Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1904-04-09
The Secret Dispatch
BY JAMES GRANT

chambre Of fine scarlet cloth edged with
white erminc; and in his attire. with his
long hair and delicate features, SO chast-
encd In expression by long solitude and
complete seclusion from the outer world
he seemed more like tall handsome
woman than young man Of three-and-
twenty years.
What Is this you tell me, Colonel Ber-
nikoff," he was asking. as Balgonie en-
tered. my unhappy life threatened, say
your
Even So" said Bernikoff hoarsely,
while averting his stealthy eyes from the
young mans open and earnest face;
"even so. Ivan Antonovitch; but your
death will not he of our seeking"
Whose. then?"
"Your friends"
"And wherefore
"Thcre are those without the gates
who seek you. and you must not fall
| alive into their hands," said Captain
Vlnsfief sternly, as he felt the point Of
| his snber with a finger.
"Alas! do not understand who can
come to seek me!' replied the poor
prince. shuddering now, while nm express
sion of horror began to spread over his
fine face--a horror gathered from the
fierce and relentless aspect he read In the
visages Of those around him--and he
withdrew pace or SO toward his bed,
saying In n touching voice:
"Ah. do not leave me, good Colonel
Bernikoff. or at least give me sword
a sword"
"Fool-child-dolt! thou with sword,
and for what purposc?" Numbered Ber-
nikoff. as he sought to lash himself into
the requisite pitch OF fury; "for what
purpose. sayI'
THAT may defend myself"
"'Tis needless" said Tschekin, with
cold smile: I'VE shall take care Of you"
"Oh. Carl Ivanovitch Balgonie, my
friend, my good friend: you ] can trust
you can command--come hither. and
remain by my side" said the prince. in
an imploring accent. as n solemn fore
boding came upon him when he saw the
sabers stenlthily drawn from their scab.
bards on every side: and even the terrible
Nicholas Paulovitch drawing near. dag.
ger In hand. with his long lock Of hair,
his scowling front. and II cruel expires.
sion. the very lust of blood In his deep.
set, stony eyes. Carl. Carl" cried
Ivan: your hand"
|
BcrnikofI. with one of his terrible male.
dictions.
"Oh. excellency!' imp!orcd Bnlgonie
scarcely knowing what he should ask oi
urge.
"Begonc. sir. to the barrier gate. and
keep the guard there to their duty--be
gone, sir. l command you, on your ale
glance to the Empress"
sible. though u wild cry of cnticaty es
capped the lips of the young prince. who
sprnng forward, but was thrust roughly
back toward his couch by many hands
and many lcvelcd weapons.
The sword of Damocres. which had
hung over his unhappy head SO long. wa.
about to descend mt last!
Balgonic. his heart swollen almost e
bursting with shame. rage and grief
rushed down the stair Of the keep; hut nj
the foot. and just ns he passed where tn,
old chaplain Chrysostom was saying de
voutly on his knees the prayers for the
dying. he heard shrill and protracted
cry of agony ring through the vaultcd
towcr--a cry that made his blood run
cold!
Humanity. generosity. and all his own
good impulses would have drawn him
back 10 the side. and. II possible. to the
aid. Of Ivan: but the force Of discipline
and knowledge Of his own utter pow.
erlessness, made him pause, for he was
but one mau--a foreigner. tOo--OppOsed
to n whole garrison of fcrocious AMI un.
scrupulous soldiers.
When. from the inner barrier gate. he
looked up TO the window of Ivan's room
he saw that the lights had been extin
guished and all was darkness now.