Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1904-03-19

beSerteu. crleu BNIgCne WIFI Teai
concern.
"Yes--the cursed Asiatics" replied
Bcrnikoif.
For some moments intense anxiety md
alarm bcwildcrcd Balgonie. and he felt
himself grow pale at II time when six
searching eyes were bent with doubt
full expression upon him. lie remember
ed the hostility. the threatening and mys-
FERROUS words Of Natalie. and grew almost
sick with apprehension of he knew not
what. as he muttcred inaudibly:
Basil descrted-and his cousin. too!
The whole family will be inculpntcd and
degraded. Oh. Natalie. my hnplcss love.
Did General Weymnrn state this In his
dispntchT' he asked aloud.
"Hc did, and at its end referred to
you."
ITO me. exccllcncyf'
"Yes: here IL the document. and II con-
cludes thus: AS and the regiment of
SnocnskO will shortly march into St
Petersburg Captain Carl 1vanovitch Bal
gonie need not return to NOvgorod; but.
until then. shall attach himself to your
staff. and remain In Schlusselburg. where.
ere long. you may require all the good
service he can render you-Weymarn.
Great were the modification and dis
gust of Balgone on learning that he was
to remain for an indefinite period In
place 80 revolving and uncomfortable. and
with no other society than that of three
military jailers--cruel, hard-hcarted and
avaricious Muscovites of the worst kind:
and with these orders died his hopes of
rcvisiting. as he intended. Louga. on his
return. and of seeing Natalie again.
Under the ban. as all the household Of
M,erowitz would be now, should he ever
see her more? Every way fate and the
tide Of events seemed to be against him
and her, already In the very dawn Of
their love"
"And now. gentlemen" said the Gov
ernor. lowering his voice. "the Empress
dispatch contains only two lines. thus:
a scheme IL formed to free Prince Ivan.
Let him not fall alive into the hands Of
those who come TO seek for him" Nor
shall he!" exclaimed Bernikoff, with fe-
rocious enthusiasm. Long life to her
imperial majesty Catharine Cbristianow-
na--hurrah.'
"Hurrah. hurrah" added vlasfcf and
the lieutenant.
Balgonie. also. ms In duty bound. es-
snycd to 'hurrnh," but the sound died
away on his lips.
CHAPTER MI.
Full Of anxious thoughts. Balgonie
passed more than half of the succeeding
day on the ramparts of the castlcd prison
alone. avoiding Colonel Bcrnikoff. Cap.
tain Vlasief and their subnltern, 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
vcy 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.
her depth Of n strongly barred and arch
ed window Of the great tower.
1t was nspale face, but singularly
hnndsomc--grave. md even sad In cx-
prcssion---a young mans face with the
slightest indication of mustachc, but
for which. In Its pnlcness and extreme
delicacy of feature and tint. II might
have passed for that of a twin brother
of Natalie Mierowna!
Suddenly It was detected by n Cossack
sentinel. who shouted shrilly and slapped
the butt-cnd Of his lOad,S muskctoon; on
this the face instantly disappeared.
This was he concerning whom Bal
gonie had brought that terrible dispatch
Ivan, the dcposed EmperOr-the pris.
oner OF Schlusselburg!
"Twenty-three years" thought Balgo.
ME with a shuddcr; "twenty-three years
In that tower-since his very babyhood
oh. 1t IL terriblew
Other ears had heard the shout Of the
sentinel; for now man, who In a boat
had been fishing near the fortress, sud
denly shipped a 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. Gan he
be the gypsy-the half-breedy' thought
Charlie; ''ah! the dispatch 10 out of my
hands pow."
Fortunately for Balgonie. there was a
chaplain Of the Russian Greek Church.
attached to tho fortress; and his society
at times, tended to alleviate what he en-
dused from having to associate with
such q human bear a. Colonel Bernikon
I'm 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 chsp
lain, with the permission Of sths gov
ernor, which was yielded very unwilling
; ", BalgOnie was presented one evening
to the deposed Emperor Ivan. and the
-. particulars and incidents OF that inter
view made deep and sad impression
upon him.
Confinement had rendered lvan'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 singularly
touching aud winning The tone of his
voice was also gentle and alluring.
D "HOspodeen." said he, presenting hi
hand to Ralgonie. II rejoice to NEE
D You, II one who leads a life 30 strange
) us mine can be said to rejoice; but yot
are one to whom may talk little with
out danger---eh. Father Chrysostom
And he has told me, Hospodeen, that yol
are not Russian, but n native OF som'
D island that Is far away In the sea. VIVA
: are you? A Tartar--a Tcherkesse? Oh
: no. you cannot he either l know them
8 for they guard me-" he added, with ,
little shudder.
IL am your friend, believe me, lvai
4 Antonovitch," replied Balgonie.
AS they We're retiring the prince said
0 "Hospodeen, you have dropped some