Evening star., 1927-03-13
Five-Hundred-M Flight Is Made in

| shevik atrocities, and in that state
he quite forgot himself and was ready
for anything.
He had always been an enthusiast.
and now he volunteered to undertake
every dangerous task and, in general,
| became as desperate as a madman.
He understood the impossibility of
defending Orenburg; but. the clearer
it grew to him, the more obstinately
he fought for his cause. In the mo-
ments when he allowed himself to
review the position clearly his
despair was crushing. / often tried
to slip away with him and follow him
in his wanderings. for my idea was
to be near him in case anything
: should happen. For me, anything was
better than to sit idly in the house
until he should be brought home
wounded or dead.
Strange to relate, Orenburg was the
first and last town where l did not
remark any visible panic before the
coming of the bolsheviks.
Serge came home one evening, led
Ina and myself downstairs to the
small suite into which we had just
moved and said gravely:
Look here, we must begin to pack"
rs it as bad as that?"
Things are unquestionably bad.
The Reds are coming nearer and
nearer and are now less than four
given directions for the evacuation of
Orenburg and has promised to let
all the people know a few hours be-
forehand. / have ordered three
troikas for us
Serge came home one midday, after
having been nearly SO hours on duty,
so exhausted that he could hardly
stand on his feet.
II shall lie down." he said to me;
please waken me at $3.50, as / must
report at four"
While l sat and read in my drawing
room, Ina came in, and together we
decided to let him sleep until 4 O o'clock.
for he wasNpitifui to look upon. Then
we began to talk and did not notice
how the time was slipping by.
Ina" l exclaimed as happened to
glance at the clock.
"Well?"
DO DO you know what time it is?"
"Halfpast six. my dear"
We both were silent and then began
to laugh.
1T is all right. At all events he has
had a good sleep"
Yes, but he will be dreadfully
cross"
Serge" I called into the bedroom,
lit is half-past six. Get up
"Wha-a.t?" was heard in the furious
voice of my husband. And in mo-
ment he ran past US, already dressed
in his overcoat and fastening his
sword as he went. He threw quick
glance at our quite amused faces and
remarking. II am going to the alta
man." rushed out into the yard, where
we Immediately heard the galloping
of his horse, which during these past
days had always stood saddled and
waiting for him.
SERGE had just left when / began
~ to be tormented by something like
foreboding.
/ knew that ought to be calm, that
I must not yield to this feeling of
nervousness, but Immediately began
to shake as though / had chills and
fever. We remained in my rooms un-
til dinner time. then went upstairs to
my mother.inlaw, where the moment
we sat down to dinner Serge's servant
announced as he brought in the soup:
The bolsheviks are in town.
The storm. had broken! Some one
asked
Where is the ataman with his Cos
sacks?"
mo one knows" heanswered. But
they are gone from Orenburg."
And my husband? What about
him." / spoke aloud the thought that
was soaring me like a red,hot iron.
I'VE must wait" came from the
family, who sought to relieve the EN-
harrassed servant.
Yes, we must wait" / assented
mechanically, but uncontroliably i'm