The herald., 1915-08-26
A Russian S Effort
to Lose Himself
By EUNICE BLAKE

Peter 1rOlencO was member or 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 Petrogradl. 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 pc
| lice. and Peter drew the fatal paper
on which had been skctched a 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. shrivelcd before this terrible
| deed which Peter was required TO com
| nit and from which there was no es-
cape He might flee TO the ends Of the
some one. possibly his best friend
would strike him.
To add To his horror, he loved a
young girl. to whom he was expecting
to be married Nina Dimitrief 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
sia disguised and go to land where
he would be lost to the world. But
what action should lie take in 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 the
dagger he began journey to the Dor
der. Disguised as beggar. he Travelled
by night and begged by day In the
towns through which he passed. What
money he took with him. added to what
he received from charity, enabled him
to reach Genoa and take passage for
America.
For five years the fugitive kept
changing his residence. avoiding the
large cities so far as possible, think
| ing to lose himself more effectively In
the country. But whenever he came
near q Russian he moved on. He dared
not write TO his mother for fear his
| letters would be intercepted. but be-
fore leaving Russia he had laid plan
for communicating with her at long in
tervals. Finally he received word from
her that friend of his in the circle to
which he belonged had informed her.
at the risk of his life. that an emissary
had been sent to assaSsinate him.
One day Peter appeared in a small
| town in Missouri TO receive n cOmmu-
nication expected from his mother.
| What was his astonishmcnt to see
walking on the main street Nina Dimi-
| trieff. The sight staggered him. Could
it be possible that the girl he loved had
been sent out to kill him? He Danish
ed the thought and ran toward her
| Seeing him, she gave him a meaning
| glance and passed on.
Peter followed her and presently saw
her drop bit Of paper. Picking it up,
he read, Meet me at IL on the bridge"
The town was ON the bank OF small
stream spanned by a single bridge.
This fixed the place. At the hour APP
! pointed he went there. Nina soon APP
peared, and the two were clasped in an
| embrace.
Then Nina told her story. After his
disappearance she had wormed the Sc
cret from his mother. But it was not
till Nine. Trolenco told her that an
emissary had been dispatched to kill
him that Nina decided to join him in
his exile The immediate reason for
her coming was to warn him against
this person who had been described to
his mother. Nina knew the man who
was to avenge the circle. but he did
not know her. Indeed. she had seen
him in the town that day.
| What was to be done? Nina declared
that she would remain with her lover,
protect him so far as she might be
able and die with him IL she could not
save him. The danger was imminent
Besides. II they left the town they
would be followed. They talked to-
gether long while. discussing various
plans. and finally adopted one that bid
fair to accomplish the desired result
The stream flowing beneath them
was a tributary to the Missouri river.
Beyond the Missouri were the plains,
then uncivilized. Arranging to meet at
a point in Kansas. they separated. Pc
ter descended the stream and reached
the Missouri in the morning. There he
found a boat tied to the shore. In the
| how he Dlaced a paper. on which he