Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1915-11-05
A Russian S Effort
to Lose Himself
By EUNlG BLAKE

Peter Trolenco was u member of one
Of those circles that sprang up in Rus
STA some forty years ago when nihil-
ism was first heard of. They took their
name from their underlying principle
that nothing in government which ex-
listed should continue. The Latin word
for nothing" is nihil.
There was great secrecy in those cir
cles. the members of one circle being
completely ignorant Of those in anoth-
er. Peter understood that different
circles worked in harmony through
their chiefs, but beyond this he had no
information whatever. And yet St..
Petersburg (now Petrograd), where he
lived, was full of nihilists.
Peter was young, and there was
something captivating in all this mys-
terry. But one night there came to him
terrible awakening. Lots were
drawn to decide which one Of the cir
Gle should assassinate the chief of pO-
lice, and Peter drew the fatal paper.
on which had been sketched dagger,
all the rest being blanks.
All the romance attending the secret
meetings, the DISCUSSES, the many in
genious plans of the propaganda Of nj
hilism. shriveled before this terrible
deed which Peter was required to CON-
NIT and from which there was no es-
cape. He might fee to the ends Of the
earth. but would never know when
some one, possibly his best friend.
would strike him.
10 add to his horror, he loved a
young girl, to whom he was expecting
to be married. Nina Dimitrieff was at
the time preparing her trousseau. Pc
ter feared that his misfortune. which,
in any event. would break their be-
trothal, would kill her.
He spent long while in making up
his mind what to do and finally decid-
ed upon fight. He would leave Rus
STA disguised and 60 to land where
he would be lost to the world. But
what action should he take i'll refer
ence to his betrothed? After weigh
ing the matter, dreading the shock he
would cause her by telling her what
had happened, he decided to disappear
from her as mysteriously as from 9th
ers. He would confide only in his
mother.
A few days after he had drawn thu
dagger he began journey to the Dor
, der. Disguised as beggar, he Travelled
by night and begged by day in tn
towns through which he passed. VIVA
money he took with him, added to wha
he received from charity, enabled hin
to reach Genoa and take passage TO
America.
For five years the fugitive KEEP
i changing his residence, avoiding tn
! large cities so far as possible, think
! ing to lose himself more effectively il
the country. But whenever he cam
! near Russian he moved on. He dare
: not write to his mother for fear hi
letters would be intercepted, but be
, fore leaving Russia he had laid a pla
for communicating with her at long in
tervals. Finally he received word fro1
her that friend Of his in the circle t
! which he belonged had informed bel
at the risk of his life. that an emissar
had been sent to assassinate him.
One day Peter appeared in a SINAI
town in Missouri to receive a commu
nication expected from his mother
What was his establishment to Sc
! walking on the main street Nina DIM
! trief. The sight staggered him. Coul
It be possible that the girl he loved la,
been sent out to kill him? He Danish
ed the thought and ran toward he,
Seeing him, she gave him a meantn
glance and passed on.
! Peter followed her and presently say
her drop bit Of paper. Picking it up
he read, Meet me at II on the bridge
The town was on the bank Of a small
stream spanned by a single bridge
This fixed the place. At the hour up
pointed he went there. Nina soon ap
peared, and the two were clasped in ar
embrace.
Then Nina told her story. After hi
disappearance she had wormed the Sc
cret from his mother. But it was MOI
till Nine. Trolenco told her that an
emissary had been dispatched to XIII
him that Nina decided to join him in
his exile. The immediate reason fol-
her coming was to warn him against
this person who had been described to