Evening star., 1927-03-13

genial surroundings and the following
night at the estate OF friend. we
turned up at the establishment Of a
Chuvash yamstchik. who refused to
take US farther that day on the ground
that his horses were exhausted.
After Serge had argued and pleaded
with him for two hours, had quite
made up my mind to pass this night
there, when I heard most delighted
greetings and slapping on the back
going on between the two OF them
They had not only come to an agree
ment. but had recognized each other.
When Serge was still boy. he had
come for fishing to these parts. which
were not far from his estate, and this
yamstchlk, Paul, had driven him
about. Now, after Is years, he had
suddenly recognized my husband.
Their Joy was great. Thanks TO all
this, the horses were ready in hve min
utes-they were quite fresh. by the
way-and We dashed on on dreadful
road.
The road was narrow. hard.packed.
with the soft snow on either side
nearly five feet deep. When we met
other sleighs. a real night began for
the right of way. Paul, with barbaric
wells. lashed his own horses across
their backs and cut the oncoming
steeds on their noses, which caused
them to bolt and jump of the raised
road into the snow and to overturn the
sleighs and passengers, at which he
| galloped past the cursing, shipwrecked
ones, nearly upsetting us In the mean
| time.
TT was the next day that we had our
experience of being overhauled by
1 -. uyhA
securing the country for the leader Of
the Coasack detachment in Orenburg
and to whom Serge insisted that he
was taking his sick wife to Sterlita-
max to consult a doctor. Quite ia
miliar by now with being assigned
different role at each dramatic occa-
sion, 1 moaned through all their con-
versation, sometimes In fear and some
times to keep from laughing.
| But there was no humor In the ex-
perience Of that same afternoon when
| our little boy yamstchik sat benumbed
| and crying on his box, while Serge
| tried to encourage the horses onward
through the binding snow In which
| we had lost our way. 1t was then
that I underwent my second expert
ence of nearly freezing to death and
had to be carried into house when
we at last made our way to village
through the guidance OF barking
dog.
And then. when the prize of freedom
4 to 20 where we would in the city OF
Moscow was just within our grasp.
came close to multiplying all our efforts
by calling to Serge In French. as he
was allowed to pass through the exit
barrier ahead of me, to secure
drosky for US while was undergoing
examination.
"Ah, what In that?" snapped COM
missar, who sprang up beside me with
a fierce expression on his face.
what Is that7" I threw back at
him with as much of a challenge and
| looked impudently straight into his
eyes. feeling that only impudence
could save us then. do you not un-
were q Lettr' AS the Let's were very
much respected by the b0lsheviks for
their cruelty, I felt sure / could reach
him In this way.
Excuse me, Tovaristch Madame.
did not hear you clearly" he apollo
/ gized, and shouted: Let the Tova-
risteh through" calamity Offering me
his hand and leading me out into the
street to deliver me over to my aston
ished husband.
It was dark and warm. The water
from the thawing snow covered the
streets, but what a blessing II was to
paddle with my felt boots in these
pools with the thought:
FINISHED, We have freed ourselves.
and here In the vast population of
Moscow all trace of us will be lost, so
that at last we can rest"
(CapyriEht 1877