Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1914-05-15
NIHILIST OF KIKAMSK
How the Act of a Cat Saved the
Life of a Condemned
Prisoner.
BY l.. 3. KINDER

chief cities or the Russian empire,
which threatened to collapse beneath
the assaults of the revolutionists, the
death of Prince Droboken, governor
OF an obscure province on the eastern
border, attracted so little attention at
st. Petersburg that for months no sue
cessor was appointed. Nevertheless,
affairs went on as smoothly as before
under guidance of Princess Sonia, who
had in fact ruled in her fathers name
since the latter had been stricken with
paralysis ten years prior to his death.
Rumors of distant strife produced
but little effect upon the inhabitants
of this province, who had never had
occasion to protest against oppression
by the governor. Thus 1t was that
while the Little Father" hid in bomb
proof chambers, the princess con-
tinued to hold her Thursday afternoon
levees with perfect safety. The only
danger to be feared was from outsid-
ers, but even here the good will of
her people protected her as no guard
could have DONE A dozen times revo-
lutionary instigators were driven from
the province or delivered into her
hands by indignant peasants. who
henceforward regarded all strangers
with suspicion.
Hostile eyes therefore greeted the
unfamiliar garb Of the petitioner Lu-
pinski, who came from the mountain
region, long days journey northeast
of Kikamsk. Sonia. however, received
him kindly and, although compelled
to deny his suit, gave her reasons in
detail and placed in his hands purse
of silver. The good looking young
peasant failed to grasp the meaning Of
her words, until bestowing the purse,
she gently dismissed him Then, real
izing that his petition had failed, his
dull eyes flared into blaze and his
voice filled the room with passionate
outcry.
The palace guards precipitously sur
rounded him and at Sonia's command
led him without injury to the city
gate, where he was set free with a
warning not to return. With that i'm
passive dignity for which her family
had long been noted, the princess re-
sumed her audience and continued to
receive petitioners until the last had
been heard.
Yet, when the days business was
over and she reclined in a massive
leather chair before her boudoir's
open fire, she trembled at thought OF
the peasant fiery eyes and menacing
words.
Soothed by the warmth OF the fire
and the quieting after-dinner coffee
she at length forgot her fears. She
yawned and left the chair for a low
wide couch. where she lay gazing into
the fire. Her large. white angora cal
stealing in from the outer room, sa
composed upon the hearth and WASHED
her face, then crouched and purred.
Gradually objects about Sonii
seemed absorbed in the fickering fire
light Her head sank deeply into tn,
fluffy pillow and her eyes closed.
The blazing wood fell and a feath
cry coating OF ashes gathered upoi
the Goals. The glow faded from tn
walls and shadows crept up to tn
hearth. where the angora still
crouched. her green eyes intent
staring, as II fastened upon some prey
The princess slept. her sweet fac
turned towards the fire. her bosom ri'
ing slightly. the pulse in her whit
throat throbbing with the even pulsi
tion OF good health.
The horror OF that awakenin
Sonia will ever remember. A heav
body struck her shoulder and sharl
nailed fingers clutched her throa
With a shrek she writhed back froI
her assailant and losing her balance
fell upon the floor.
Fortunately her outcry had bee
heard. Attendants rushed to her al
and guards secured the palace door
The doctor declared the princess unii
jured. save for several deep scratche
on her throat.
Meanwhile the palace was thorough
ly searched for the assailant, and th
guards soon returned from the out,
hall. dragging a struggling cnrsin
man II was the peasant Lupinsk
who had threatened vengeance.
Passionately he protested his INN
cence. asserting that he had returne
10 beg forgiveness for his rude col
duct OF that afternoon and declarin
that he was most loyal to her and
the Russian government.
The princess, however. gazed wit
horror upon the hands raised in fra
tic appeal. for the fingers were Ion
and sinewy, and the long nails wei
curved and sharp like claws. Agai
she shuddered and waived the guart
TO remove the prisoner.
Lupinsh was given n formal tri
IN which evidence of the accused
threats against the Princess Soni
his forcible election from the city, h
presence in the corridor OF the 90
ernor's place. his attempts at CO
cealment and desperate efforts TO @
cape, coupled with the dastardly a
sault IN the dark upon the princes
outwoighed his dogged denial OF gui
Without leaving their seats. the ju
convicted him and the Judge pass,
the sentence Of death.
During the weeks stay OF execute
granted the prisoner In order that
might settle his affairs, Sonia scarce
gave him thought. As a woman 81