The Prescott daily news., 1913-06-05
RUSSIAN JOAN OF ARC
By BESSIE R. HOOVER.


 my distant kinswoman and who has cared for me ever since the awful night at Priblov ten years ago, when my parents were both killed.
 It seemed as if Dmitri could not be spared, for his mothers little holding had to be cared for: and Anna Pret. zof and myself could never do all the work, though I was twenty years old and strong for a girl.
 The day came when Dmitri was to go; but like a stroke out of a clear sky, strange sickness fell upon him that very morning as he started on his way to Svelk, where the recruit ing officer was stationed.
 Dmitri was very sick so sick that he seemed near death OF course he could not go to Svelk that day, but that only put off his going a little longer.
 Then quick resolve came to me, and with it daring plan, that though l was only peasant girl, formed in a moments time.
 Fired with an unreasoning zeal of adventure, I slipped up to the loft where Dmitri's best clothes lay ready for him on a cot. I hastily put them on, and they were a good fit, for ] was about his height, and large and strong for girl. Then l quickly clipped my hair in the fashion of the peasant men, and went down stairs.
 Calling Anna Pretzoff into the kitch- en, told her of my determination to take Dmitri's place, march away with the troops, and when there was no longer any fear of them coming back for Dmitri I would explain all and come home
 At the recruiting station all went as it should, and I was soon march ing, shoulder to shoulder between two stalwart peasant soldiers, who took my presence as a matter of course.
 Gu the third day my name was called as we stopped for dinner beside a little stream.
 "Dmitri Pretzoff, a letter." I had almost forgotten my new name.
 The letter had been written by kins- woman, and said that must come home at once, for Dmitri was dead.
 Dead! Dmitri, my old playmate; the man I was going to marry some time! had not thought that Dmitri would die.
 The old scenes and the familiar faces that had faded so quickly from my careless mind, that the strange events of the last three days had seemed to obliterate, came back, and I was homesick with dull, physical pain. After all, was only woman, and Dmitri had been more to me than I had been conscious of. I must go home and care for his mother.
 That night I got a permit to visit the commanding officers tent He was alone and I told my errand briefly.
 q am a girl" I said, q took the place of Dmitri Pretzoff, who was too sick to come-now he is dead May I go back and take care of his mother?"
 The officer was astonished, then nonplussed, and above all he was dis pleased to think that such trick had been played.
 Did you do this for love of coun' try?" he questioned.
 No" I answered, "T went to seek adventure" then I hung my head foI the part that I was playing did not seem so heroic as it had at home; all of a sudden I saw that I was really an impostor.
 But I was a woman, very tired almost sick, and the officer had com passion on me, for he wrote pass and gave me money enough to get back home on.
 And some way the papers got hold of the story and dilated on it as pa pers will. and it went all over the world that I was a second "Joan of Are" when I was only foolish and ignorant girl.
 I started home, still in my uniform with my knapsack strapped across my shoulders and the precious pass signed by the commanding officer. in my pocket.
 Leaving the train at the little sta tion at Svelk, I tramped disconsolate- ly through the fields towards my kins woman's holding.
 A peasant was working in the field, a strong young fellow, could tell by the lusty strokes of his mattock. Ii must be Jan Covens, l thought, helping because of Dmitri's death.
 "Ho, Jan,' I called, glad to speak to one of my own people again.
 But 1t was not Jan that turned I......I ,,ao nt tha sound of my v0ice-