The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-03-02
CHAPTER I.
THE WINTER PALACE.

tlveS OF all the conquered cOun'
tries-Germans, Poles, Tartars
Circassians, Firms. A young French
diplomat, idly watching the crowd
suddenly darted from his place and
pushed his way through the stream
of people, to lay his hand on the
shoulder Of young man, simply
dressed in evening costume.
"Why, Chabert! Is this your"
AT last have found you, my dear
de Prieu! hoped to meet you
here. I went to the French EN-
bassy this afternoon to see you, but
you had just gone out"
Are you travelling for pleasure?'
"No. l am on business. AS far
as l can see, / should never come
to Russia for pleasure; stupid
place, wretched climate, country
only fit for thieves and wolves
"Oh, well, you have to take a
little time to get accustomed to it
What business have you to bring
you out of France?"
"Since ! last saw you, my dear
Horace, a great deal has happened
to me-"
"You look so sad! Have you
had any Ill luck?"
'It is a mistake that am still
alive, for truly have been very
near the other world. But let me
tell you my very strange story"
: At this moment there was MUIR
muir in the crowd.
Look" said Count Horace de
Prieu; here comes the emperor"
It was indeed Alexander, fol-
lowed by the imperial family and
great dignitaries OF the court
The car, wearing uniform
which set off to great advantage
his fine figure, returned the enthu-
tsn'astic greetings of his court and OF
Ills mobiles with a sadness that was
habitual to him.
"He seems thoroughly good"
said Chabert.
HE is. too; his goodness Dor
.ders on weakness"
"But he looks very much de-
+, pressed"
r "He ought to be. ~.
"Why? He is worshiped by his
nobility and adored by his people"
"Oh! his people are very
wretched, and misery is bad
friend. AS for his nobility, l doubt
very much whether they have ever
forgiven him for freeing the serfs.
and for his liberal views. The rev.
dictionary placards show wonder
full audacity, wonderful amount
of courage"
Most probably the revolutionists
wish to arouse the public feeling,
and the cars likewise"
perhaps, since saw you last"
said Horace, you, too, have be-
come democrat, a revolutionist, a
socialist? But come, tell me the
rest of your story. in which ! am
really Interested"
"Well, 1t is stupid enough. only
fell desperately in love with a
woman. am we'll cured of 1t now,
so that do not even care to talk
against her.
There Is nothing, like death"
continued Chabert, laughing
"When we come back to earth we
VooI upnp %htpuc fro,, n h;ohar
standpoint. loved that woman,
wanted to lift her out of the
mire; l would even have married
her, when l found that she was de-
ceiving me. was fool, for l
tried to save her. ruined myself
for her sake; and the legacy, which
fell upon me like an avalanche"
you have a strange way OF
treating legacies." ~
Eyes! That legacy lost me the
two best years Of my life. kept me
from my work and ruined my ca
reer. II had not had money she
would never have looked at me-
But l managed to get rid Of It..
When l saw that I was nearly
ruined, I went to Monte Carlo to
spend my last thousand francs;
and there I swallowed bottle Of
laudanum."
"You tried TO kill YOURSELF"
~ was in despair. for really
loved that woman; or rather l
thought loved her, when 1t was
only my vanity that suffered,
There was Russian doctor living
at the same hotel with me at Nice,
who restored me to life. while the
other medical men contented
themselves with formally announc-
Ing my decease. tell you I have
been really and truly dead--you
see before you one raised from the
dead
..y4io Is this Russian doctor who
e~savcd your life? Probably some
nihilist who Is obliged to live out
side of this country. The society
here receives all it's orders form
foreign parts. What Is your friends
naIne""
indeed! Your friend must have
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