Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1903-02-16


That sword. heated to white heat, be
had just drawn from the iron pan
where the perfumed Goals were burn
ing.
Michael Strogoff was about TO ne
made blind according to the Tartar CT
tom, with a heated blade passed over
his eyesl
Michael Strogoff did not seek to re-
sist. Nothing else existed in his eyes
than his mother, whom he devoured
then with bis look. All his life was in
this last vision.
Maria Strogoff, with her eyes wide
open and her arms stretched toward
him, was looking at him.
The white heated blade passed over
the eyes of Michael Strogoff
a loud cry Of despair was heard. Old
Maria fell lifeless to the earthl
Michael Strogoff was blind.
His orders having been executed, the
emir retired with all his household
Soon there only remained on the pla-
teau Ivan Ogaref and the torchbear-
ers.
Did the miserable wretch wish to in
suit him still more and after the ex-
ecutioner give him the last blow?
Ivan Ogareff slowly approached Mi
chael Strogoff, who heard him coming
and at once Strengthened himself
Ivan Ogareff drew from his pockc
the emperor's letter. He opened it ar
as the last insult placed it before C
eyes OF the courier OF the car, before
those eyes whose light had been bru-
tally extinguished forever, saying at
the same time:
"Read now, Michael Strogoff read
and go and repeat at IrkutSk what you
shall have read. The true courier OF
the car is myselfp'
Having said this, the traitor placed
the letter in his breast. Then, without
turning round. he left the place, and
the torchbearcrs followed him.
Michael StrogOf remained alone,
some PAGES from his mother, who was
lifelcss, perhaps dead.
One heard at distance the cries, the
songs, all the noise OF the orgies.
Tomsk was Illuminated and was bright
as city during q great feast.
Michael Strogoff listened. The scene
Of the late revels and crime was silent
and deserted.
He dragged himself by cropping to-
ward the place where his mother had
fallen. He found her with his hand.
He bent down toward her. He brought
his figure near to hers. He listened
to the beatings of her heart. Then one
would have said that he spoke to her
in low voice.
Did old Maria still live and did she
hear the words her son spoke to her?
In any case she did not make any
sign of life by movement.
Michael Strogoff kissed her forehead
and her white hairs. Then he rose,
and, cropping with his foot and trying
to hold his hands in such a way as to
guide him, he walked by little and lit
tie to the end of the plateau.
Suddenly Nadia appeared.
She went straight to her companion.
A dagger that she held served to cut
the cords that bound the arms of Mi
chael Strogoff.
He, blind as he was, did not know
who it was who was releasing him, for
Nadia had not spoken word.
But, that done, said she:
"Brotherv'
"Nadia," murmured Michael Strogoff.
"Nadiar
Come, brother" replied Nadia.
"Henceforth my eyes shall be your
eyes, and it is 1 who will conduct you
| to Irkutskw
In half an hour after Michael Stro-
goff and Nadia had left Tomsk.
A certain number of the prisoners on
that night were able to escape from the
Tartars, for officers and soldiers, all
more or less besotted, had unconscious
| ly relaxed the severe surveillance which
I they had maintained up to that time,
/ both at the camp of Zabedeiro and dur
| ing the march Of the convoy.
Nadia, after having been led out
with the other prisoners, had been able
to escape and return to the plateau al
the very moment Michael Strogoff was
being conducted before the emir.
There in the midst of the crowd she
had seen all. Not a cry had escaped
her when the blade, white with heat
passed over the eyes Of her companion
She had the strength to remain motion
less and silent. A providential inspira
ton told her to preserve herself still
free to guide the son of Maria Strogof
to the end which he had sworn to at
tain. Her heart for the moment ceased
to beat when the old Siberian fell life
less, but a thought soon restored al
her energy.
II will be the dog Of the blind man,
she said to herself. ~
After the departure Of Ivan Ogaref
Nadia had hidden in the shade. Sh,