Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1903-01-12
The Courier
of the Gar
BY Jules Verne
Mlchael strogor did not move.

eEfaA ~ Ala NsNal al III Aouts
who am /, thou askest? Dost thou
no longer know thy motherT
You are mistaken" coldly replied
Michael Strogon. "a resemblance de-
ceives you"
The old Maria went up to him and,
looking straight into his eyes. said:
Thou art not the son of Peter and
Maria StrogoffT"
Michael Strogoff would have given
his life TO have locked his mother in his
arms, but II he yielded II was all over
with him, with her, with his mission,
with his oathl Completely master Of
himself, he closed his eyes in order not
to see the inexpressible anguish which
agitated the revered countenance Of his
mother. He drew back his hands in
order not to touch those trembling
hands which sought him.
81 do not know. In truth, what II Is
you say. my good woman" he replied,
stepping back.
"Mlchaelr' again cried his aged moth
er.
"My name Is not Michael. l never
was your sonl / am Nicholas Korpa-
II merchant VI
And suddenly he left the public room,
while for the last time the words re-
echoed:
my son, my SOM
Michael Strogoff. by a desperate ef-
fort, had gone. He did not see his old
mother. who had fallen back almost in
animate upon a bench. But when the
postmaster hastened 10 assist her the
aged woman raised herself. Suddenly
n thought occurred TO her. She denied
by her son! 1t was not possible. AS
Tor being herself deceived and taking
another for him-equally impossible. 1t
was certainly her son whom she had
Just seen, and II he had not recognized
her Il was because he would not, 1t
was because he ought not, 1t was be-
cause he had some cogent reason for
acting thus! And then, her mother
feelings arising within her. she had but
one thought-"Can l unwittingly have
ruined himT
81 am mad" she said to her inter-
rogators. any eyes have deceived me!
This young man Is not my child. He
had not his voice. Let us think no
finding him everywhere"
Less than ten minutes afterward a
Tartar officer appeared In the posting
house.
l. Maria Strogofr?" be asked.
'It 10 l." replied the old woman in
tone 30 calm and with q face so tran
Gull that those who had witnessed the
meeting with her son would not have
known her.
Come" said the officer. Maria Stro-
gof. with firm step. followed the Tar
tar officer and left the posting house.
Some moments afterward Maria Stro-
gon found herself In the chief square
and In the presence OF Ivan Ogareff, to
Whom all the details of this scene had
been Immediately reported.
Ivan Ogareff. suspecting the truth, in
kerrogated the old Siberian woman.
Thy manner he asked In q rough
voice.
Maria Strogof."
Thou hast a sonT
Eyes"
"He Is q courier Of the carr
Yes"
"Where IL hep
at Moscow"
Thou hast heard no news Of him?
~NO news"
"Slnce how longT ,.sr@(
"Slnce two months"
"who. then. was that young man
whom thou didst call thy son q few
moments ago at the posting houseT
"A young Siberian whom l took FOL
him." replied Maria strogon. This Il
the tenth man in whom have thought
! recognized my son since the town hal
oesa 30 full OF strangers. I think se>
him everywhere"
80 this young man was not Michae
strogoHr
"1t was not Michael strogon."
"Dost thou know. old woman, that
can torture thee until thou avowest tn,
RUTH
II have spoken the truth. and tortur,
win not cause me to alter my words ir
any way"
This Siberian was not Michael stro
go1r asked . second time Ivan Oga
ren.
mo. Il was not he" replied q second
lime Maria strogor. do you thlnl
hat for anything In the world woulS
teny q son whom God has given meT
Ivan ogaren regarded with IN evi
ye the old woman who had brave,
i'm 20 the face. He did not doubt bu
hat she had recognized her son in thi
Toung Siberian. Now. II this son ha,
rst renowned his mother and II hi
mother renounced him In her turn
ould occur only from the most weight
potive.
Every circumstance went TO conhrr
Is suspicious. II he could but lay hi
and upon this pretended merchant o
rkutsk and strip OF his disguise. woul
not fnd a treasure lndeedl Woul
a L. a