The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-07-09
How Peter Alexief Was
Saved From Siberia
BY PAUL VRoNskY

40 hNAhd PiV'idNt VI hhoois
there lived peasant whose daughter
Anna, was a very pretty girl. Pete
Alexief. young farmer, wooed ant
won her, and II seemed that happy
future was before the young couple
That was before the revolution which
deposed the Car Nicholas, and the
government was keeping a sharp eye
on all persons who were suspected OF
plotting against It, A large force OF
secret police-better named spies-was
scattered all over Russia.
Not only those who We're really SO
minded reported to the minister of the
interior at the capital, but II one per-
son had private grudge against an
other there was liability that he would
take revenge by reporting him to the
police as a revolutionist, or what was
then called a nihilist This was also
true of the spies themselves. II spy
chose to condemn person he wished
to get rid Of. that person was taken
away and nothing was heard Of him
afterward. He was buried In the con-
vict mines of Kara.
While Peter and Anna were making
their preparations to be married there
came to the province where they lived
a man whose name was Ivan Ivano-
witch. He did not look like Russian,
for he was dark complexioned, while the
people among whom he had come had
light skins and hair. Ivan had come
from the Crimea, which is southern
province, where what is called the Med
iterranean race Is prevalent This race
is OF southern blood and used to hot
climate.
Ivan had no visible occupation and
was known to be government spy.
He met Anna at dance In barn and
conceived a passion for her. Anna,
knowing him to be spy, dreaded him,
but dared not refuse to dance with
him, fearing that he would take re-
yenge upon her.
Ivan, becoming more and more enam-
ored of Anna, began to look about for
some act Of Peters which could be
used as evidence against him. This
was shortly before the revolution
whereby the people of Russia wrested
a constitution from the car, and Pc
ter's neighbors were beginning to plan
for resistance against the governments
despotism. Peter got wind of the In
quiries of Ivan and told his friends
that he feared the spy was planning
to get him out Of the way that he
might possess himself Of Anna.
Meanwhile Anna, not daring to de-
cline the attentions of Ivan, accepted
invitations from him. One evening the
two were walking together toward An
mas house when Ivan left her. AS he
turned away citizen tapped him on
the shoulder and asked him to come |
with him. The citizen took him to
house where a dozen men were wait
ing for them. One of the men said to
Ivan:
you are suspected of trying to make
a case against Peter Alexief to send
him to Siberia that you may marry
his betrothed. You are hereby notified
that If anything happens to Peter your
life will be forfeited"
II deny the charge" replied Ivan. II
have no need to get rid Of Peter. The |
girl prefers me to him"
1t was plain to all that quite likely
II Anna were called upon to choose be-
tween the two she would not dare to
choose Peter for fear of Ivan.
II am ready to fight with my rival
for the girl | love and who, I believe,
loves me. This proves that / am not
planning to take any underhanded adj
vantage Of him."
Now, it was suspected that Ivan,
who had come from a country where
weapons are in common use, whould
make short work of Peter, who had c
been born and grown up simple
farmer. The spokesman Of the tribu- a
nal before whom Ivan was arraigned S
consulted with the others and then S
.urned to the prisoner.
your proposition to fight your rival O
or the possession of the girl is accept t
ID. Since you are the challenger he h
will have the choice OF weapons" q
Peter was sent for and closeted with
he leader OF the citizens who were en-
to save him from his rival b
they proposed TO Peter that he should :.
lght Ivan, choosing weapons which :,
would give him an advantage over his
nemy Peter could think of no weap-
n that he could WELD even indiffer-
ntly, whereupon one was suggested =
0 him. He gave his consent at once, =
nd 1t was arranged that the duel y
hould come Off at dawn. D
The thermometer at sunrise stood at AZ
0 degrees below zero. Peter. who tc
7as used to cold weather, walked out nj
D the yard In che rear of the house
yhere the fray was to take place In bt
hirt and trousers. Ivan, who had been az
sed TO a hot climate, had on his warm til
st clothing One of those present
anded each OF the disputants the noz- To-
e OF hose. Ivan stood aghast. He er
NV at once that he must fight with
I'D water. w
But 1t was too late to recede. A faint IN
ope came TO him that his warm nj,
othing would protect him. He took in,
lie nozzle offered him. the signal was -,
ven. and the two men poured o.
ream at each other which was as
I'D as Il could be without freezing. -,
eter did not seem in the least trou-
ed by his cold bath. but his enemy 90
Elapsed in FIVE minutes. He dropped