The Grit-advocate., 1905-08-04

English capital, 1Ound hlLiSeiI wei dd
vanced on the highroad to fame and
fortune. Within twelve months after
his first arrival he sent for his wife
AleXandrne and his two children
Ivan, a boy of eight years, and the
bright-eyed little Ida, who was two
years younger-determne to make
his home permanently in London.
Several years Of peace, prosperity
and happiness went by. Then there
came change, as all things human
change-during the fourth year Of his
life in England an event occurred
which forever darkened the life of
Michael Barosky. Alexandrine, his
young and beautiful wife. caught a
severe cold. 1t developed rapidly, and
in spite Of all that the highest medi-
cal science could suggest, she sank
rapidly, and in less than fortnight
died in the arms of her agonized hus-
band.
Michael Barosky and his motherless
children embarked with the remains
OF the beloved wife and mother for
Russia. and Alexandrine was laid to
rest in the little village Of Feirof,
where she was born. Two days after
the funeral Michael Barosky was
stricken down by illness, and for
weeks hovered between life and
death. His recovery began at last,
but life brought no joy to the stricken
man, for he was blind!
In this hapless state he again return
ed to St. Petersburg. The loving kind
ness and tender solicitude of Ivan and
Ida softened the cruel blow that had
thus befallen him. But even this con-
ISOLATION was not of long duration.
In the archives of the secret police
OF St. Petersburg were certain re-
ports of conversations overheard In
threats against the czar, of conspira-
cies, Of revolutionary schemes dis
cussed and projected. 1t was not pre-
tended that Michael Barosky himself
was responsible for these utterances.
But he had harbored beneath his roof
those who had spoken and who were
enemies Of the state. and to this ex-
tent was particeps criminis.
So it was, that one eventful even
ing, as Michael Barosky sat listening
to his little Ida playing on the violin,
there was violent knocking at the
door. 1t was opeped by Ivan. Another
moment and there entered an officer
accompanied by four soldiers. Going
up to the blind man, the officer, plac-
ing his hand on his shoulder, said:
Michael Barosky, l arrest you in the
name of the czar!"
All the demands for statement of
the crime of which he stood accused
were denied, and five minutes later
the unfortunate father was torn from
the grasp of his children, who with
cries and shrieks clung to him in
very agony of childish despair.
In less than an hour the gates of
the great Petropaulovsk prison had
closed behind him, and Michael Bros
ky was dead to the world.
Before leaving London Michael Ba-
rosky had deposited very large sum
of money, the results of his brilliant
piolCsorohdi SoiSSI HlS Hlouey udu
been made payable by exchange on
the great banking house of Won Rhine
berg, Strauss & Co. After waiting
for some time, and receiving no word
from their blind client, the bankers
instituted a search for him. Then
came the intelligence of his arrest.
In his earlier days Michael Barosky
t11
of the Banker Strauss, who entertain
ed for him a high regard, and SO it
was but natural that on hearing of the
misfortune of their father that the
care for the children whose fortune he
had in his keeping. The result was
that Ivan, the boy. now about ap-
preaching his twelfth year, was placed
in an excellent private school, and the
little Ida received a warm place in
the bankers family.
Ivan proved himself an earnest
student, and at the time when we
first meet him he was one of the
most brilliant graduates of the st.
Petersburg Polytechnique. 1t was
while in the home of Banker Strauss
that the Baroness Won Rhineberg first
met him, and it was at her desire that
| he had engaged to translate into Rus.
| sian some English books. He rapid.
| ly gained the respect and esteem end
confidence of the baroness, and at the
time when he enters upon our horizon
was trusted with the direction of her
correspondence.
Ida Barosky, at the time when her
father had been so ruthlessly torn
from his children, had Just entered
her tenth year. The cruel separation
had made profound impression upon
her. She had been her fathers lido,
and, since the death of the beloved
Alexandrine, his heart-strings twined
themselves more than ever around his
motherless little daughter. Early In
life Ida had given evidence of the
possession Of musical talent of high
order and as soon aS sha voc ob1e