The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1905-06-24
THE COUNTS
MESSAGE 8 q
a LOVE AFFAIR THAT CREPT INTO
AN RESURRECTION I'm RUSSIA

lat WAS nine o'clock in the morning
In the large library where he had
spent the night, the governor general
was busy receiving and answering the
reports constantly sent IN from the va,
rious posts established throughout the
insurgent city.
In spite of the fur coat he wore and
| the red-hot stove beside him, the gov
ernor shiyered. The glass at the win.
doWs. broken by the rioters and yet
neglected, gave free passage to the cruel
Vinter winds. The mans face was
white, and large black circles We're
around his eyes.
| The fatigues and emotions of the
frightful day OF the insurrectfon,
through which he had just passed and
which had come like a thunderbolt to
disturb the peaceful quiet Of his life,
had left their marks on his tired face,
and his cigarette hung, unlit, from
his pale lips The knowledge Of his
appearance, his unkempt air, and he,
the most correctly dressed man Of the
city, added still another sting to his
| troubles.
| He glanced YEARLY for the thousandth
time at the broken panes as he handed
| the last dispatch to his aide.
81 suppose the glass settlers will reap
a harvest after yesterday he said, bit
terly. Things are quieter to-day, but
| we must still be on our guard.
He repressed a yawn. What would he
not give for q good sleep! After these
| tragic hours. this unexpected uprising
in city whose loyalty to the imperial
rule had been legendary, SO that the
position of governor had seemed q sort
! of gi1ded rest cure: after these massa-
cres, which he had himself ordered with
more of a sense OF outraged tedium than
danger the energy which he was aston
ished to have found in himself was be-
coming exhausted.
From his window he cG1lld see the
ravages of the fight, which had ragged
f1ercest about the palace. The public
gardens were trodden into mud by the
cavalry, the gate Wrenched aWry and
broken off. At the entrance were the
smoking ruins Of a once prosperous
cafe, and the snow was stained with
dark spots that had first been red.
The governor general could hardly
comprehend that such events had taken
place in SO short a time, and that his
peaceful life had been shaken by so
frightfuI a crisis.
Gentlemen, you will. Of course, re-
main in the palace said he as be dis
missed his officers.
'*Just my luck" cried one of them,
Count Michael Liaguine, as, saluting
stif9y, he fastened out of the governors
presence and strobe down the broad
stairway.
He was a young man, carefully ele-
CANT in appearance, and as active and
alert as if he had not fought all day
and written all night. He had changed
his uniform, and no trace remained of
the wild riot, save a slight wound on
his forehead, the mark of stone, which.
aimed more correctly, must have killed
him.
He glanced angrily at the closed doors
OF the palace, swearing, and his nervous
hand clinched the hilt Of his sword.
Cursed rebellion!" he cried.
In the inner court, an improvised
prison, as all the jails were full to
overffoWing, were collected a group of
miserable prisoners, a wretched mass
Of humanity, stupefed by the audacity
Of single hour and already becoming
once more resigned to bitter. unending
tribulation. Many were wounded and
lay upon the ground, silent, uncom-
planning, accustomed to suffering with
out help or comfort.
a bitter odor arose from these herd
ed men, exalted for a mement by a
CLEAN of hope and quickly plunged
into black desolation, blacker for the
passing light Count Michael shud-
dered with disgust as he passed them.
Misery is ugly. and the handsome man
abhorred ugliness.
During the whole morning he wan
dered about the vast edifce, exasper-
ated at the forced inaction to which
his position as aide condemned him.
Around the palace the guarded streets
were quiet with the silence of death.
What the devil is the matter with
you, Michael?' demanded one Of his
comrades. You're as nervous as q
woman
Shut up" groWled the lieutenant
OF the dragons. Keep your re-
marks for another day. I'll not stand
them now"
Toward one o'clock, after brief
lunch, the count made his way to
the generals rooms, intending to So
Hcit special pass for outside service.
But the governor was still asleep.
Then, impatiently, the young maa
wrote few words on a page Of his
note book, and, inc1osing It in an Of
fetal envelope called the captain Of
one of the guards.
TEL one Of your men to saddle
Immediately and take this letter. be
said.
Yes. your ezcenency," said the
captain. Venetian, saddle and come
TO me-" be called as the lieutenant
strobe away.
Venetian was a colossal, broad
shouidered. wide-mouthed soldier, with
short curly beard and clear blue
yes, q veteran Of long service, but
simple as child beneath his stern
lemeanor. He sadd1ed his horse. lis
ened to three repetitions of the adj
Iress given him by the captain. for he
,ould not read, put the letter in his