Metropolis weekly gazette. (Metropolis, Ill.) 1???-19??, 1914-04-24
NIHILIST OF KIkAMSK
How the Act of a Cat Saved the
Life of a Condemned
Prisoner.
BY L. q. KINDER

the assaults of the revolutionists, the
death of Prince Droboken, governor
of an obscure province on the eastern
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-
tfnued to 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 we're 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
pinski. 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 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 fared into a blaze and his
voice filed 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 massive
leather chair before her boudoirs
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 Are. 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
fuzzy pillow and her eyes closed.
The blazing wood fell and 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 II 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
Sonia will ever remember. A heavy
body struck her shoulder and sharp
nailed fingers ciutched her throat.
With a shrek she writhed back from
her assailant and losing her balance.
fell upon the floor.
Fortunately her cutlery had been
heard. Attendants rushed to her AID
and guards secured the palace doors.
The doctor declared the princess unin-
jured. save for several deep scratches
on her throat.
Meanwhile the palace was thorough
ly searched for the assailant. ard the
guards soon returned from tn outer
ball, dragging struggling. cdrsing
man. IL was the peasant Lupinski.
VINO 0dQ tHfedtcHtu fcukt1uCd
Passionately he protested his inno-
cence, asserting that he had returned
to beg forgiveness for his rude con-
duct OF that afternoon and declaring
that he was most loyal to her and to
the Russian government.
The princess, however. gazed with
horror upon the hands raised In fran
tic appeal. for the fingers were long
and sinewy. and the long nails were
curved and sharp like claws. Again
she shuddered and waived the guards
to remove the prisoner.
Lupinsh was given formal trial
In which evidence of the accuseds
threats against the Princess Sonia,
his forcible election from the city, his
presence in the corridor of the gov
ernor's place. his attempts at con-
ceniment and desperate efforts to -es-
cape. coupled with the dastardly as
sault in the dark upon the princess,
outweighed his logged denial of guilt
without leaving their seats, the jury
convicted him and the Judge passed
the sentence of death