Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1904-03-29
CHAPTER XII

CHAPTER XII.
Full Of anxious thoughts, Balgonie
passed more than half of the succeeding
day on the ramparts of the castled prison
alone, avoiding Colonel Bernikoff, Cap
tain Vlasfef and their subaltern, Tsche-
kin, none of whom were consonant to his
taste, for all were deep gamblers.
On three sides, far around this island
prison, stretched the waters of Ladoga-
the largest lake in Europe.
From the somewhat dreary view OF
this small inland sea, he turned to sur
vey the fortress, with all its strength
of gloomy walls, grated windows. and
frowning cannon, till suddenly his eye
was arrested bya very remarkable face,
which was observing him from the SOM
Der depth of strongly barred and arch
ed window of the great tower.
1t was a pale face, but singularly
handsome-grave, and even sad in ex-
pression-a young mans face with the
slightest indication of a mustache. but
for which, in its paieness and extreme
delicacy of feature and tint, it might
have passed for that of twin brother
of Natalie Mierowna
Suddenly it was detected by Cossack
sentinel, who shouted shrilly and slapped
the butt-end Of his loaded musk etoon: on
this the face instantly disappeared
This was he concerning whom Bal
gonie had brought that terrible dispatch
Ivan, the deposed Enperor--the pris-
oner Of Schlusselburg!
''Twenty-three years" thought Balgo-
ME with shudder; ''twenty-three years
in that tower-since his very babyhood
oh, it is terrible~
Other ears had heard the shout of the
sentinel; for now a man, who in a boat
had been fishing near the fortress, sud
denly shipped pair of SOULS and pulled
away toward the town with an air of
alarm that seemed equalled only by his
dexterity. This fisher had been hover
ing about the fortress all day. Can he
be the gypsy-the half-breed?' ~ thought
Charlie; "ah! the dispatch is out of my
hands now"
Fortunately for Balgonie, there was a
chaplain of the Russian Greek Church,
attached to ~the fortress; and his society,
at times, tended to alleviate what he en-
dured from having to associate with
such a human bear as Colonel Bernikoff
an annoyance from which he would
only be relieved by the longed-for return
of General Feymarn and the Regiment
of Smolensko to St Petersburg.
Through the good offices of the chap
lain, with the permission of the gov
ernor, which was yielded very unwilling
ly, Balgonie was presented one evening
to the deposed Emperor Ivan, and the
particulars and incidents of that inter
view made a deep and sad impression
upon him.
Confinement had rendered Ivan's fea-
lures unnaturally pale and delicate; and,
BY years of systematic constraint and
oppression, his fine, clear and very beau
tiful dark eyes had a soft, subdued and
chastened expression that was singularIy
touching and winning. The tone of his
voice was also gentle and alluring.
"Hospodeen." said he, presenting his
hand to BalgoRie, II rejoice to meet
you. IL one who leads a life so strange
as mine can be said TO rejoice; but you
are one to whom l may talk little with
out danger-eh, Father Chrysostom?
And he has told me, Hospodeen, that you
are not Russian, but native OF some
island that is far away in the sea. What
are you? A Tartar-a Teherkesse? Oh,
no, you cannot be either. l know them;
for they guard me-" he added. with
little shudder.
81 am your friend, believe me, Ivan
Antonovitch,' replied Balgonie-
As they were retiring the prince said;
"Hospodeen, you have dropped some
thing"
What is in this?" asked Ivan, with
childlke interest.
"A lock of hair. your highness. IL is
the gift. the souvenir Of lady love,
and who loves me: a countrywoman of
your own
"a woman said Ivan, pondexingly.
YES, excellency."
II have never looked upon a woman's
face. and know not what IL is like:
though the Empress visited me- when a
child, as l have been told. have heard
that they are not bearded like men. /
shall never see one, it Is forbidden; yet
-yet-as l often tell Father Chrysos-
tom, l have dreams by day-drsams Of
something else than wild SWAPS and
bearded Cossacks--of something 10 cling
10. some one 10 love and be loved by.
Ii must be this Kind OF love you speak OF
oh, yes. il mustr' said Ivan, as he
gaxed with stupid but reverend wonder
at the lock OF hair ere he returned Il to
Balgonie.
Poor young prince" exclaimed the
latter. as the chaplain hurried him away
and the portcullis changed behind them
in its grooves OF stone.
The priest now urged upon Balgonie,
that il his visits were 10 be continued.
the affairs of the outer world must in
no way be referred TO, or the result
might be most disastrous for ali con-
cerned.
The seclusion in which the prisoner
is kept has, fear. impaired his under
standing" said Balgonie.
"Hahl do you think sof' grunted Colo
mel Bernikoff. who overheard the remark.
as they issued from the tower OF Ivan.
You must know. that your genuine Rus
sian is like a tiger, as some writer has 1t
Ia tiger who ticks the hand Of his keep
er. so long as he Is chained: but who
tears him asunder when loose The EN-
press quite understands this9'
How Is it that you trust me so freely
to visit your prisoner asked Charlie.
who began TO fear that Berniko6 might
be laying some snare for him By accord
ing this hitherto unwonted permisxioa
Because yea are the safest maA In
Rnzsla 90 have this liberty