Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1905-09-13
A Siberian Exile's
Surprise
[Origlnal.l

~
While abroad Chauncey had three
meetings with a girl of twenty, the
daughter of a Russian nobleman. The
first and second meetings we're sociali
the third was seeing her marched with
an exile gang to Siberia.
There is a place In that cold country
called Kara, where there are gold
mines and prisons. The prisoners are
worked In the mines, curiously enough
producing In misery the wherewlthal
for the bureaucrats of Russia to live in
l,ixurH One morning an American ap'
peared at the headquarters Of the colo
mel commanding the prisons and, an
nouncing himself as Chauncey Eaton,
correspondent for one of the great
New York newspapers, requested per-
mission to inspect the prisons. The
colonel received him politely and show
ed him all be cared to have him see'
Eaton made an excuse of writing up
his notes to remain there some time
He was lodged with subordinate pris'
on official, whom he felt sure the colo
mel had ordered to watch bis every
movement.
One day Eaton took his travelling
equipage and visited the outpost on
the main road leading southwark
There he spent some time with the
commandant. and when he left said to
the officer;
"The journal l represent pays fol
everything 1t gets. The information
you have given me is Invaluable.
therefore leave with you this bag OF
gold, containing 5000 rubles."
The officer looked at the American
in establishment, but took the bag.
~ do not desire that my papers shall
be examined before l leave. l shall
pass here some night with them pack
ed in a box under the robes In the bot
tom Of the vehicle. Look carefully I'M
der the front seat and you viii find
bag containing another 5000 rubles."
The officer said nothing, but gave the
journalist look that satisfied him.
That night Eaton, declaring that he
was tired, went to his room early
When all were asleep he made a rope
ladder of his bedclothing and silently
let himself from his window, landing
in deep snow. Then he stole away
and walked rapidly to clump of huts
some distance down the road. They
comprised the free command" anc
in them dwelt such political exiles
as had served their terms In prison.
Approaching one Of the huts, he
raped softly on the door and an old
woman replied to the summons.
ass Elizabeth Kalturin hereT'
"Yes.'
Without waiting for an invitation
he entered and shut the door. The
woman barred it and lighted a lamp.
'In there" she said, pointing. "She
is Ill in bed"
"Yes; 1 know. But for that she
would be In prison. l have learned
all about her, both in Russia and since
came here"
Eaton went into the other room
where a girl sat up in bed. She stared
at him with great lustrous eyes and
taking him for a visiting official, said
'Tm not we'll enough to go back to
prison yet; indeed I'm not"
Then the old woman held up the
candle and the invalid recognized
Chauncey Eaton.
81 have come for you" he said.
"WhyT
Because l love you"
"But you knew me only a week.
gasped the astonished girl.
"That was enough"
Eaton spent an hour in the hut-he
dared not stay lOnger-during which be
told the girl Of n plan he had conceived
to rescue her. Then he left her to re-
turn to his room, climbing by his i'm
provised rope.
The next day he gave orders for bis
horses to be ready at II o'clock that
night and spent the day in an agony OF
suspense. At the appointed hour he
was at the stable.
"Drive to the junction Of the roads
leading from here and the free com
mand," he said. land wait till !
come"
Ten minutes later Eaton was at the
hut Of Elizabeth KaltuFin and found
her dressed and expecting him. Taking
her In his arms, he carried her through
the darkness to his sleigh and placed
her in the bottom, concealed by robes.
On reaching the outpost he was stop
ped by the sentinel on guard, but call
ed for the commandant, who recog
nlzed him, searched the front part Of
the sleigh and, withdrawing a bag
gave permission to proceed.
Not far from the outpost Eaton or
dered the driver to turn northeastwa{d
and, skirtlng the base Of the noun
tains, shortly before daylight struck
point on Kara bay where his yacht
was riding at anchor. Eaton gave a
signal, and a boat came ashore and
took them to the yacht. Steam had
been kept UP for week, and the an
Choir was no sooner raised than the lit
tie craft, painted lead color to be the
less readily seen, steamed away
through the Arctic ocean. During the
day they touched on the Swedish coast
for a hasty marriage ceremony and
thence away again. not stopping till
they reached old England.
There they remained till the young
wife regaIned her health; then the
yacht was again brought into requisi-
tlon, and the pair steamed across the
Atlantic. One morning Chauncey Ea'
ton, after an absence Of two years
turned up In New YORK with his Rus
sian bride. whom ne presented with
much pride 10 his mother.
what are you going to do next,
Chauncey?" she asked.
"Settle down"