South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-02-08

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after the death of his brother-in-
law, Feodor, the eldest son of the
famous Ivon, the Terrible. The lat
ter had left another boy, Dmitry,
whom Godounoff had caused 10 be
murdered in the town Of Uglitsch,
where he had been confined for some
years. But. though powerful party
had helped Boris 10 seize q crown
which did not belong to him, yet
there were many persons in Russia
who openly said that ne was an
usurper, and who were engaged in
a series Of conspiracies against him,
with the intention TO have proclaim
ed as cars the only direct descend
ants of Rurik still left alive, the
Romanoffs The family consisted of
two brothers, Feodor and Nikita.
The latter was considered the hand
soonest man in the whole of Russia
and extremely popular, thanks to his
amiable, sunny temper and his eX-
IRENE generosity, a quality which
had always been unknown TO Boris
Godcunoff.
The latter, determined TO suppress
these dangerous competitors, and he
seized Feodor ROmanoff, conhning
him in a monastery, where he COM
PEELED him to take holy orders much
against his will. Feodor had been
married. His wife was also sent 10
a convent and obliged to take vows
as a nun. She had, however, sue
ceeded in taking with her her only
son, Michael, who remained hidden
in Kostroma and who was later on
to be elected by the bOyars of Mos
COW as car and TO found the dyn-
asty which reigned over Russia until
March.
There remained Nikita Romanoff,
whom IL was not so easy to reduce
to powerlessness, because he was
cautious man, had a considerable
number of followers and was, more
over. very careful not TO appear in
public without being accompanied by
guards in sufficient number to pro-
tect him against an unexpected at
tack. But GodounCff managed to
enlist on his side Nikita's mistress,
who one night when the latter was
in her house opened the door to the
cars soldiers and delivered TO them
Romanoff in his sleep. The unfor-
tunate man was seized, bound with
heavy chains, put in a sledge and
sent 10 d distant village on the ST.
berian frontier, which is now com
prised in the government OF Perm
and which is called NyrOb. The
journey was a long one and it lasted
many weary weeks.
The Punishment.
At last when it's goal wa reached
Romanoff was taken out of lie con-
veyance which had brought him
there and under his eyes a deep hole
was dug in the frozen ground in
which he was lowered, together with
the chains that loaded his ankles
and wrists. The hole was covered
with wooden planks and a guard was
set 20 watch it. with order TO throw
from time 10 time a piece of bread
20 the miserable victim buried there.
The car hoped that a few weeks
at the utmost would see Nikita die.
But ne was young and strong and
he fingered months and months, for
saken by everybody, in this horrible
grace. which held him fast. At last
his guards got weary OF watching
for an end, which seemed as if it
would never come, and they re-
solved not 10 give him food any
longer. so as to be able TO return 10
their homes and 10 report to Boris
Godounoff that his enemy had sue
cumbed. For days the inhabitants
OF Nyrob could hear the wall of
the dying man. imploring a piece
Of bread or a drink of water from
his gaolers
And now comes the legend 10
which / have alluded. Tradition says
that before Nikita expired an old
woman who had the reputation of
being a witch crept up 10 him. after
havi..g sent the guards that watched
over him TO sleep, thanks 10 some
magic passes which she made over
their heads, and that she asked him
what she could do for him. XIII
me" said the miserable wretch; kill
me at once. so that at least I shall
be freed from this agony I am en-
during" Il need not Kill YOU she re-
Piled. because your hour has struck
already, and in a very few moments
YOU shall see the end Of your agony.
But in the meanwhile the Almighty
has allowed me 70 come 10 you and
TO reveal 10 you the future which is
generally hidden from the knowl-
edge o. mankind. You have not
suffered in vain and your race shall
reign over a great and prosperous
Russia in the course OF time. And
in the meanwhile take this bell (and
she handed him a small silver belD
and remember that so long as a
Romanoff shall remain in Moscow
and not come 10 this land where you
have suffered 50 much. il viii ring
20 tell the world the story Of your
martyrdom and OF your Death
The Chapel of the Bell.
The rare travellers who happen 10
visit Nyroh are shown TO this day