The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1908-07-22


brilliantly-lighted mansion, then he
turned slowly down the neatly grav-
eled walk, and bitterly he cursed his
lot.
Heretofore his mind had been so
bent on winning what was to him the
fairest flower of Peterhof, that he
had not paused to consider his cir
cumstances. Now, tonight, when
he had won her, he suddenly awak-
ened to the fact that he was far from
being in position to claim the prize.
What was his paltry allowance as a
Cossack of the Imperial Bodyguard?
Could he ask her to leave the lavish
wealth and comfort of the great man.
sion of one of Russias aristocrats
to starve on his small salary? Never!
The very idea maddened him. And
yet hope was there of much improve
ment in his circumstances?
She had exhorted him to be pa
tient, and hope for something to turn
up. She had reminded him that the
government was liberal in rewarding
special services.
Special services" All, yes, why
not? Might he not be able to ferret
out something of value? He knew
the humor and policy of the govern
ment. He would keep his eyes open.
Weeks passed into months before
anything unusual occurred to give
Ratinoff the slightest chance to dis
tinguish himself. Then, one morning
he was delighted to find that he had
been intrusted with an important
commission to distant province. He
accepted with light heart. He saw
in this chance the touch of her pretty
little hand, and Immediately he was
on his mettle. N.r
Most of the way had to be made
by the use of relays of horses, for .t
was through part Of the country
where railroads were almost un-
known. All went we'll until the
return was being made, then the
spring rains set in, and for days it
poured almost continually. The mud
became dreadful. The roads in some
places were almost impossible. Rat
inoff fumed and stormed at the very
poor progress that was being made.
He carried a bundle of important
papers which must reach st. Peters
burg at the earliest moment; the
earlier, the more likely to result ia
vorably for the carrier. The stake
was tremendous. 1t was not merely
the winning of favor with the gov-
ernment; it wasn't merely loyalty on
the fatherland; it was, indeed, to
him almost life itself, for what was
life without the one dearer even than
life?
Cruelty he urged the driver to
show no mercy to the plunging
horses. But the driver was keen
witted and stubborn, and absolutely
refused to kill the horses; though
he left them half dead where each
fresh relay was secured.
The rain continued, and the roads
became more boggy every moment.
You tell me-" said Ratinoff to
the driver, that there will only be
one more relay of horses before we
reach the railroad?"
Just one," was the reply.
Then man, let me beg, in the
name of God, that you put them
through for all they are worth for
the rest of the way. Don't you really
think, now, that this pair can safely
do a little better than that? 1t
won't be very far now till they are
relieved"
Thus appealed to, the driver for
the first time became little reck.
less. He whipped up the horses, and
they plunged more wildly forward
The road here was scarcely distin-
guishable from the boggy morass
which flanked it. The mud and water
were everywhere. Even the skilled
driver was as yet unaware that they
had really reached the boggy ground
Ratinoff sat intently watching the
struggling horses, with lips shut tight
In grim determination. The driver
with sidelong glances, was watching
him. He saw the terrible anxiety
he saw cruel suffering when the
horses showed signs of tagging.
Go on! Go on, boys!" he
shouted, and again he piled the whip
The horses sprang forward, but
with the first Jump the nigh horst
plunged desperately, paused, seemed
to settle back on his launches, made
last supreme effort, and then fel
forward in the mud.
THE mWass!" shouted the driver
as he leaped down into the mud, ant
began hastily to unhitch the horses
The Cossack also jumped into the
mud without a moments hesitation
and worked with a skill which almos
equaled the drivers.
After a long, hard struggle. the,
succeeded, by using ropes attached
to the traces of the free horse. il
drawing the poor beast, up onto tn,
road again. But the mishap had al
most completely exhausted the al
ready tired animal, and progress
after that was exceedingly slow.
At last they did reach the station
~ hn n.