The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-09-16
BefsOeen Duty
-. And Lox,e.

young man alighted and, followed by
his valet, hurried into the house. The
driver remained with the horses.
us there any one here who knows
the road to VIZ he asked.
There is no one here at all except
my father and myself. My father is
Ill In bed. ] know the road to "" Al
81 must get there in time to catch
the st. Petersburg express which
passes at 1915. 1t is now 8. The
distance is
Eighteen versts."
mo more than that? Good. There
is plenty of time"
But, excellency, there are many hills,
and the snow is deep and in places
drifted. You will require all the time
you have, and more"
The young mans countenance fell.
"My horses are tired out" he said,
"and my sledge is heavy, yet l must
catch the train"
1--WE have a fresh horse and n light
sledge with seats for but two people.
Let your driver and your servant re-
main here. will drive you to ""
"You little angel! You little beauty!
Take me to V. in time for the train
and l will love you forever"
He impulsiyely threw his arms
around Safo and kissed her.
1t Is astonishing how speedily very
young country girl--and this one was
but seventeen-who has never seen
fine gentleman when she first meets
one can fall in love with him. For that
one moment, for the first time in her
life, Safo was in heaven.
The Travellers sledge was driven into
the barn, the lighter sledge got out,
and Safo Arkudyevna and Alexis Alex
androvitch entered. She holding the
reins, the robes were adjusted. aud
they drove away.
"Why do you so wish to catch the
trainY' asked Safo.
at Is a matter of life and DEATH"
"Your life or death?" asked the girl,
with gasp.
"No; that Of man on the train"
Safo listened ihtently for more. Had
this TO do with revolutionary work.
She was an enthusiastic revolutlonist
Was she driving this man to the train
to enable Him 10 prevent the accom-
plishmeDt of n revolutionary purpose?
The hills lay within the first ten or
dozen versts of the distance to be trav-
eled. When Alexis became impatient
at their slow progress Safo told him
that for the last six or eight versts the
road lay over level ground. When they
na Ian ho1 Int hol
an hour to go the remainder of the dis
tancc. But the road was covered with
loose snow. and the horse was not as
fresh as at starting. 10 their right
they could see TO Il considerable dis
| tance, and two or three versts away
was sledge, the driver of which was
whipping his horse numerically, going
in the same direction as themselves.
"There they are now"
'Wlrop asked Safo.
"The murderers! Get up! Give him
the whlpw
mot until you tell me what this
means" she aid firmly.
Alexis turneL and looked at her, as
tonished. Aftel a few moments Of
study he said:
"Thc minister the interior is on
the train l wish catch. At an inn
where stayed Ia night overheard
conversation tn told me a revolu-
Zionist would bogrd the train at ",
leave his compar ment while the train
is in motion, walk along the foot
board to the carriage occupied by the
minister, shoot him through the win.
dow and jump from the train"
He watched eagerly the girls face as
he spoke. She made no comment for
time, though she showed traces of an
| inward struggle, a struggle between
love and duty. She knew Of the suffer
ings of her people under autocratlc
rule, yet her heart had sprung TO this
young man as moth will dash against
the glass inclosing an electric light.
She could take him to the station in
time to save the minister's life or could
delay him.
"Well" he ventmed presently.
The girl made no reply. They were
! going ut good pace, and Alexis, know.
ing that she was celebrating, pre-
ferred to give her a few moments In
| which to decide. If her decision was
against him he would take the relns
himself.
But he did not know the way, and
this might wreck his purpose. Sud
denly she threw the reins TO him.
Selling them in one hand he laid
on the whip with the other. The girl
sat mute by his side. Entering wood,
they came 20 fork in the road.
"WhichT asked Alexis.
Safo remained silent.
Seeing that she would not choose for
him and realizing the impossibillty OF
forcing her to do so, he chose the left
hand road, 1t led him two versts out
of his way. When he emerged from
the wood he could again see long dis,
tance, There was the train approach
Ing the station There was the sledge
containing the assassins within a few
hundred yards of their goal.
Alexis drove on 10 the station reach
Avg 1t some ten minutes after the train
Jad passed. He sent his information
by telegraph TO the next stopping