Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-01-01
The Daily
Short Story
JUST BEFORE THE RUSSIAN
REVOLUTION.
By Alan Hinsdale.

was no more luxurious dwelling place
| for a sovereign than the Winter Pal
ace at what was then called st. Pet
ersburg. What its condition is now
don't know, for I have not seen 1t
since it ceased to be the cars resi-
dence
Not long before the breaking out Of
the world war, l was a tourist In the
capital of Russia, and had letters to
the American ambassador there and to
prominent Russians. Through the en-
| bassy received an invitation to ball
at this same Winter Palace. l will
not pause to describe the scene OF
splendor, but will mention one woman.
about %, who was not only very
beautiful, but bore on her counter
ance the stamp of a marked spirit
within. THAT woman l said to
friend, Interests me; would like to
be presented to her"
| II have her acquaintance" he said.
land will introduce you with pleasure"
This he did. but l did not find much
comfort in the brief chat / had with
her. She seemed to have matters on
her mind that prevented her making
herself agreeable to an untitled strang-
er from America.
There is story connected with her
that / will narrate 1t was-told me by
the man who introduced me to her.
Paul Kaluzsky.
Kaluzsky came from the same place
as she. Their social circles was
Stephan Serozha, an intimate friend of
Paul, whom Paul described to me as
a splendid fellow, endowed with great
patriotism. There were two girls be-
tween whom he divided his attentions.
One was Liza Arkadevna, a modest
country girl. the other Sonia Mikhail-
off, the girl met at the Winter-Pal-
ace The latter spent much time in
1.-THE capital and was occasionally seen
at imperial functions.
Paul told me that Stephan favored
Liza and that Sonia was trying to win
him from her. Stephan admitted that
Sonia was secretly in favor of the rev.
olutionists. and was endeavoring to en-
list the talented Stephan in the cause
) of the people But this was confiden-
tial; Sonia was supposed to be loyal
to the government.
Beyond the fact that Sonia was
Liza's rival, Liza distrusted her. She
, warned Stephan not only against
: Sonia's influence, but against giving
himself up to association with one of
the secret circles of revolutionists
, which were to be found all over Rus
STA. Liza begged Stephan to consider
the horrors Of Siberia, and the dan
ger he would run by Identifying him
self with any move disloyal to the gov
eminent Besides" said Liza, II am
told Sonia was present at the be-
trothal ceremonies" She seemed not
in the least to mind having lost
Stephan to Liza and wished them both
great happiness. In doing SO she
, kissed Liza. Paul who was present
, told me that when this salute was
given, he Judged from the way Liza
received 1t that she considered it a
Judas kiss. At any rate she seemed
!. turned to ice.
ABOUT a week after this Stephan
disappeared. 1t was not feared by his
friends that he had been made away
with by the government for he had
not-so he had assured LiZa-commit-
: ted any disloyal act, having promised
her that he would not do so. Time
passed and nothing was heard Of the
missing man. At least it was reported
: by one who knew him that he had
VI seen Stephan in shackles on his way to
| Siberia.
/ About this time Sonia was placed
e under arrest by the government. ac-
= cused Of being member Of revolu-
4 tionary circle. She had strong friends
r at court and 1t was said that they Sc
J. cured her release. At any rate after
1 being held some time her friends ex-
/. pecting every day that she would be
9 l-sent to Siberia she was let out of
: prison and restored to favor. II was
e not long after this that I saw her at
e the Winter Palace. Paul and were
leaving the palace when she passed
out to enter her auto to be driven
: away to her apartments. went to
o Paul's home with him and over a
! glass Of wine and cigar he told me
: the story. We little thought that We
9 were so near its climax.
a The next day Paul called at my no.
!, tel and with look of horror on his
!, face, told me that when Sonia's chauf
: fer opened the door of her limousine
= he found her dead with a dagger in
= her heart.
l too was appalled, but not as much
, as Paul, who had known the victim
= from childhood.
My first thought was that Liza was
!, implicated in the murder. / suggested
r it to Paul who frowned it down at
!, once
= / did not receive solution Of the
D. mystery till after the disposition of the
czar and the release Of the Siberian
prisoners. Then heard it from Paul.
Sonia was government spy. For
! revenge upon Stephan who had turned
e from her to Liza, she falsely de-
: nounced him as revolutionist Her
!, arrest was blind A circle OF revo-
y lutionists to which she belonged and
II whose secrets she was ging the gov
: erment, learning Of her treachery ap-
9 pointed one of its number to dispatch
q her
IS Stephan being freed from Siberia
rejoined his betrothed.