. Streams Of tears
welled up from his heart to his eyes,
which his high spirit tried in vain to
restrain and, filing the sockets Of his
eyes, had thus saved his sight. The
action of the heat had been destroyed
Just in the same manner as when a
smelter, after having plunged his hand
into water, thrusts it with impunity
into molten iron.
Michael Strogoff had at once under
stood the danger he would have run
in making known his secret to any one.
He realized the advantages which he
might gain from this situation for the
accomplishment Of his projects. 1t is
because they would believe him to be
blind that they would leave him his
liberty.
1t was necessary, then, that he
oAOu4O NC O11uu, ludG AC OLOu4u NC
so for all, even for Madam short,
that he should be so everywhere and
that not gesture at any moment could
cause any doubt Of the sincerity Of his
role. His resolution was taken. Even
his very life must be risked in order
to give to all the proof of his blindness,
and one knows how he risked it.
His nathan o1onn l-nnu7 tho truth
and it was on the square Of Tomsk that
he had whispered it in her ear when,
bending over her in the shade, he had
covered her with his kisses.
We can now understand how when
Ivan Ogaref had placed the emperors
letter before his eyes, which he be-
lieved to be blind, Michael Strogof had
been able to read, had read that letter
which disclosed the hateful designs Of
the traitor; hence that energy which
he displayed during the second part Of
the journey; hence that unchanging
will to reach Irkutsk and on arriving
there, to, fulfill with his own voice his
mission. he knew that the town was
to be given1up by the traitor he knew
that the life Of the grand duke was
threatened. The safety Of the brother
IF the car and Of Siberia was still in
his hands.
In a few words all this history was
recounted to the grand duke, and Mi
chael Strogoff told also, and with what
emotion, the part which Nadia had TAX
en- in these events.
'Who is this young girl?' asked the
grand duke.
1.-THE daughter Of the e1iled Nassiu
Feodor," answered Michael Strogoff.
'"Thc daughter Of Commander Fec
dor" said the grand duke, has ceased
to be the daughter Of an exile. There
are no more exiles at Irkutsk.'
Nadia, less strong in JOY than she had
been in sorrow, fell at the feet of the
grand duke, who raised her with one
hand, while he held out the other to
Michael Strogoff. An hour afterWard
Nadia was in the arms Of her father.
Michael Strogoff, Nadia, Wassili Fec
1or, were reunited. 1t was on all sides
complete happiness.
The Tartars had been repulsed in |
their double attack upon the town. |
Wassili Feodor with his little troop, |
had crushed the first assailants who |
had presented themselves at the Boil |
cLaia gate with the expectation of find
Ing 1t open.
At the same time that the Tartars
were driven back the besieged had rem
6erod themselves masters of the fire.
Before daybreak the troops OF Feofar-
Khan had returned to their encamp-
ments, leaving a good number of dead
under the ramparts.
Among the dead was the gypsy San
garre, who had tried in vain to rejoin
Ivan Ogaref.
For two days the besiegers attempt
ed no new assault. They were dscour-
aged by the death Of Ivan Ogaretf.
That man was the soul Of the invasion,
and he alone. by his long continued
plots, had sufficient influence over the
khans and their hordes to be able to
lead them e the conquest of Asiatic
Russia.
y" aGwhile the defenders Of trkutsk
had held themselves on their guard,
md the investment continued, but on
the It'll of October from the first streaks
gf day the boom of cannon resounded
on the heights around Irkutsk, 1t was |
the relieving army which had arrived
under the orders Of General Kfsse1y, :
who thus signaled his presence to the | /
grand duke. +
The Tartars did not stay any longer
hey did not wish to risk q battle un- +
der the walls Of Irkutsk. The camp of s
the Angara was Immediately raised.
Lrkutsk was at last delivered. ,
With the first Russian soldiers two =
friends of Michael Strogoff had entered =
-uo town. They were the inseparable
Dlcunt and Jolivet. By gaining the +
light bank of the Angara along the n
barrier Of ice they and the other fugi- h
ives had been able to escape before ! o
lie Games Of the Angara had reached