Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1904-02-27
CHAPTER ",

Corporal Podatchkine was an ndmira-
BILE specimen of his own type of Russian.
His thick black scrubby hair was cut
straight across the forehead In line
with the eyebrows. and at each side II
hung perpendicularly down below the
ears, and was. moreover. cut square
across the neck behind: and he kept al
ternately scratching and smoothing his
rugged front. nervously and assiduously.
when he removed his fur Cossack cap;
and. full of affected concern. even to cx-
hibiting tears In his small. cunning eyes,
presented himself to Natalie Mierowna
next morning. and bcsought her to have
him conducted to the chamber of his
brave. his beloved captain. his comradc
and brother. who was, he now learned,
seriously III, helpless and delirious'--
aud, In fact. just rs the cunning corporal
wished him TO he.
There he found Bnlgonic. certainly too
III and weak either to recognize him OF
understand what he was about: so the
faithful Cossack made u rapid and skill.
full investigation of all the officers peck.
cts for the dispatch. Not Il yestige OF
1t was to be found.
"What can he have done with IT,
muttcrcd the bewildcrcd corporal: "caii
he have lost 1t in the river or swallow.
ed itY'
The truth IL that Natalie Micrownn
had her doubts about the fidelity of 20.
datchkinc. and even of some of her Owi,
domestics. and aware Of tile risk run
by the stranger IL he lost a dispatch OF
the empress, she had, prior to the intro,
duction of the corporal, secured the doe
,lnicnt. and Mt that moment 1t was hid.
den In her own fair bosom until she could
secure It in safer place. Poor Natalie
Alas. she little knew its contents. and
the horrors they were yet to produce.
Ratilcd thus in his attempt to secure
II, there was no resource for the faithful
warrior of the stcppcs now but 10 take
up his quarters which he was nothing
loath to do, nj the Castle of the Lougn
and there quietly await the recovery
or the death. he cared not which. of Bal
gonic: and to concert further measures
with the huge gypsy, Nicholas Paulo
witch, whom he saw daily.
1t was no fcvcrish dream of BalgOnis
that Natalie Microwna had been hover
ing about his bedside: for she and hcl
cousin MariSIiza had been his especial
nurses.
In less than three days the fcverisl
delirum subsidized. sense completely re-
turned. and toe young captain appeare
to be laborir.x under a species of inhu
snxa.
MY dispatch" he frequently said
alOud--"l must be gone with my dis
patch"
"Alight It not be intrustcd to Corporal
POdatchkine?" asked Natalie one morn.
ing. as she personally gave him his warm
and soothing drink with her own hand
katinka, the maid, standing demurely by
with a silver salver.
impossible. Hosphozn, for so I may
call you; an officer alone can carry dis.
patch for the empress. Its contents are
most urgent: this delay. over which !
have no control, may he visited by royal
disfavor, even punishment; and l fen
that the air Of TobOlsk or Arkutsk would
III suit a ScOtsman's lungs, Natalie Nile
rOwna."
yet tarry here you must" she said
with smile. the beauty OF which proved
very bewildering; 'the Louga is coated
with Ice this morning, but not so thick
however. that 1t might not be broken by
throwing II stone from here; but to travel
vet would only kill you, Carl Ivanovitch
and cannot be thought of just now"
Then she glided away, with her beam.
ing smile, her white hands and taper
arms, her rustling dress of scarlet silk
trimmed with snowy miniver, and all the
sense of perfume that pervaded her
Balgonie sighed YEARLY yet pleasantly
and half thought that beautiful figure
a dream. as he turned on his soft and
luxurious pillow and marveled whether
his past or his present existence was the
real one.