Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1934-11-24

/ proclaimed Catherine sole Empress and
antocrat Of al the Russlana Smiling,
fresh, rosy, sparkling Of eye. abe proved
an intoxicnticn TO the men. They al
! pressed about her 10 kiss her hands. her
/ feet, her dress, and at last set out 60
! bear her 10 the Church OF Our Lady of
y Kazan.
On the way they were Joined By the
Sieminofsd regiment. by the Horse
Guards and at the last by the fourth
regiment Of Guards. the Preobraienski
which momentarily had hesitated.
i To the ringing Of bells and the cheers
Of dazed. uncomprehending populace,
/ Catherine entered the church to receive
the oaths Of fidelity Of her subjects
After that, amid ever growing. bewilder-
/ ing excitement, 10 the Winter Palace,
4 which had been the scene Of 50 many
humiliations, flocked the mobiles. the
senate, the synod. and even the new
and masterful Chancellor Famine to do
her homage In that rash hour.
In a fever OF emotion the long sum-
mer day which had seen the miracle
Of this bloodless. crazy revolution. sped
to its close. In the cool Of eventide the
ardours also cooled. It was remembered
that they had yet 70 hear from Peter.
The Emperor had received the shock
Of the news at O'Clock. He had be-
stirred himself. He had commanded
manifestoes to be edited Remembering
that he was a soldier, not q trifler. he
dressed himself IN his Prussian uniform
big boots, spurs, sword and dec0ra-
tons. He would open the campaign by
selling Kronstadt, across the water.
In the dust he went aboard a galley
with his courtly attendance, which in
ciuded more than dozen ladies, and
set out. as II for a water party. They
were gay. Peter was IN high spirits by
now. He strutted and staggered in his
uniform. He felt heroic.
The great fortress doomed grim and
vast In the moonlight. From the ram
parts a sentry challenged the approach
ing galleys.
who goes there?"
THE Emperor
There is no longer an Emperor. Pass
onl"
At Peters elbow, by the companion
head, old Marshal Munich shook with
anger.
Nevertheless, we land, SIRE" he an
nounced firmly. They win never dare
to fire upon you. At the worst ="
But the momentary contact with the
actualities Of soldering had extin-
guished Peters ardor. Re was not to
be persuaded. In this, at least. he dis
played great firmness. He would 60
back to Oranienbaum and open nego-
tiations.
He got there IN time to learn that the
four regiments Of the Guards were pre-
pairing to march upon him and his Hol-
steiners.
And at daybreak, having cast off the
detested Prussian livery lately imposed
upon them and resumed the old uni
forms Of Peter the Great, the Guards
set out.
AZ their head, riding astride. In q
uniform borrowed from an officer Of
the Sieminofski regiment. went the En-
press, a crown Of oak leaves entwtned
about her sable cap, her chestnut hair
streaming loose IN the breeze, her face
alight and eager. At her side, similarly
accoutred, rode the little Dashkoff.
Military necessity dictated Peters
course. Catherine was approaching Pc
terhof when an envoy met her. bearing
the Emperor's abdicati0n. There was,
then, no need TO go farther She dis
mounted and entered the palace.
To Peterhof, later IN the day, Peter
was brought to her. The evil little
wretch came now in q slobber Of tears
to intercede that at last he might not
be separated from his mistress. he also
begged for his pet monkey and his
fiddle. These were accorded him; but
Elizabeth Vorontsoff was sent TO Mos
COW and Peter to a house at Rapcha.
pending preparations Of quarters for
him In the fortress Of Schlusselburg.
The strain was over. The revolution
30 nnadly undertaken was incredibly ac-
complished. Catherine could repose at
last
The Princess Dashkoff, coming that
evening into the imperial antechamoer,
found Gregory Orloff stretched upon
divan, as much at his ease as II he
we're In a tavern Scandahzed, she
oursed her fun lips.
~Her Imperial Majesty"
The blonde giant gTinned. "In there"
WIN n CdIClcbS 1cAA VI uAtC bAllAAAn AAC
Indicated the open door Of a farther
'oom. 'aTaking off her breeches"
Nor was that all. On table at Or
offs elbow there was pile Of letters
whose appearance proclaimed their Of
icia1 nature Nonchalantly he was In
he act Of breaking the seals.
what are you doing?" she cried In
lorror. Those are state papers. No
me may touch them but the Empress
a those she appoints"
"Just So" said the languid Orloff.
She told me to look through them"
It explained TO the Princess that
which was presently clear to all The
uu and frank revelations Of It followed
pon a grim event that supplied the
asst chapter to the revolution. News OF
canne one evening later In the fateful
Teek, when GATHERINGS capable hands
ad taken firm grasp Of the reins OF
0veFnment.
She was disturbed at her toilet by
he entrance Of Alexis Orloff, abrupt
nd uncermonious as on that morning
hen fa had invaded her bedchamber