Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1906-10-25
THE COUNTS
MESSAGE q q
A LOVE AFFAIR THAT CREPT INTO
AN RESURRECTION IN RUSSIA

1T 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
winter winds. The mans face was
white, and large black circles were
around his eyes.
The fatigues and emotions OF the
frightful day OF the instruction,
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
harvest after yesterday" he said, Bit
terly Things are quieter to-day, but
we must still be on our guard"
He depressed yawn. What would he
not give for a 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 sort
OF gilded 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 could see the
ravages of the fight, which had ragged
fiercest 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 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 time, and that his
peaceful life had been shaken by so
frightful crisis.
Gentlemen, you will, of course, re-
main in the palace" said he as he dis
missed his officers.
Just my luck" cried one of them,
Count Michael Liaguine, as, saluting
stiffly, he FASTENED out of the governors
presence and strobe down the broad
stairway.
He was a young man, carefully ele-
giant 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 slight wound on
his forehead, the mark of a 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
overlooking, were collected group OF
miserable prisoners, wretched mass
of humanity, stupefied by the audacity
of single hour and already becoming
once more resigLed to bitter amending
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 moment 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 edifice, 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 a |
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
licit special pass for outside service.
But the governor was still asleep.
Then, impatiently, the young man
wrote few words on page Of his