Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1907-02-07
The Nihi|ist kikamsk.


chief cities Of the Russian empire.
which threatened to collapse beneath
the assaults OF the revolutionisls, the
death OF Prince Droboken. governor
Of an obscure province on the eastern
Fborder. attracted so little attention al
81, Petersburg that for months no sue
eessor 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 later had been stricken with
paralysis ten years prior TO his death.
Rumors OF distant strife produced
but little effect upon the inhabitants
of this province. who had never had oc-
caslon 10 protest against oppression
by the governor. Thus Il 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
|, to 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
stigators were driven from the prov
ince or delivered into her hands by in
dignant peasants. who henceforward
regarded all strangers with suspicion.
Hostile eyes therefore greeted the
unfamiliar garb OF the petitioner Lu-
pinski. who came from the mountain
region. long days journey northeast
OF Kikamsk. Sonia. however. received
him kindly and. although compelled
to deny his suit, gave her reasons In
detail and placed In his hands 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
izing that his petition had failed. his
dull eyes flared into blaze and his
voice filed the room with passionate
outcry.
The palace guards precipitously sur
rounded him and at Sonia's command
led him without injury TO the city
gate, where he was set free with q
warning not to return. With that i'm
passive dignity for which her famil,
had long been noted, the princess re
sumed her audience and continued 4
receive petitioners until the last hat
been heard.
Yet, when the days business wal
over and she reclined In massive
leather chair before her boudoir's opei
: fire, she trembled at thought of thu
peasants frey eyes and menacinl
words.
Soothed by the warmth of the fir'
and the quieting after-dinner coffee
she at length forgot her fears. Sh
yawned and left the chair for low
wide couch, where she lay gazing int
the fire. Her large. white angora ca
stealing In from the outer room, sa
composed upon the hearth and washe
her face, then crouched and purred.
Gradually objects about Soni
seemed absorbed in the Pickering fire
Hight. Her head sank deeply into tn
FUZZY pillow and her eyes closed.
The blazing wood fell and feath
cry coating of ashes gathered upon tn
Goals. The glow faded from the wall
and shadows crept up to the hearth
where the angora still crouched, he
green eyes intently staring, as If fas
tened upon some prey. The princes
slept. her SWEET face turned towards tn
fire, her bosom rising slightly, tn
pulse In her white throat throbbin
! with the even pulsation Of good healti
4
The horror of that awakening Soni
will ever remember. A heavy bod
struck her shoulder and sharp-naile
fingers clutched her throat. With
shrek she writhed back from her a!
sailant and losing her balance, re
upon the floor
a Fortunately her cutlery had bee
" heard. Attendants rushed to her al
and guards secured the palace door
The doctor declared the princess unil
jured, save for several deep scratch'
on her throat
Meanwhile the palace was thorough
]. " searched for the assailant, and Il
= guards soon returned from the out
hall, dragging struggling, ours.
" man. 1t was the peasant Lupinskl, WI
: had threatened vengeance.
Passionately he protested his Inn
cence, asserting that he had return'
to beg forgiveness for his rude Co
duct of that afternoon and declaril
in that he was most loyal to her and
laaa the Russian government
The princess, however, gazed WI
horror upon the hands raised in frant
appeal, for the fingers were long al
sinewy, and the long nails were curv
- and sharp like claws. Again she snu
dered and waived the guards to reno
the prisoner.
Lupinski was given a formal TT
IN which evidence of the accused
ny ~ threats against the Princess Sonia,
Ct. forcible election from the city, !
.u 70 presence in the corridor Of the go
Il ernor's palace, his attempts at co
a. cealment and desperate efforts to
his cape, coupled with the dastardly
bRis sault in the dark upon the princes
BILE outweighed his logged denial OF gui
.he without leaving their seats, the ]u
nd convicted him and the Judge passed :
tn. sentence Of death.
-oJry q