Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1905-06-17
A Girl of the
Russian Revolution
tOriginal.1


Russian noble. began her revolutionary
career by simply teaching the peasants.
Finding that she could not do that IN
der the present system of government,
she Joined those who are trying to
overthrow that government.
One day Vera received an order from
the revolutionary society Of which she
was member to go to little shop in
st. Petersburg in the rear Of preten-
tious buildings by which 1t was nearly
hidden, get bomb and carry it to a
certain house at the other end Of the
city. She secured the bomb, made her
exit and as she did so saw a man
watching her from a window. Hurry
ing along she mingled with the crowds
in the street before the watcher could
emerge from his position. She Judged
at once that the shop had been watch
ed and the man who had seen her
come out was one of the police. The
bomb, which she carried In her pocket,
she could not get rid of. Revolutionary
documents she might have dropped,
but to drop bomb meant an explo-
sion. She did not doubt that If the
man whom she was trying to evade
found her she would be arrested and
searched. For this reason she kept to
ing in a tOrtuOuS course. Finally, turn
ing, she looked back, and the very mar
row Of her bones frOze at seeing her
follower but a short distance behind
on the other side Of the street. He
looked away, pretending not to have no.
ticed her. Then she knew that he not
only wished to capture her, but to dis
cover the place to which she would 60.
At this very time the guardian spirit
that presided over the destiny of Har-
old Willetts, young Chicagoan, led
him to emerge from the building where
he occupied apartments and stand in
the doorway looking out on the street,
swinging his cane meditatively. A
young girl who was passing surprised
him by suddenly turning and making
straight through the door into the hall.
There was Suppressed excitement on
her face, which led him to follow her.
AS soon as they were both inside she
locked the door, then said something
rapidly to him in Russian, which he
did not understand. He told her in
French that he spoke that language,
and she at once adopted It.
"You are not a Russian?" she said.
what nationality are your
American"
All foreigners consider Americans as
sympathizers with any one struggling
for liberty, and the girl at once gave
him her confidence.
II am a revolutionist, and / am fol-
lowed. In q few moments man will
be here to arrest me. would care
nothing for that, but l carry bomb.
Help me to get rid Of it."
Willetts had been noted for his def
erence and chivalrOus treatment of wO-
men, but this appeal staggered him.
Here was girl, very pretty one, who
was asking him to mix himself up in a
revolutionary matter from the conse-
quences Of which even the president of
the United States could not save him if
caught red handed. Nevertheless he
had in him the blood Of those who re-
sisted the tyranny Of King George Ill,
and he rose to the emergency.
'AGfve me the bomb" he said, land 60
out by the rear door,"
She handed him a glass globe, ran to
the rear door and passed out Just as
i there was knock at the door In front
Willetts, instead Of opening it, hurried
up to his room. He knew that he had
but little time to select hiding place
for the bomb and different receptacles
passed in review with. lightning speed.
A pair of riding boots stood In closet
and he carefully laid the explosive in
one Of them. Then he started down
stairs. A man was in the hall talking
to servant who had just admitted
him. He at once recognized Willetts
and asked what had become Of the girl
who had gone back into the house with
him. Willetts, not understanding the
Russian language, could not reply, and
the man, hurrying upstairs, searched
the house, at one time standing directly
over the bomb. Fooled, he at last went
away.
Willetts placed the bomb in his trunk
and waited to hear from the girl. Aft
er waiting several weeks without any
communication he wrapped the bomb
in paper, tied stone to it and dropped
it in the river Neva.
The next winter found the young
Chicagoan again in st. Petersburg,
and, being on intimate terms with the
American minister, he received many
Invitations through that officials in
fuence. One evening at a ball given
by one of the uncles of the emperor,
being presented to the hostess, Will
let's saw among the ladies Of her suit
the girl whom he had relieved Of the
bomb and saved from Siberia. The
moment she saw him the roses left her
cheeks, but with an effort she regained
her composure without having attract
ed attention. Later Willetts was led
up to her and formally presented. Aft
er a dance with her he led her to
window seat.
Vera told him that she had neither
dared to go to him nor write to him.
She felt that she owed him more than
her life and had regretted that she