New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-04-10

back against the wall and something living
prone across her knees-the body Of the boy
who had been killed in the first SCuftie.
/ remembered all then. and looked round
wildly for Anne. There was no sign either OF
her or Of Natalya.
I scrambled up, impatientlv binding my
handkerchief tight round my wounded head.
which was bleeding prOfu~ely now, and stood
over the silent woman.
Where are they. Where is the lady who
was with VOu.' ! demanded hOdr~ely. An
Swer me, for God $ sake,
They took her away. those fend- incarnate,
and the other woman got up and ran after,
she answered DULY There was an officer with
them. lie cried out that they would teach her
not 10 insult the army.
felt my blood run cold Since I returned
o. this accursed country I had seen many. and
heard of more. deeds OF such flemish cruelty
perpttrate ted ON weak women. on innocent little
children that I knew what the t1~~aCkS We're
capable Of when their blood was up. They
were. as the woman said. hends incsrnate at
such times.
Nv strength came back % me the strength
Of madness. and | rushed down that stricken
street with but one clear idea IN my mind
die avenging Anne. for | knew no power on
earth could save her.
~ ran the tumult waxed louder coming. as
| guessed. from the great square To which the
street led at this end.
Hallway along q woman huddled IN the
roadway clutched at me, with "a moaning cry.
| shook off her grasp. glanced at her. and saw
she was Natdlvd. The faithful soul had not
| been able to follow her mistress far.
" Where have they taken her, | erred.
She could not speak but she glarcd at me- d
world Of anguish and horror IN her dark ewes.
and pointed IN the direction l was going. and
hurried on. | had killer in my hand. the
deadly little bludgeOn of lead set on a spiral
copper spring that was the favOrIte weapon of
the mob. though | haven't the least notion
when picked II up.
Now | was on the fringe of the crowd that
overtOwed from the square and Was pushing
my way forward toward the center, a furious
vortex of noise and confusion. y desperate
| tight was IN progress. Surgrng round something.
some one.
1t is Anna Petrovna!" a woman screamed
her. they are beating her to death Mother Of
| Mercy That such things should be-
a IA We Ell i IL MORT save her,
Avenge herr" some one shouted, myself
| | think, and the cry was taken up and echoed
on all sides 80 there must be- MANY Of the
| league in the turmoil
Now | was IN the thicE of it, d Sw.tving Strug-
Cling mass of men and horses. many OF the
horses plunging riierieSS as the wild horSerueu
pcdrcd IN that stormy sea OF outraged human
ity. The COSsdckS were getting the worst OF IL
for once. not doubt of that.
Back rodrcd mighty voice. e" We have
|
pass
NiShkdS voice and MiShkas burlv figure
mounted on a horse, pressed forward slowly.
forcing way through for another hprSeman
who followed close in his wake
" Make way. comrades shouted NNhka
again. and At the cry. ~ the sight ot the grim
silent horsemdn in the rear. q curious hull tell
ON all within sight and hearing though else
where the strife ragged furiOuSlv as ever.
LorIs sat erect in his saddle a. If ON parade
bare headed his face set like a white mask his
brilliant blue ewes fixed. expressionleSs no.
that's not the right word, but | can't saw what
the expression was, neither horror nor anguish
nor despair. Just a quiet steady gaze. without
a trace ot human emotion IN IT. Save that he
was breathing heavily and slowly he might
have been e ~tatuc--or "a corpse. I am sure ne
Wa quite unconscious Of his surroundings
The rctus Llv loose ON his horses neck and
though IT'S sides hc,tvrd and It's coat was a
plaster cot foam and blood the good beast took
IT'S own quietly through that ,rnseIv
packed. suddenly silent mob. as it it like ITS
master WIS 'hlivluu~ Of the m.td world around
them
But 70 w.te on the burden borne bv the silent
hurScmdn that every eve WIS fixed. a burden
partly hidden bv q ,,,ldirr> grcdtcoat. I knew