Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1904-04-12
CHAPTER w


a young man, he had all the free and
easy bearing of a conrtly soldier, blended
with something of the calm severity of a
priest-a manner that was very impress
siye.
The Polish and Cossack blood that
mingled in the veins of Apollo Usakoff
gave freer and bolder perhaps a wild
er, hearing and style of language; his
nose was aquiline, and expressed fierce
ness of disposition; yet his features 9TH
erwise were essentially delicate and mo-
BILE. and his eyes were strangely beauti-
full i'll color and variety of expression.
He was grandson of Hetman Mazeppa
that Pole whose story is so well
known, and who after being bound naked
on wild and maddened horse, was car
ried by his steed through woods and
wastes, aud herds of wolves and bears.
into the heart of the Ukarine where he
lived TO become the prince asd leader of
those wild Cossacks who dwell upon the
banks Of the Dnieper
Sleeping in a cavern among rough sol
diers, on bed of dried leaves and moss
had not improved either the costume or
the appearance of Natalie Mierowna
With pain and sorrow-almost with ag
ony-Charlie Balgonie could perceive
how her once rich dress of yellow silk,
with its trimmings of narrow erinine, was
faded and sOiled-even tattered and
worn; her laces and her soft hair alike
disheveled and uncared for; and that al
ready had a hunted and haggard ex-
preston been impaired to her beautiful
eyes and soft. pale. delicate face. Anger
and pride alone remained; but both were
for time subdued by the sudden pres
ence of Balgonie and the love she was
compelled to repress, outwardly at least,
when before so many eyes. katinka, the
sturdy Polish attendant, who loved Ma
talie dearly. alone seemed unimpaired
by the hardships of forest life
Concerning the secret dispatch of the
woman, Catharine Christianowna. to the
Governor of Schlusselburg," said Usa-
kof, resuming the subject of converse
ton, you, Carl, are perhaps aware of
its contentsY'
Yes replied Balgonie, and then
paused.
"Say on. my friend said Usakoff.
I'VE can hear anything now
''They were to the effect that scheme
had been formed to free the Unknown
Person in Schlusselburg and that he was
hands of any one who came TO seek him."
Savage orders, which there can be
no mistaking."
Orders which Bernikoff is quite capa-
BILE of fulfilling" added Mierowitz in a
sad, stern voice, while their listening
followers burst into low and whispered
but fierce imprecations against the EN-
press
'Bernikoff is a man without one hui
man sympathy" said Basil
And no marvel is it!' exclaimed Usa-
kof. while the strange light already de-
scribed cleaned in his, dark gray eyes.
His mother. like true Tartar woman,
is said to have anointed her breast daily
with blood. as she sucked him. even as
Dion tells us the mother of Caligula did,
that her child might in manhood be mer-
CHESS"
Carl" said Basil. taking the hand
of Balgonie, Natalie has told me all"
And you forgive me?" said Balgonie
earnestly.
Il debut on this condition-that if
you do not join us you will at least not
actively oppose our scheme"
Il scarcely know what it is
Know this, then" replied the other
emphatically, yet softly, that on its sue
cess depends the success of your love, for
if it fails. then all our lives are lostr'
You say that you love my cousin, Ma
what loftier tone.
with all my heart-with al. my soul.
1 doP' replied Balgonie, pressing hand
of Natalie between his own.
Yet, Carl. If you valued generosity
and loved piety-if you loved glory and
honor as soldier should, you would risk
the loss even of her--yea, give her up
if necessary-and join usl'
What would either life or glory be
after such sacrifice? All, my friend.
you never loved as dor' replied Charlie,
with some irritation OF manner.
Perhaps. But have always thought
how grandly terrible a figure was made
by Mohammed the Great when. on
stage before his discontinued army, he
struck off the head of a favorite sultana
to convince his soldiers that he preferred
glory to love"
Cousin. cousinr' said Natalie. who
felt all the peril and delicacy of her low
er's position. You talk thus to-day
when last night you shed tearS-yes. bit
ter tears-for the loss of your sister
We were all taken prisoners together,
Carl-my poor father. Mariolizza, and /.
Bound with cordS-see the marks are on
me STILL" she added, showing her white
wrists, while her dark eyes filed with a
dusky fre-'We were conveyed in a COW
cred wagon toward st. Petersburg. on
the way to which il broke down in a
wood near Paulovsk. not far from the
outer walls of the imperial gardens
There in the confusion l was enabled TO
escape by the aid of the gypsy girl Olga.
who, hoping some such chance might
occur, had followed us aroot from Louga;
and through her further knowledge and
assistance l was enabled TO join my
brother Basil here"
MY dear old father-and my soft and
tender Mariolizza--a blow must be rap
idly struck if we would save them from
greater horrors than those they now en-
durew exclaimed Basil. The other die
has been cast now. and IL / cannot save
them and our legitimate Emperor. We
can at least all perish together"
Dangers menace you closely: the
roads around the fortress are patroled.
aud gunboats watch the shores of the
lake. y coin of Ivan found in a tea
house.
l.
exclaimed Basil well, and this coin -
HAS aroused all the suspicious OF
Bernikoff and he knows that you and
your cousin have deserted from your
posts in I.ivonia."
Then" replied Basil Mierowitz. with
growing sternness. I'VE have not an hour
TO lose. Who informed himy"
Lieut.. Gen. Weymarn, by a special
messenger. while l was lettering at
Louga."
so, so, We must be prompt in ac-
ton have cruised thrice round Schlus-
selhurg disguised as a fisherman. and
know all the approaches"
Basil. Usakoff. l implore you by ail
YOU hold dear on earth and sacred in
heaven TO pause while there is vet time
TO abandon your Wild scheme. and make
your peace. II possible, with the En-