Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1904-03-22
CHAPTER x.

ne sldfteu up, SoiIly 8ppFOacneu the
window. and saw, by the dim starlight.
a fair female face with very dark eyes,
white and regular teeth, and long, gilt
tering earrings
Il have seen this face before" thought
he: ''but when, and where?"
Balgonie. in truth. was too much of a
lover to have more than one female face
ever before his eyes-that of Natalie
Mierowna.
Il am Olga, the gypsy" said the girl
humbly.
Olga! Olga. whom saw at the house
of Mierowitz this EVENING""
The same, Hospodeen" Balgonie
expressed an exclamation of astonish-
ment to find her, as he thought, so far
from that place, You gave me a coin
once upon time, at Krejko. when pass
ing through that town with Michail
Podatchkine; and this evening you saved
me from the whip of the steward, when
for the third time l had yentured near
the mansion in a vain search for you or
the Hospoza Mierowna."
"In search Of us-and for what pur-
pose. grip
ITO warn you that for nearly a month
past a plot has been formed to deprive
you of valuable paper, and even Of
your life"
MY life? By whom, and where,
girlY'
Here in this solitary hut-even now
your assassins are in consultation-hs-
ten"
He placed his ear to the trap door, and
heard the murmuEs of coarse whispers
below.
Hush said Podatchkine. take
carei Then followed the question of the
subtle ard ferocious Stepniak as to why
he had not given Balgonie prod" with
his lance in the forest; and the whole
conversation in all its horrible details.
up to the moment when the wretched
corporal with death and terror min
Cling in his soul, fell from his seat in a
stupor.
Great heaven!" exclaimed Balgonie,
full of despair and horror, as he mechan-
ically felt for his fatal dispatch, to as
certain that was yet safe, Il have
drunk Of th.s urugged stuff, and am also
lost!v
Nay" said the gypsy, hurriedly; mot
from the cup which was intended for
you"
How ?-speak! -speakw
The cordial and the cups too were
all stolen by Podatchkine, with many
other things, at different times, from the
household of Aierowitz. This night you
were duly expected here, and thus a plan
was laid to destroy bota you and your
treacSerous guide Two cups were fully
and deeply drugsed by my brother Mich
Olas; one was richly mounted with sill
yer; and knowing well that it was to be
set before you, l distracted it barely an
hour ago. substituting another of the
\ same kind, and now | have it here Oh,
Hospodeen, a narrow escape you have
hadr'
Balgonie began to breathe more freely;
but assured that never had he run so
narrow risk of death, he felt, though
| enraged and furious. his blood run cold
when contemplating the fate intended for
| him. Peeping through a chink of the
hatch or trap door, he saw that the lad
der of access had been removed, and that
the door of the squalid cottage was open
now, for the torch hared more than ever
in the night wind. 1t was then extin-
| guished: but still he could see and hear
them dragging forth the passive form of
Corporal Podatchkine. whom he sup
posed to be dead
''If you would save your life and the
dispatch of the empress, follow me this
instant, and get your horse before they
return; you have not a moment to lose"
1t was the gypsy girl who spoke
again, ia her low earnest whisper, and
with perfect decision.
Then l owe my escape-my safe
| ty-'
ITO my gratitude. Pass through the
| window and descend by the wall"
Balgonie found that the courageous
! girl to whose guidance he now trusted
| himself had been enabled to reach the
window by standing on the roof of the
/ shed. in which Podatchkine had stabbed
their horses. The whole edifce being
built of square logs, was not very high;
and it afforded easy means of ascent and
descent. by the interstices consequent to
| its rude construction by the Ratchet. He
soon leaped to the ground. and softly as
sisted her to descend.
Here is your horse; you see. Hospo-
| deem, that your kindness to the poor
gypsy girl was not thrown away"
| Balgonie looked rapidly to his bit and
girth. adjusted himself in his saddle,
hooked up the hilt of his saber and short
ened his rein, almost unaware OF the
black tragedy being so coolly aud DELHI
| erately acted on the other side of the
cottage
/ Ten miles further from this will bring
you to the monastery of the Treitze,
which you viii know by its domes You
have but to ride straight westward by
the forest poth; heaven keep you. and
may you and the beautiful Hospoza be
/ happy in your lovesr'
He slipped into her hand the largest
coins he had, and in moment more
was galloping over the soft grass of the
forest path she had indicated.
| After traversing green valley some
! FIVE or six miles in length. bordered on
each side by forests of fir trees, he drew
his bride at the gates OF the Troitza
Monastery, where its white walls, its
three great cupolas. shaped each like
gigantic onion inverted. covered with
plates of FURNISHED copper. and all paint
ed and bestarred, were shining gayly in
the morning sun.
There he was made welcome by the
monks-Guaint-l looking men, in high
black caps without brims. aud having
black wells floating behind over their
long. straight hair,
4 large party OF pilgrims on horse and
foot were returning TO st. Petersburg
that afternoon. With them Balgonie
travelled for the remainder Of his journey;
and. after traversing wild and desert
tract OF country. on the evening OF the
next day he had the pleasure of behold
Ing. in the distance before him, the vast
and SPLENDID capital
Rslyonis's Satisfaction on finding him
self so near the end of his journey was
somewhat clouded by trivial eireum-
stance.
After entering the city by~a palisaded
barrier. where stood guard OF the Regi-
ment OF Yalikulutz. he checked his
horses pace. while the caravan OF pill
srims. when he now wished 10 quit tray-
erSed long street Of small wooden
houses that lay beyond. Here close by
the margin OF the Neva lay man wet
IL y