Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-08-08
PROLOGUE

ruu n,ano a man sat playing the
I,n.o,r,ionary Etude" Of Chopin.
IN was magnificent in Its pro-
,. It's furnishings were massive
s'tn,,.d s'tou", oak walls were hung with
z s.,,.,ts r.H Of men and women m, MN, in tho tn
f'ran. - n bysone day. Through the
um .,,dows. the easements Of which
w W. VIZ 70 the evening sky, there
ya' or ,,s,a Of forest and meadow land
W ..,,r, ,uterminably to the setting
r''u Ths mosque. like cupo'a OF vii,
y. rs church, fe wversts distant .sai,n. slim.
~ "a d' like a pearl in the dusky setting
p',,a . .aodsd hills, and close by IT., here
N 49, t,ny spirals Of opalesccnt
:ss !ssss marked the dwellings Oh ~'h0'0
hlsc' .ns man at the piano was de-
~ A being apart from tnis s sstne
it nvi:t. absorbed In his piano, wh,ed hed
a'fst forth the turbulence when naa
m n the soul Of the great composer;
x. sIpression upon the dark inee VI
~. ~ vo,,nr musician was rapt anu enSeI,
~ uNaI }'th he crashed the chords TO their
slmnnhant sl conclusion when ne sunny
wv alIhn Il his chair with gasp, nus heaa
~ torwnrd upon his breast, ms dnrK
Nn EYed upon the keys which stiii
!phoed with the tumuit. ,.
k9Veu ~ 90. at This moment that door Mt
a. .ide OF the room was opened ana u
~ us,s. haired man In purple livery en-
xnnS xS and stood in silence regarding
..,S.r IN wistfully the man at the piano,
nsn % raised his head abruptly Ike one
..,,ed from dream.
".SyS "M.Wbat is il, vasili?" asked the mu'
hcian. uooohod softly n fcw
''pi' II did not wish to intrude, lIighness,
'u The old servant hcsitatcd, the
a, n man shrugged and rose, disclosing
h mh. straight figure. clad In q dark
s,,s h,onse. loose trousers and brown
pus, u,. literally bespattered with mud.
~" NJ ,,ow NJ The sun which shot across
H. tsco ns he came forward into the
H., showed swarthy features, level
hsown h n straight nose, wcll-turned
Mn n small mustache and q generous
auth which revealed q capacity for
h~mor lie was quite calm now, and
~. tores Of his voice were almost boy
III tsS In their confidence and gayety.
nWell. what Is it. FaFiliF' he re-
,ssted, "You lave the air of one with
p'nsb on YOUR conscience. Out with 1t.
WaS M Sacha been fighting with you
again" , 40. so,ho " said ths
sd man clearing his throat nervously,
1T Is something worse-much worse
"Impossible - said the other with a
hu,h ns he took up cigarette from
tSs toble. Nothing could be worse
thsn A Russian cook when she gets into
"Bit It Is. Mastcr-somethins worse
much worse-----'
"Really! You alarm me- The
Grand Duke threw himself into an arm
chair and inhaled luxuri riously OF his
cigarette. And then with shrug,
"Well?"
The old man came pace or two
Narer, muttcring hoarsely, They We
broken out In the village again." he
psped.
suddenly.
Him. When did this happen?'
Last night. And this morning they
burned the stables of Prince Galitzin
and looted the castle"
The young mah sprang to his feet.
"You are sure of this!"
"Yes, Master. The word was brought
BY Serge Anlricv less than ten min
utes ago."
lie took few rapid PAGES up and
down the room, stopping by the open
window and staring out.
Fools" he muttered to himself.
Then turning to the old servitor, But,
Vaslli-why is it that l have heard
nothing Of this? Today Conrad, the
forester, said nothing to me. And the
day before yesterday in the village the
people swept off their caps to meas
In the old days. I could have sworn
Nrything would be peaceful at Zukoyo
at least, for the present." he
added as though in an afterthought.
u pray God that may be true" NUT
tered Vasili uncertainty. And then
with unction, "In their hearts, they
still love you, Iighness. They are chill
dren-your children, their hearts still
hll Of reverence for the Grand Duke
Peter Nicholaevitch In whom runs the
ume blood as that which ran in the
sacred being Of the Little F8ther-but
their brains! They are drunk with the
poison poured into their minds by the
Committeeman from Moscow"
Ah,' eagerly, "they returned?'
Last night" replied the old man
mgging his head. And your people
forgot all that you had said to them
oil that they owe to you. They are
mao, " he finished despairingly. mad :"
The. Grand Duke had folded his arms
ind was staring out Of the window to-
ward the white dome Of the church now
Dyed red like globulc of blood in the
sunset.
The old man watched him for mo
nent, all the fealty of his many years
d service in his gaze and attitude.
-, do not Ike the look of things
hlghness. What does it matter how
badi" " '' ''''' 90
must go and talk with them
tSili,' said the Grand Duke quietly.
Ihe old man took step forward.
AZ might make so free"
Speak"
mot tonight, Master"
Why not?"
. IT will be dangerous. Last nigh
you" "e"'N''
Me; Why? Have I not done every
tSs'ls ttS1'ns ., ! could to help them? an
.nelr fricnd-b because | believe in theil
ssaSe and they will get their rights
@O, put not by burning and lootinl
n, And murder, Master. Two of Prime,
'amr.tz'ns forestcrs were killed"
ine Grand Duke turned. That.
% Ssa' Murder in Zukovo!" He ficket
W. eftinguished cigarette out of tn,
hand. "a' gesture WIN III
min Go, !asili. want to think.
V" W. ring II ] need you"
~ "iion a wit not 80 to Zukovo tonight"
tbs Hna ss with another gesture he wave,