The Starkville news. (Starkville, Miss.) 1902-1960, 1905-06-09

Then, impatiently, the young man
wrote few words on a page of his
note book, and, inclosing it in an Of
fetal envelope, called the captain of
one of the guards.
Tell one Of your men to saddle
Immediately and take this letter." he
said.
Yes, your excellency," said the
captain. Venetian, saddle and come
to me-" he called as the lieutenant
strobe away.
Venetian was colossal broad
shouldered, wide-mouthed soldier, with
a short curly beard and clear blue
eyes, veteran of long service. but
simple as child beneath his stern
demeanor. He saddled his horse, lis
tened to three repetitions Of the ad-
dress given him by the captain, for he
could not read, put the letter in his
saddle bag and started.
He crossed the devastated square at
a rapid trot, passing the Gordon Of
troops drawn up around the Mobiles
club, and turned down the Berditskaia,
usually the busiest street Of the city,
and now deserted, the glass windows
of the shops covered with boards. On
the faces of the rare passersby was
stamped deep stupefaction at the
violences of the previous day.
A few soldiers still camped near the
large bridge which cuts the city into
two sections, and Yemelian recog-
nized his comrades and grinned broad
ly to see them sitting on the sidewalk.
Crossing the bridge, he rode through
the Semenski boulevard. and suddenly
in the distance beyond the new
Church Of Our Saviour. he caught
sight of a crowd of the insurgents.
Troops were being reformed, threaten
ing and menacing, filling the streets
that were not occupied by the sol
diers.
After the hours of disorder that had
followed the terrible repression of the
people, the anger of the pOpulace was
once more rising, desperate, careless OF
the punishment that was certain to fol-
low. A crowd of victims, many sorely
wounded breaking the truce estab-
and wildly through the streets.
At the sound of the bugles blown
from the other side of the bridge.
Venetian knew that the alarm had been
given. But his duty was to deliver the
letter in his saddle bag; this was the
instruction he had received.
He continued to ride ahead. An
other moment and he was face to face
with the insurgents. column of white
faced. haggard men, ready for the SUI
preme sacrifice. In his gruff, good-na-
tured voice Venetian called loudly:
Way Make way there.'
But the brute instincts of the people
were unclaimed. The rider was sur
rounded shrill voices rose in biting in
suits An old man, whose fur cap had
been torn to shreds by bayonets, cried.
waveringly:
Here's another. Here's another of
'em."
Aworkman. armed with stick, aimed
q rude blow at the soldiers head. Thus
attacked. Venetian spurred his horse.
trying to free himself. But wave OF
human beings flowed over him, heavy
hands grasped his bride, paralyzed his
arms. He spoke again:
Brothers, must do my duty. Let
me pass"
cry of rage answered him and 4
voice shrieked:
Did you and yours have pity yester
day?'
Kill him!" yelled a hanchbacked
beggar.
The revolters swarmed upon this vic
tim whom the fates had delivered into
their hands Had they not been ruth
like this one?
Collecting all his strength Venetian
sought to grasp his sword. The simple
man thought less of his own danger
than of the obstacle which threatened to
prevent him from accomplishing his er-
rand
The sword was torn from his belt.
amid loud shouts. An insurgent, seiz-
ing it, slashed at him wildly. and cruel
laugh greeted the leaping blood.
Venetian fought in vain. His horse,
wounded cruelty cut with knives. sank
beneath him and the dragoon was
thrown down and stamped upon.
A young woman whose husband had
been taken prisoner. tore one of the
boots from Yemelian's feet and beat him
in the face with the improvised weap-
on. A tragic drunkenness possessed the
crowd, their whole suffering was being
revenged upon the soldier; their hatred
was refined for his agony.
Nnrnol;oa Cm0r,a hittor1v hpnaath the