The Press., 1917-12-20
How the Scale Was Turned
An Incident of the Rus
 sian Revolution
H ?. A. MITCHELL

days to bring about a change in the government which had endured with out break for many centuries. Calling A drosky, he entered it, telling the coachman to drive him to his home, { and throwing himself back on the cush- ion behind him, closed his eyes and re- mained in a position denoting exhaus- ton till the vehicle drew up before his | house on q broad avenue lining the Neya. Descending from the drosky, he paid the drIver his fare and entered his home.
 He was met in the han by his daugh- ter Marya, a girl not long turned sew enteen. Marya was typical Russian. Her eyes were a pale blue, her com \ plexIon soft white with faint tinge of rose, her hair so light that had 1t not ! been for her youthful face 1t might have almost been mistaken for the | wilderness Of age.
 .'Oh, father" she said, "I 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 | V betrothai"
 "why do you trouble me about this matter" replied the father angrily, "at such a timer Do you not know that we are on the eve of consummation of efforts that have been working for half a century to throw Om the des- potism which sucks the lifeblood of our people? Besides, it is impossible that you, the descendant of a long line of nobles. should unite with a com ! moner.'
 But, papa. are you not working for the cause of the people?"
 ''Yes. but that is no reason why I should take one of the people into my family"
 'Sergius is an officer. the youngest captain in his regiment"
 He was a common soldier in the l ranks"
 And was promoted on account of his having more influence over his com regiment together"
 Enough. I have neither time nor inclination to argue with you on this point while engaged in the great work 1 If pulling down the tottering bureau craey. You know that the czar, 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. q k.n 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 sac eeed we will free our country; if we fall we will be prescribed. Our chains will be so riyeted that the sledge of n Titan cannot break them"
 'EBut surely you will win.''
 Not if the czar continues to pour troops into the capital All autOcratic governments are supported by bayO- nets. The officers are usually chosen from the aristocratie 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 ot these officers have gone down ill the struggle with the central powers, and their places have been filled by men from the people.
 Ut Is to he supposed that the czar has concentrated such regiments in PetrOgrad as are oflcered by super fiuity of men upon whom he can rely. We are secretly arranging for a coup d'etat. 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 It's success depends upon whether the troops can be relied upon to shoot down the revolutionists. Now, my child, I 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 moi your equal in social rank"
 The father was-about to turn away when the daughter stopped him. VI not this a too dangerous move in which you are engaged? What course will our generals at the front take? Will they not protect the czarina and her children with their llyes"
 ''The czarinar' cried Mikhailof angri- ly. ''It 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- II fiuence trains laden with our stores have been sent from west to east in stead os from east to west. In league with the detestable Rasputin she has baffied the efforts of those very gen erals at the front who you are think Ing may protect her. .... ...
 Tt k they who have called upon us here tO bring about this revolution. They have arranged that the czar shall be arrested and forced to abdicate for himself and for his son. The mem bers of the imperial family are to he held prisoners in the palace. The best men in Russia are watching and wait ing to form new government" II w uAAG RAAhAAAANA AtAM btCAA MArya had been listening intently, at the same time thinking of her lover, who on the morrow would take part in this great movement. anxious both for him and her father.
 Stephan Mikhailof staggered upstairs to his room and without removing his clothes threw himself on the bed and was asleep the moment he touched it.
 A few minutes later there waF a summons at the street door, and Cap tain Ivanovitch entered the house. Marya joined him immediately.
 Have you seen your fatherg' the captain asked anxiously.
 "Yes," replied Marya in q voice that trembled. He has refused his con- sent"
 Marya ran over what her father had told her as to that which was expected