El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-01-02

] IN HE long whip cut through the air.
] The horse jumped ahead with re-
= newed energy and count BOroff
cursed.
Faster, faster, Nlcnolas," he cried,
I cor we shall find ourselves stranded
! in this snow"
/ coachman replied without turning
around, the horse is as anxious TO
get home as We are.
Not as anxious as am, SAID lhe
count. Heaven only knows now Iar
this revolution viii spread and II the
news of it has reached my estate, IL
would be just like my peasants TO rise
while I am away-the cOwardly ours.
I must get there tonight to make ready
for them and protect Pauline.
He wrapped himself tighter IN MS
fuF-lined coat while the sleigh sped
forward through the snow that was
falling ever faster.
Under ordinary circumstances count
BorOff never would have thought OF
exposing himself TO d trip like this In
a wind that cut to the very marrow or
his bones in spite OF his heavy rurs.
but the news Of the rising Of the down
trOdden peasants all over the country,
of arson and murder had made him
feel uneasy. He was not loved by his
peasants and his wife was alone in the
old mansion, so he had telegraphed that
he was on his way home and Nicholas
had come to the railroad station for
him.
The station master had warned him
against this nightly sleighride, the
blizzard was Tar from over and wolves
had been seen in many places, but the
count shrugged his shoulders and said
that he was sure Nicholas would bring
him home safely. And Nicholas had
Srunted his assent. he had his own
reasons to get the count home tonight,
but Of these the count knew nothing.
Suddenly the sleigh stopped and the
a q hrnna
We have lost our way count" he
said
You stupid cur" the count cried.
Why do YOU think I feed you and
your brOthers2 Drive on
1t is no use, sir" Nicholas replied.
1t is impossible to find the way while
the blizzard lasts. The horse is spent
too We must remain here and wait
for better weather"
Fine prospects" the count muttered
and sat down in the bottom Of the
sleigh, where he was partly sheltered
from the wind by the broad back of
Ior he had always been used to treat
MS servants as beasts
Nicholas was trembling with cold on
ms seat He expected no better treat
appointed to know that the hour Of
retributiOn had come, and he vas as
impatient to get home as his master.
But while he was waiting for a lull
S
cruelty and countless deeds of violence. 3
Re remembered tAe failure of the re-
beIllon of the peasants many years
ago, Of the part his own father had
played, and how he had been beaten
10 death at the order of the count
He could sim hear the hooking laugh /
ter Of the young count and countess as
they watched the execution and the
counts words, as the old peasant ex- /
pired; One mongrel less So much I
the better. Perhaps that viii teach the /
others lesson"
But that night Nicholas and his two ]
brothers mad sworn a solemn oath to 4
revenge their fathers death and kill D
his murderer in the same manner
The brothers were young, strong and 4
healthy and the count who thought /
they had been taught a wholesome les
SON. had taken them into his personal ]
service, never suspecting that they were I
Just waiting for a chance to get re-
venge.
Patiently they had waited for this
cnance, always prepared to act when
ever it might come and now when the
telegram came, they decided that now
vas the hour of revenge
While Nicholas drove to the station J
he two brothers had gathered a num- !
)er OF angry peasants on the estate.
The count and countess both were |
% die under the whip and Nicholas al /
eady seemed TO hear the swish of the I
Ongs and the cries and prayers of the
.ars and he cursed the snowstorm
which stopped him and perhaps would
aUse the failure Of his plan. For. If
he count did not reach the estate dur
ne the night, the peasants were al
most sure to lose their courage Mich
las trembled with fury at the mere
bought that the storm might save
he count and racked his brain to find
way out.
He had just had an idea and was
bout to call the count when he mo-
iced that the horse began to tremble /
nd whinny- Almost simultaneously
he storm died away. The clouds mart
d and the moon came out. shedding
IS bright light over the barren snow
overed plain. The sleigh was stuck IN
mighty bank Of snow, but Nicholas
ould see where they were, barely two /
niles from home but at the same time
e saw something which almost froze
he blood in his veins. d
On the plain far away q number Of ii
lack dots were trOtting towards the =
leigh with lightning speed-wolves
-hich had got the scent Of the travel
rs
Nicholas's brain worked more rapid {
= than it had done for years. There s
'as no time to lose. Before he saw