The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-02-11

trys ana had heard the story O. Sophia Nikolaveua In my own day fought beside her brother. But I wal woefully ignorant of the world, and thought that if once got away from home that I should have a fine time The wanderlust has fastened on me and I was half mad with the longing to leave the narrow life of the little holding.
 some say-indeed. the papers tha, call me a Russian Joan of Arc,' claim that I loved Dmitri so we'll that took his place to spare him. But while had half promised to marry Dmitri, l loved my freedom far more than loved the quiet peasant boy.
 Fired with an unreasoning zeal of adventure ! slipped up to the loft where Dmitri's best clothes lay ready for him on a cot. hastily put then on. an they were good fit. for was about hts height. and large and strong for a girl. Then I quicki, clipped my hair in the fashion of tn, peasant men. and went down stairs.
 Calling Anna Pretzoff Into tn, kitchen. told her of my determina ton to take Dmitrfs place. maret away with the troops, and when ther, was no longer any rear of them com, ing back for nmitri. would explain ali and come home.
 Anna Pretzoff protested and tried to reason with me, but was as strong soon lay withered like fall blossoms for l was determined to go--and she loved her son Dmitri. So we two fool. tah women thought in this way to out. wit the great Russian government. Before I went l stopped minute by pmitri's side. He was breathing heavily, his face was coIorIess, his II hA 1rr4n nuxrx xafs Agaa T <~I~ thought whether I should ever see him again or not. but bid Anna Pretzoff goodbye and started eagerly toward Svelk.
 At the recruiting station all went as 1t should, and I was soon march ing. shoulder to shoulder between two stalwart peasant soldiers, who took my presence as a matter of course. I was a strong girl. aud my back had often bent te heavy loads of vege- tables, ny arms had often tugged at clumsy carts, and I had been hardened to work, so the matter of marching for the first day or two was like play. My knapsack hung almost without weight on my back, my gun was a feather. while my spirits rose and my heart danced iu time to the tramp, tramp of thousands of moving feet
 I know that T didn't miss poor An na Pretzoff much. and am sure that I didn't miss Dnitri any at first, though was anxious for hts recovery. But 1t was a joy to live where there were new scenes. different faces, and changes all tho time.
 On the third day my name was called as we stopped for dinner beside a lit- tie stream.
 'Dmitri Pretzeff, a letter." had almost forgotten my new. name.
 The letter was written by my kins- ~nNA home at onces for DHnitri was dead.
 Dead! Dnitri, my old playmate: the man was going to marry some timel had not thought that Dmitri would die.
 All that afteruon as marched wearily along shoulder to shoulder with the two great huIking soldiers asked me if my sweetheart was mar ried, because I was so solemn, felt dazed and sick.
 The old scenes and the familiar faces that had faded so quickly from my careless mind, that the strange events of the last three days had seemed to- obilterate, came back, and I was homesiek with a dull, physical pain. After all. was only a woman. and Dmitri had been more to me than had been conscious of. must go home and care for his mother.
 That night got a permit to visit the commanding officers tent, He was alone and I told my errand briefly.
 T am a girl" said, T took the place of Dmitri Pretzoff. who was too sick to come-noW he. is dead May go back and take care of his moth
 The officer was astonished. then non plussed, and above all he was dis pleased to think that such trick had been played
 Did you do this for love of coun- tFyF' he questioned.
 No" answered. T went to seek adventure" then I hung nay head, for the part that was playing did not seem so heroic as 1t had at home: all of sudden I saw that ! was really an imposter.
 But I was a woman, very tired, al- most sick, and the officer had compass sion on me, for he wrote a pass and gave me money enough to get back home on.
 And some way the papers got hold of the story and dilated on 1t as papers that I was q second Joan of Are" when I was only a foolish and ignor- ant girl.
 started home, still in my uniform. with my knapsack strapped across my shoulders and the precious pass signed by the commanding officer. in my pock- ct. The journey back was like dream, I was so tired. so bitter, so heart broken; my lon gtng to see the great world was gone forever.
 Leaving the train at the ..ssse sta- tion at Svelk l tramped disconsoIately through the fields towards by kinswo- mans holding. Night was coming on, and 1t seeemd as if l could scarcely make the few acres more that sepv arated me from the house.
 A peasant was working in the field, a strong young fellow, could tell by the lusty strokes of his mattock, It must be Jan Covena, I thought. helping because of Dmitrrs death
 'tHo. Jan," I called. glad to speak to one of my own people again.
 But 1t was not Jan that turned toward me at the sound of my voice. 1t was Dmitri. Then I supposed that [ must be delirious from overstrain, and that the man saw before me was only a phantom.
 But no, it was Dmitri, who wei comed me back as one from the dead: for his mother had never told him of my taking his place, but had led him to believe that l had wandered away, no one knew where.
 Not till long after Dmitri and were married, did Anna Pretzoff tell me the whole truth about the strange sickness of her son. When the day had come for him to join the army she drugged him with tea made from l poisonous herb. He drank this liq- lid during the morning meal, and shortly after became insensible. Later