The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-04-07
IllnIIkyl
PRINCESS



yer mines. 1t was a slow instead
of violent death.
Alexandra, Michael, Matcha and
Zobolewsky were condemned to
hard labor.
At the beginning of July they
all set out for Siberia, their des-
tination being Irkoutsk, 5000 versts
from Petersburg.
General Kousmine obtained Mad
ege's pardon. Verenine, who had
not been neglected, gave her news
of her husband. Litzanoff refused
to see her. She determined to re-
turn to Petersburg, and Verenine
accompanied her. This was the be-
ginning. of an acquaintance which
in the end made two hearts happy.
AS soon as Stackelberg got to Pc
tersburg, he drew up a sensational
urself" deatmemorialhU ,oiu .,"yo | II
account of the nihilist movement In
southern Russia, particularly in the
Ukraine.
This report procured the author
much praise, and he received the
eight-poiuted star OF the order Of
st. Andrew.
But in spite of all this, Stacked
berg was terribly depressed. One
recollection haunted him day and
night. Wanda's image was con-
stantly before him. To divert his
mind there was no dissipation in
which he could not be found. He
passed his evenings. and even his
nights, in the fashionable club
houses of Petersburg, where his
coachman often would have to wait
for him the whole night long.
This man had frequently of late
met two other coachmen, who al
ways had an unlimited supply Of
vodka with them.
AS might be foreseen. one night
Prince Stackelberg's driver was
dead drunk; and one of the two
strange coachmtn carefully took off
his coat, dressed himself in it, and
mounted the box of the princes
coupe.
1t was / o'clock in the morning
before Vassili left the club. and he
threw himself into his carriage. AS
soon as the carriage door was shut
a second man mounted the box
with the coachman.
They had arrived at a lonely part
of the city; it looked like desert
ed stone quarry. The horses were
suddenly stopped.
The door of the carriage was
thrown open. and Stackelberg saw,
instead Of his own coachman, two
strange faces.
What is the meaning of this
nonsense?" he asked, in voice
tremulous with rage.
ut MEANS" answered one of the
men, that the revolutionary COM
mittee has determined to revenge
upon your noble person the out
RACES that you have poured out
upon the socialists--the death of
our friends whom you sentenced at
Kieff, and above all, the murder of
Wanda Kryloff."
can ambush! an ambush" cried
Stackelberg, straining his eyes to
see where he was.
In the pale light he saw human
figures like shadows rising out of
the stone quarry, and quickly ad-
vancing towards his coupe. At the
same moment strong arms seized
him, in spite of his resistance, the
people of the shadows fogged him
with whips.
Terrified, enraged, dreading
death, he nevertheless spoke not
one word, uttered no complaint;
but he strove to see the faces Of
his enemies so that he might have
his revenge.
At last they allowed him to get
into his carriage again AS he was
about to step in, he saw two men
already seated inside. He drew
back: but a powerful hand pushed
him in and voice whispered In his
ear, while he felt the cold touch Of
pistol on his temple.
Speak one word, make one
movement, and you are dead!"
AS they drove off, Stackelberg
recognized Litzanoff. The other
man he did not know. 1t was Koro-
left.
"Do you recognize me, wretch?"
asked Stepane.
Stackelberg trembled from head
to foot ,..,... 49,.
When they reached the gates of
the city. Wanda had been avenged,
Koroleff and Litzanoff jumped out
of the carriage, and left the horses
to find their way to their stable
alone.
A letter from Petersburg gives
some facts connected with the per-
sons. who are all drawn from real
life. mentioned In these pages.
Prince Kryloff is hopelessly in
sane.
Koroleff and Stepane are I'm Pc.