The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-10-15
A RUSSIAN LOCHvINAR.
BY BESSIE R. HOOVER. Copyright, 1905, by Daily Story Pub.

fishing Co.)
 In the smoky kitchen of a Russian farmhouse, that was dimly lighted with a sputtering lamp, which gave but a feeble flame, two serving men were eating their supper, and discussing be- tween bites the latest sensation of their little world a
 And what" grumbled old Petrovitch, makes Ivan Harlov stay like a wolf in a cave?"
 Fool" retorted Mavimka. 'can a hunted man go to Litovsk, across a country full of soldiers, on foot? No, he would be dead. The Czar's soldiers come tonight in search of him; and one can earn whole years wages by show ing them the cave where he is hiding. !"
 'Ah, so!' whisiled Petrovitch, then the proud Ivan Harlov will have a good mouthful of steel for his supper If he resists the soldiers"
 Out in the passage, Anna Nikoiavena stood, eagerly listening to her fathers servants. Some one must save Ivan Harlov; her father was away from home and none of the serfs could be trusted cn such mission.
 Though Ivan had revolted against the Czar, though he had reused the peas ants and petty landowners to open re- bellion that had reacted upon :hem- selves. Anna N'kolavena could not hate him. Yet she tried t., because Ivan had always caused her plenty of unrest in the old days. For all the young men that she met at the merry -makings in the village, Ivan, the one she secretly preferred. had completely ignored her; but then, Ivan Harley never noticed any girl.
 But now a strange compelling power seemed to have taken possession of her, and feeling strong as death itself rose in HAV hAo rk awI AI4 4A1 h zy.a some effort to save Ivan Harlov.
 She muffled herself in a large wool en shawl, for the weather was cold, and the snow was even then falling, and slipped out to the old stables where Zhito. the great black stallion, the most valuable animal for miles about, was tied in a low stall. hidden from the front entrance to protect him from the soldiers. who in these unsettled times might be tempted to conflscate so val uable an animal.
 Anna dared not call one of the serf boys or peasants to help her, for fear that they would warn the soldiers: but the servants were all out of the way for a time while they ate supper
 She threw the saddle over Zhito's bread back. strapped 1t securely, bent his proud head and slipped the bridle as deftly as a groom might have done: then as it was already dark she led him from the stable and turned down the lane that crossed the flax fields to the bluffs where Ivan Harlov was hId- ing.
 It was about a mile across the fields to the bluffs, below which stretched a broad valley and beyond that lay the town of Litovsk
 Leading the horse to a stile in the lane fence. she hastily mounted and rode rapidly away, sitting astride the stirrups dangling 2 foot's length below her feet.
 As she looked back at the buildings she had just left, the rambling old house and low. struggling stable. dimly outlined against the darkening sky, be- gan to blink with lights, there were hurried tramplings, shouts of command rang sharply out Tn the still night air and Anna Nikolavena knew that the SC ldiers that were hunting Ivan liar lov had come.
 Still sf e was not afraid for herself and -ode boldly on. She knew little ot the horrors of the revolution, for tho general unrest of Russia had not as vet affected their little village percept. illy.
 But as she nesred the bluffs a lout cry of 'IIalt"' rang out and looking around she saw I number of soldiers perhaps T dozen. riding swiftly towards ! by the snow
 She slapped Zhito with the rein. and { he bounded ahead. while she dung des. l them on the edge of the bluf stratchae