The Forrest City times., 1906-07-13
The NihiIiSt kikamSk.
BY L. B. KINDER.

the assaults of the reyolutionists, the death of Prince Droboken, governor of an obscure province on the eastern border, attracted so little attention al St. Petersburg that for months no sue cessor was appointed. Nevertheless, affairs went on as smoothly as before under guidance of Princess Sonia, who had in fact ruled in her fathers name since the latter had been stricken with paralysis ten years prior to his death
 Rumors of distant strife produced 1 put little effect upon the inhabitants of this province, who had never had oe- casion to protest against oppression " the governor. Thus it was that while the Little Father" hid in bomb proof chambers, the princess continued to hold her Thursday afternoon leyees with perfect safety. The only danger 10 be feared was from outsiders, but even here the good will of her people protected her as no guard could have done. A dozen times revolutionary in 1 stigators were driven from the prov ince or delivered into her hands by in 1 dignant peasants, who henceforward l AN cfti hNh aA4 ENi dHStiS nlNA 1uSDilAOll
 Hostile eyes therefore greeted the unfamiliar garb of the petitioner Lu- 1 pinski, who came from the mountain region. long days journey northeast of klkamsk. Sonia. however, received him kindly and, although compelled to deny his suit, gave her reasons in detail and placed in his hands a purse Of silver. The good-looking young peasant failed to grasp the meaning of her words, until bestowing the purse she gently dismissed him. Then. real l izing that his petition had failed, his l dull eyes fiared into a blaze and his voice filled the room with passionate | outcry
 The palace guards preeipitously sur rounded him and at Sonia's command led him without injury to the city gate, where he was set free with d warning not to return. With that i'm 1 passive dignity for which her family had long been noted, the princess re sumed her audience and continued to receive petitioners until the last had been heard
 Yet, when the days business was over and she reclined in a massive leather chair before her boudoir's open fire. she trembled at thought of the peasants frey eyes and menacing words.
 Soothed by the warmth of the fire and the quieting after dinner coffee she at length forgot her fears. She yawned and left the chair for low wide couch. where she lay gazing into the fire. Her large, white angora eat stealing in from the outer room, sat composed upon the hearth and washed her face, then crouched and purred.
 Gradually objects about Sonis seemed absorbed in the fiickering fire light. Her head sank deeply into tho fluffy pillow and her eyes closed
 The blazing wood fell and a feath- cry coating of ashes gathered upon tht coals The glow faded from the walls and shadows crept up to the hearth where the angora still erouched, hel green eyes intently staring, as if fas- tened upon some prey. The princess slept, her swet face turned towards the fire, her bosom rising slightly, the pulse in her white throat throbbine with the even pulsation of good health
 
 The horror of that awakening Sonia will ever remember. heavy body struck her shoulder and sharp-nailed fingers elutched her throat. With g shriek she writhed back from her as sailant and losing her balance, fel upon the floor
 Fortunately her outcry had beer heard. Attendants rushed to her aiC and guards secured the palace doors The doctor declared the princess unin- jured, save for several deep scratches on her throat.
 Meanwhile the palace was thorough ly searched for the asSailant, and the guards soon returned from the outer hall, dragging a struggling. CUTS as man. It was the peasant Lupinski. whl had threatened vengeance.
 Passionately he protested his inno- oenee, asserting that he had returned 1 to beg forgiveness for his rude con- duet of that afternoon and declaring that he was most loyal To her and t. the Rasisan government
 The princess, however, gazed with horror upon the hands raised in frantic appeal, for the fingers were long and sinewy, and the long nails were curved and sharp like claws. Again she shud- dered and waived the guards to remove the prisoner
 Lupinski was given a formal trial in which evidence of the accused s 1 threats against the Princess Sonia, his forcible election from the city, his presence in the corridor of the gov ernor's palace. his attempts at con- cealment and desperate efforts to es- cape. coupled with the dastardly as sault in the dark upon the princess. outweighed his dogged denial of guilt. Withsut leaving their seats, the jury convicted him and the judge passed the l sentence of death.
 During the weeks stay of execution 1 granted the prisoner in order that he might settle his affairs, Sonia scarcely l gave him a fhOught AS a wonaar oba