The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1908-06-04
A CASE OF RAPID
PROMOTION.

When Alexis Niederhoff was drafted
weeping and wailing on the part Of
two families, his own and that Of his
betrothed, Olga Sanin. This was dur.
ing the reign Of Peter the Great, who
was at the time going to war, and the
young conscript was not likely to re.
turn.
WELL" said Alexis as he babe them
goodby, anyway, will make a sol.
der Of myself. If am told to march
up to certain death will CO. If the
officers tell me to do things, no matter
how absurd, will do them. have no
desire to live now that am separated
from home and Olga, and I care not
how soon l am killed."
Alexis went off to barracks to be
turned into soldier. His command.
ing officer had no need to lecture him
as to the Importance Of obedience, fol
Alexis determination to make a mil.
itary machine Of himself only grew
stronger with his absence from home
When he had been drilled till he could
march by the flank or wheel or double
quick as if worked by springs, instead
Of being sent to the front to be shot he
was sent with his regiment to do guard
duty at the cars palace.
One day Alexis was stationed inside
the palace with beat past q door
which he was told to guard.
I'm there" said his captain, "is his
majesty the emperor. Do not permit
any one to enter"
"Not any one?"
"That is the order. See that it is
obeyed."
The officer had scarcely left when
Prince A1enschikoff, the cars favorite
minister, came up and made straight
for the door Of the cars apartment.
"You can't go in -there" shouted
Alexis, placing himself in the minis.
ters way.
"You fool! am allowed free access
to his majesty at all times"
'"That makes no difference to me
since have been Instructed to let no
one pass"
"You impudent hound" exclaimed
A1enschikoff I'LL teach YOU respect
for your betters" And, raising his
cane, he brought it down on the sol.
dier's shoulders
Thwack, thwack, thwack, thwack!
Suddenly the door opened, and there
stood the car His minister was be.
laboring his guard, who received the
blows bolt upright with his musket
ut present"
"What's this?" asked the car.
"This fellow denies me admittance
to your majesty's presence" said Men
schikoff.
The car looked at the soldier. who
did not open his mouth. still standing
with his musAct at present"
"Well. come ill.," said the car. Men.
schikof entered. and the two were en-.
gagged fo- an hour upon business of
state. When the minister made his
exit Alexis had been relieved and an.
other man pat iii his place.
That evening shortly before the
lights were put out at the barracks
Alexis received summons to the
palace. He felt sure that the minister
had received from the car permission
to intiict upon him some terrible pun.
ishment. Indeed. he expected to be
reprimanded, then taken out and shot.
ut doesn't matter" he said. "They
have insisted on making a soldier Of
ME against my WILL and l am q SOL
der. What is soldier for but to die?"
When he reached the palace he was
taken into large room, ut one end of
which he saw Menschikoff and the
car talking together. Peter held in
his hand cane, which he gave to
Alexis when lie came up and, pointing
to the minister, said:
'This man struck you this morning:
return the blow with my stick"
Menschikoff was astonished. "Does
your majesty mean that? Surely you
don't intend that private soldier shall
strike your minister?"
THAT would not be right, admit"
said Peter. 81 therefore make him a
captain"
"But am an officer in your majes-
tvs household"
II make him colonel of my life
guards and an officer Of my household"
but am Il general"
"And so is he. appoint him to that
rank. You see 1 will not permit you
to be struck by one of inferior rank"
That ended Menschikoff's protests, for
there was nothing more to say. The
car motioned Alexis to begin, and the
newly made general laid on the stick
till the car, who was greatly amused,
signaled him to desist. Then Alexis
was dismissed, and the officer who had
brought him was instructed to see that
he was lodged for the night at the pal
ace in manner becoming his station.
The next day Alexis was officially
notified Of his appointment to the va
rious Offices named by the czar. He
was most anxious to go home and &C.
quaint Olga with the good news, so he
applied for leave. 1t was at once
granted, and as soon as he could get
fitted with generals uniform he
started for home. When Olga saw him
coming all bespangled with gold lace
she thought that he had been killed