Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1914-04-18
NIHIlIsT OF kIkAMsK
How the Act Of a Cat Saved the
Life Of a Condemned
Prisoner.

While anarchy ragged openly In the
chief cities OF 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 It was that
while the Little Father" hid in bomb
proof chambers, the princess con-
tinued 10 hold her Thursday afternoon
leyees 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 Luz
pinslki, who came from the mountain
region, a 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 a 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 fiared into a 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 cat
stealing in from the outer room, sat
composed upon the hearth and washed
her face, then crouched and purred
Gradually objects about Sonia
seemed absorbed in the Pickering fire.
light Her head sank deeply into the
fluffy pillow and her eyes closed.
The blazing wood fell and a feath-
cry coating of ashes gathered upon
the Goals. The glow faded from the
walls and shadows crept up to the
hearth, where the angora still
crouched, her green eyes intently
staring, as If fastened upon some prey.
The princess slept, her sweet face
turned towards the fire. her bosom ris-
ing slightly. the pulse in her white
throat throbbing with the even pulsa-
ton of good health.
The horror of that awakening