Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-09-04
THE LITTLE REFUGEE"
HAPPIER 1.-The Mob.


Their" was great rejoicing in the
hnci.n, city ~ Moscow. Russia. Red
ilafs wcr" waving cvcryw here. ana
IA" peasants ana workingm.n would
gather IN mobs and shout. "Iiurrah,
Down with the C.ar' Down with IN.
nobility Tp with the flag" Armed
guards were seen everywhere and
were riding through tho streets with
IN" people following after them like
n pack Of madmcu.
Yes, the Car had been d.thron.d.
d"throncd by tina, crue, organiza,ion
tn. Bolshcvists--wh no have been al
ways the cause Of the downfall of
Russia.
IN" pe"pl" thought that by the de-
thronlng Of the nobility their yoke OF
tyranny would be thrown off. and
they would have freedom ana rule
themselves
All over ;hc city would bc seen sol
diers carrying through the streets
some nohi"!nan Of Russia, who was
disposs-ss.d from his palace ana car
ri'd through the city. amid The jccrs
and Wild laughter of the people. Some
OF them were cut down in III. streets
and Killed; thes" men who. before
this. We're the honor of their nation.
cut down and Jc"rch at 10y the ones
who had. before, houurcd ana loved
them.
The peoples dream OF freedom Was
SO great that little did they think
that the same Bois hcN ists who claim
ed To- set them fire.. would cause their
utter ruin ana be cruclcr than tn,
car had ever thought OF being: and
that the future would be more ter
RIB" than the past had seemed under
the rule of that same dcthroncd car.
Everywhere in the streets. as far as
tn" eye could see. burning castles and
the mohs OF raging people could Ice
seen. Then tho crash OF falling build
iugS and the cries and groanS Of tn.
afflicted.
Human bones and skeletons wcr,
strcWn over the streets: every min
vt" the tumult seemed TO he greater.
and the people. drunk with JOY seem
cd only 80 see freedom" written In
words Of fir" everywhere they went.
Now let us enter one Of the noble
mems palaces. II was situated on the
outskirts OF the city, and was in
closed 10y a big iron fence. In the
halls and corridors are the servants
gathered together talking of the re
cent anliction that had fallen on the
household. and many servant who
had served At the palace many Il long
year would be seen trying to hide
her tears on her apron.
In a dark room the family was
gathered around "a bed. where Il small
boy. sick with fever. lay. They w"r"
the Count and Countess Ostron, and
their two children. Vera, IL. and Jan,
@. Tn" latter was the fever stricken
son Of the Count and Countess who
was dying. Around his bed doctors
We're gathered counting the hours
before life would lie gone from that
feeble little body. The Count and
Countess knclt at the head Of the bed.
the Countess softly crying. ana her
husband trying to Soothc her. At the
other end kncit a little girl praying
for God to spare my little brother"
When she looked up her eyes were
wet with tears. and were tricklinE
down her soft. rcd cheeks. Around
her head clustered curls. nov dis
ordered by weeping.
Nothing was known by the Count
and Countess of the rebellion going
on outside-thcir only interest was in
the sick room, their only hope on the
pillow where Jan lay at the foot of
eternity.
But. suddenly. after days OF wait
ing and watching. there came sounds
of great commotion.
Even the Sorrowing family listened:
there came the sound Of a deep. grun
voice. saying. I'm the name of the
Jaw. letgus enter" Arguments in the
hall by the servants. but finally the
door was opened and the red flag
entered. hoiStcd in the air by the pco-
pie and soldiers.
| They burst into the sick room and
| the leader said: Count Ostroff. you
arc my prisoner The family were
thundcrstrnck.
What great crime have I commit
ted that ] should he taken prisoner p"
| the Count asked. with n calmncss
wrung from his very heart.
"'rhc crime of being n noblcman
an opprcssor of the people" said the
| leader of the red flag with snccr.
But the Countess had already
arisen and fell on her knees before
| them. In n voice. pleading with
emotion. she said: "IIave you no
| mercy? Do you not geo my dying
boy? Surely you would not separate
| mothor from her dying aon?"
But the leader was without mercy,