The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-06-14
! How theScale:
;: Was Turned
! An Incident of the Rus. -.
! sian Revolution
Nv F. A. Mitchell
BY F. A. Mitchell

where he had been working hard for
days to bring about change In the
government which had endured with
out break for many centuries. Calling
a drosky, he entered 1t, telling the
coachman to drive him to his home.
and throwing himself back on the cush-
Ion behind him, closed his eyes and re-
ton till the vehicle drew up before his
house on broad avenue lining the
Neva. Descending from the drosky. he
paid the driver his fare and entered
his home.
He was met in the hall by his daugh-
ter Maya, a girl not long turned sew
enteen. Maya was typical Russian.
Her eyes were pale blue her COM
plexion soft white with a faint tinge of
rose, her hair so light that had 1t not
been for her youthful face it might
have almost been mistaken for the
wilderness Of age.
ooh, father" she said, II am so glad
that you have come. Sergius Ivano-
witch is In Petrograd, his regiment
having arrived last night. He has been
to see me and begs me to intercede
with you to gain your consent to our
betrothal"
"Why do you trouble me about this
matter" replied the father angrily, at
such time? Do you not know that
we are on the eve Of contamination
Of efforts that have been working for
half century to throw of the des-
pOtism which sucks the lifeblood of
our people? Besides, 1t is impossible
that you, the descendant of a long line
Of mobiles, should unite with a COM
moner."
but, papa, are you not working for
the cause Of the people?"
Eyes, but that is no reason why l
should take one Of the people into my
family"
"Sergius is an officer, the youngest
captain in his regiment"
HE was common soldier In the
ranks"
"And was promoted on account Of
his having more influence over his com
rades than all the other officers Of the
regiment together"
Enough. l have neither time nor
inclination to argue with you on this
point while engaged in the great work
OF pulling down the tottering bureau
cracy. You know that the car, aware
OF our efforts to free Russia, dissolved
the representative assembly which we
wrung from him in the last revolution.
You know that we refused to be dis
solved. This from the governments
point Of view is revolution, treason.
Had the car the power his predeces-
sors had every member of the duma
would either be sent to Siberia or exc
cuted. Even as 1t it, remember that
your father Is in jeopardy If we sue
coed We will free our country; If we
fail we will be prescribed. Our chains
Will be SO riveted that the sledge of
Titan cannot break them
but surely you will win"
Not If the car continues to pour
troops into the capital All autocratic
nets. The officers are usually chosen
from the aristocratic classes, and the
officers control the men. When the
war began the bureaucracy controlled
the appointment of officers and took
care to appoint those upon whom they
could rely to support the throne. Many
OF these officers have gone down In the
struggle with the central powers, and
their places have been filed by men
from the people.
1t Is to be supposed that the car
has concentrated such regiments in
Petrograd as are differed by a super
fluffy of men upon whom he can rely.
We are secretly arranging for coup
detat. Tomorrow morning the people
Will turn out In the streets and demand
food. Their clamor will increase till
the troops are called upon to quell the
disturbance. That will be the critical
moment. The revolution win COM
mence, and its success depends upon
whether the troops can be relied upon
to shoot down the revolut1onists. Now
my child, must get some rest. have
not slept for two nights. Do not men
ton again the name of Captain Ivano.
witch. l will never consent to a union
between you and any man who is not
your equal In social rank"
The father was about to turn away
when the daughter stopped him.
But, papa" she said anxiously. lis
not this too dangerous move In which
you are engaged? What course will
our generals at the front take? VIII
they not protect the czarina and her
children with their livesY
The czarinar cried Mikhailof ansri-
ly. st is this German woman who
has brought about this grave crisis.
She has been furnishing our enemies
with information Of our movements
and our necessities. Through her in
huence trains laden with our stores
have been sent from west to east in
stead of from east to west. In league
with the detestable Rasputin she has
baftied the efforts of those very gen
erals at fhn front ybn vo,,