Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-27

pl1SneQ anything beyond paving the way tor
those who come after. There is terrible time
in store for Russia. my friend! The masses are
| ripe for revolt. Even the bureaucracy know
| that now, and they try to gain time by raising
side issues. Therefore, here in the country dis
| tricts they stir UP the muzhiks. Murder and
rapine follow: then the troops are sent, and
punish indiscriminately, in order to strike ter
ror into the people. They create desolation
and call it peace. You have seen instances
yourself on your way hither?"
| l nodded, remembering the devastated vii
| lagos we had passed.
1.-The new League is striving to preserve
peace and to save the innocent. Here in the
| country its members are pledged first to en-
deavor to improve the condition of the peas
ants, to teach them to be peaceable, self sup
porting, and self respecting,-a hard, we'll nigh
hopeless task, since in that as in all other at
| tempts at reform, one has to work in defiance
/ of the Government.
"Well, from what I've heard and seen during
the last part of my Journey you've managed to
do good deal in that way, sir, l suggested
respectfully.
sufferance. and, as it were, with both hands
| tied, )" he said sadly. eff had been any other,
l should have been sent to Siberia long ago. 1t
is the mere accident of birth that has saved me
so far. But as to the League. The present
plan of campaign is. roughly speaking to pre-
vent riots and bloodshed. If news is gained of
an intended raid, warning is sent to those
| threatened. and if possible defense arranged.
| Even from here l have been able to assist a
little in such matters" Again his eyes cleaned
with that swift flash of mirth, though he con-
tinued his grave speech. More than one ca
tastrophe has been averted already; but the
distances are so great that often one hears of
the affairs only after they are over.
| That will be part of your work To bring
news as you gather 1.-THE Pavloffs will help
you there,-and to accompany when |
choose to elude my jailers for few hours; per-
haps to 60 in my stead, if it should be impos-
4 Ii 7
do when it comes to fight. Well, this is the
sport | offered you. Do you care to go in for
| it? If not
"You know care!" exclaimed half in
dignnantlly , and on that we griPped hands IDS $500
me much information that l need not set down
here and we spoke often of Anne. He seemed
much interested in my cousin Mary Cayley-
naturally, as she was Anne's friend and hostess,
and seemed somehow relieved when l said
Mary was still in complete ignorance of all that
had happened and was happening.
/ Il should like to meet your charming cousin; ;
but that will never be, fear, though perhaps
who knows?-she and her friend may yet be
reunited" he said rousing himself with sigh
and shiver.
slept late when did get to bed, and was
awakened at last by Nicolai who had breakfast
ready and informed me that Mishka was in
| readiness to escort me to his fathers house.
| FOR time life went smoothly enough. was
out and about all day with the Pavloffs.
experimenting the trial of the new farming
machines and the distribution of the impe-
ments. During the first day or two Grodwitz
| or one of the other officers always accompanied
me. ostensibly as an act of courtesy toward
stranger,-really, as well understood, to watch
me: and therefore l was fully on my guard
They relaxed their vigilance all the sooner.
think, because in my pretended ignorance OF
Russian l blandly endeavored to press them
into service as interpreters, which they found
extensively boring
| They treated me quite as comrade, though
even at dinner, and when we were playing cards
at night, one or other of them was continually
| trying to draw me, and had to be constantly
| on the alert. | had no further public audience
with the Duke, though he came to my room
several times by the secret stair.
But evening. as Mishka and | rode
toward the castle, pebble shot from clump
of bushes near at hand and struck his boot.
With grunt he reined up, and, without glanc-
ing in the direction whence the missile came,
dismounted and pretended to examine one of
| the horses feet. But / saw fur cap and then
| a face peering from among the bushes for an in
slant, and recognized Yossof. Another missile
fell at Mishka's feet, a small packet in dark
wrapping. He picked it UP. thrust it into his
pocket, swung into the saddle, and we were Oft
| on the instant.
All he -ondescended to say was See that
you are alone in the hour before dinner. There
| may be work to do
] took the hint, and usual dispensed with
| haf