The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1908-07-30
lOriSinal.l


=, 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, sis 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 Menschikoff, 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 l have been instructed to let no
one pass"
"You impudent hound!" exclaimed
Menschikoff. "Ill teach you respect
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"
yhoks to- ~,
'This fellow denies me admittance
to your majesty's presence" said Men.
schikoff.
The czar looked at the soldier. who
did not open his mouth. still standing
with his musket at present"
'Well. cone in" said the car. Men
schikoff entered. and the two were EN-
gagged fer SIN hour upon business OF
state. When the minister made his
exit Alexis had been relieved and an.
other man put in his place.
That evening shortly before the
lights We're put out at the barracks
Alexis received summons to the
palace. He felt sure that the minister
had received from the car permission
to infiict upon him some terrible pun
ishment Indeed. he expected to he
reprimanded, then taken out and shot.
ut doesn't matter" he said. "Thcy
have insisted on making soldier of
me against my will, and am sol.
der What is a soldier for but to die?"
When he reached the palace he was
taken into large room, at one end Of
which he saw Menschikoff and the
car talking together. Peter held in
his hand a cane, which he gave to
Alexis when he 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, I admit"
said Peter. 81 therefore make him q
captain"
"But am an officer in your males.
tvs household"
81 make him colonel of -my life
guards and an officer of my household"
DuL ALL general.
"And SO is he appoint him to that
rank. You see I 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 q manner becoming his station.
The next day Alexis was officially
notified Of his appointment to the va
rious Offices named by the car. 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
in battle and this was his wrath COM
ing to mock her, so ste straightway
swooned. When she came to her lover
was bending over her, looking into her
blue eyes with his own of the same
heavenly hue.
There was great rejaicipg in the FAM
lilies that had been sossast down by the
CONSUMPTION, and whsn Alexis went
back to the capital to oil his various
positions he took Olga with him.
How he managed to perform the
duties Of these positions has not been
handed do. to us, but we know that
b and his wife founded family that
eook high rank In Russian affairs.
GEORGE DISNEY AILIA