Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1903-03-16

General" answered the grand duke.
"have the goodness to present him i'm
mediately."
The orders OF the grand duke were
executed. and half hour had not pass
ed before wassili Feodor was intro
duced into his presence.
He was a man some forty years old
or more, tall, with a sad and severe
countenance. One felt that all his life
was summed up in this one word.
struggle, and that he had struggled
and suffered all his life. His traits re-
minded one remarkably Of those of his
daughter Nadia Feodor.
More than any other thing the Tartar
invasion had cut him in his dearest af-
lection and ruined the last hope of
that father, exiled to a distance OF
more than 5000 versts from his native
place. A letter had Informed him of
the death of his wife and at the same
time of the departure of his daughter,
who had obtained from the government
permission to rejoin him at Irkutsk.
Nadia had to leave Riga on the 10th
of July. The invasion was on the 18th.
IL at that time Nadia had crossed the
frontier, what had become of her in the
midst Of the invaders? One can con-
ceive how this unhappy father must
have been devoured with anxiety, since
from that time he had received no
news Of his daughter.
Wassili Feodor in the presence of the
grand duke bowed and waited to be in
terrogated
"Wassili Feodor," said to him the
grand duke, "your companions have
asked to form picked corps. Do you
know that in that corps they must
fight to the last man"
''They know it," answered Wassili
Feodor.
''rhey wish you for leader"
81, your highness?"
"Do you consent to put yourself at
their headT
Eyes, If the good of Russia requires
it."
captain Feodor," said the grand
duke, you are no longer an exile"
II thank your highness. But am 1 to
command those who still are exiles?"
"They are so no longerr'
1t was the pardon of all his compan-
ions in exile, now his companions in
arms, which the brother of the cza1
granted to him.
Wassiii Feodor pressed with emotion
the hand which the grand duke held
out to him, and he left the room.
The latter turned then toward the of
ficers.
"The car will not refuse to accept
the letter Of pardon which l am draw
ing upon him." said he, smiling. I'VE
need heroes to defend the capital of
Siberia, and I have just now made
some"
This pardon Of the exiles of Irkutsk
was indeed an act of wise justice and
wise policy.
Night had now come on. Across the
windows Of the palace shone the fires
Of the Tartar camp and far beyond the
Angara. The river was full of floating
blocks Of Ice, some of which were STOP
ped by the first piles Of the ancient
wooden bridges. Those which the cur
rent held in the channel floated down
with great rapidity. Thus it was evil
dent, as the chief Of the merchants had
observed, that the Angara could scarce
ly freeze along the whole of its surface
Thus the defenders of Irkutsk need not
fear the danger of being assailed Oh
/ that side.
/ Ten o'clock had just struck. The
grand duke was about to dismiss his
! officers and retire to his apartments
/ when a kind of uproar was heard out
side the palace.
Almost Immediately the door Of the
room opened, an aid-de-camp appeared
and advanced toward the grand duke.
Your highness," said he, "a courier
from the czary'