Evening Star Newspaper, August 31, 1889, Page 10

10 ———— MY LUNCHEON PARTY. “There's another rain squall coming on over the moor, Billy. Count the game and put it in the bag. and then hurry home and put on your buttons, and tell Mrs. Dawkins I'll have lunch in an hour. I'll try for a snap shot or two in the spinny.” “Yessir,” my little page gamekeeper re- sponded. “Three brace of pheasants and a “Oh, leave a brace and the hare at the Miss Smiths’ 's very good of them to let me shoot over the moor; cut along, here’s the rain. Hullo! wait a bit. Who are those two gentle- men coming out of my spinny ?” Billy's sharp eyes scanned them. “Dunno, sir, they be strangers to these “Why, bless my soul!” I said, as I saw the two dronched figures approach, “they have lost their way on that bleak moor in the rain squall. Till bet anything they have been walking ina circle. Here, Dilly, you bolt and tell Mrs, Hawkins to cook the sucking pig for lunch, and make one of her best Indian curries, There's no decent place for these gentlemen to lunch at for miles except the rectory, so I'll give them brother sportmen’s pot luck and welcome; and Billy hastened off while I went forward to meet them. My name is John Hobbs, middle-aged bach- elor, only child of the Rev. John Jackson Hobbs, whilom church of England clergyman at Riga, Bussia. to the British merchants and sailor: who go there. I had the small jointure left me by ay mother, and after leaving the university Lord Mont * to = me: soon, my acceptance of a cask of Seotch w! and a haunch of venison. Um! very kind gratifying I'm sure—what's the next? arms, eh—what! troller to the—ah sonage a a Fosy and booctath even be ir, Hobbs So his y an wn by Mr. guest, Cape of Russia. Oh, jubilee! what!” I shouted, while Dawkins squawked. “Why, Dawkins, we've been entertaining angels unawares; that Count de Moscow was the em- peror of Russia!” All Dawkins could reply was “Lor!” which mite in the convereaticnal treas- ury was perhay that was to be expected from a lone widow. “It's a beautiful letter,’ she murmured ecstatically as she looked at it as if it were some priceless work of art, “Lor, Mr. John, and ’im so affable, too!” < “That is a day of sarprises, Dawkins; what’ the next one?” and I opened the one with the great yellowseal, The Russian had the honor to inform me that his august master, the emperor of all the Russias, had ordered him to express his thanks to me—me, John Hobbs!—and would I give him tne felicitation of my calling at the embassy when next in town, and assuring me of his most distinguished considerati “Dawkins,” I said solemnly, “some people are born great, others have greatness thrust upon them; this halo of reflected greatness is too much for me, I'm going to have k my traps, I'm going to town to: Trewkins wha locking eit a rapt expression at the letters and did not reply, and when I looked into the room about haif an hour after- ward she was sitting in my chair holding the letter with the yellow seal upside down, while she looked like some inspired old sybil as she faintly murmured, ‘Wot a beautiful letter!” a bit of blockade running during the American war, and with what I cleared, added to what my father left me, I settled down in my little cottage to enjoy a country life, with an eceasional run up to town and trip to the coi tinent. I hadn't come across the future Mrs. Hobbs as yet, and xs my only neighbors were twoelderly maiden ladies, who let me have the shooting over their moor, which extended some miles, and the sleepy old rector and his wife, and a few villagers in our little hamlet, I didn’t seem likely to. On the other side of the moor noblemen d country gentlemen's mansions and estates tered thick; but I seldom went in that direction, my occasional fits of restless- ness invariably taking me Londonward. As I walked toward the two gentlemen who had jnst emerged from my little spinuy and were look- ing utterly “lost” as to their bearings, I guessed | what had happened. “Good morning, gentlemen,” I said. “CanI be of any service to you? I think you must have lost your way. “Indeed we have,” one of them replied, with — laugh. “We were just beyond Lord ounteagle’s woods when that squall came on, and we huve been walking‘ever since.” “Why, his place is miles off on the other side of the moor,” Isaid. ‘You have come out the | you have been walking directly | however, I trust there is no great | you will do me the pleasure of ) lunching at my place and resting. The little station is only about a mile off, and you can get back before night, or I'll take you over in my dog cart.” hey bowed and accepted the offer with thanks, and the taller whispered something to bis companion, who nodded. “Allow me to introduce ourselves; I am Lord Monteroi, and my friend is a Russian gentle- man, the Count de Moscow.” “Very pleased to see you, gentlemen. I know your brother, my lord; he was at my col- lege, aud I generally have a rubber with him at the Oxford and Cambridge club when I go up to town. that Sam, his impecunious younger brother, ha @ habit and custom of pathetically holding | forth on the iniquitous laws of primogeniture, which had doomed him to £400 a year while his brother had £15,000 income Hobbs. I can speak Russian added; “my father was British chaplain at Riga.” The count laughed and bowed, and replied im perfect English : “I thank you, Mr. Hobbs, but I shall not have to tax you. I am governor of Moscow. and have had to learn so many languages of the people who come to the town, it was a pleasure rather than a trouble to add a cultivated language like English to the list; and the ice being broken, and, above all, knowing “who was who,” they were soon chatting familiarly, with sportsmen’s bonhomie, as we reached the house. I had no fear about the culinary arrange- ments, my estimable housekeeper who ruled me and my small establishment being a perfect cordon bleu. I knew the lunch would just suit mM, a8 grandees such as they would probably be tired of game and “high class” cookery, much in the same way as the prince regent asked Major Hanger to invite him toa plain Jeg-of-mutton dinner, and I knew they must be hungry after their long walk. So soon as I got them installed in my dressing room, with its cosy fire, I went to hurry up things and piace some of my old port to mellow by the fire. When they came into the room I honestly ad- mired Count de Moscow's splendid physique. Standing some two or three inches over six feet, he was the embodiment of perfect manhood: he looked the militasy governor of a fortified town, and born to be aruler of men, and though both Lord Monteroi and I are over the average size, we looked small beside him. The lunch was a perfect success. The count preferred “English draught beer” to anything else; and when we had finished the whole of the sucking Pig and the curry, with other details, and the , and had adjourned to my smoking room, th declared they had never enjoyed a meai better in their lives. Mrs. Dawkins had at- tended in her go-to-meeting cap. Billy had been active, and we settled down seriously to piping-hot whiskey punch and cigars. I thought mine were good, but the count pro- duced a huge silver case covered with armorial bearings, and with it such delectable cigars as it had never been my lot to moke before. The tworain ee but the prelude to a steady downfall, so I set work to try and amuse my guests for some hours. There was jenty of material. I showed them bullets that d stuck and me imbedded in each other in the air, picked up on American battle fields; a shot-torn flag of the stars and bars given to me on my last blockade-running trip, when Charleston was being evactuated, to prevent the flag falling into the hands of the Yankees; coins and antiquities found on the neighboring moor; and, in 4 moment of forgetfulness, some Russian helmets and weapons collected at the Crimea by an uncle of mine who had fought be 5 pod dark as he look: a silver rouble that had been picked up on one of the battle fields nervously in his fingers. “By Jove! you are strong,” I thought, as I saw when he laid it down that he had bent it double. He didn’t seem to notice, he waa ina dreamy fit of abstraction; in fact. once or twice he appeared to @ @ nervous attack, and would give \s slight start and look appre- hensive! a but the next moment he re- covered himseif and was as chatty and pleasant ss before. I was vexed at my s.ight gancherie and hurriedly replaced them, while I said, “Here, count, are some relics of your great emperor, Peter the Great; an ancester of mine was one of the superintendents of Deptford dock yard when he worked there as a carpenter; the emperer took # faucy to him and gave him many mementoes.” The interest the count | took in the relics was so keen and deep that I could not forbear begging his acceptance of a ring and miniature of Peter the Great he seemed specially to admire. He hesitated to take them, but, seeing I really meant it, he ac- cepted them with grave countesy. “Have you a Phovograph of yourself you could give me, Mr. Hobbs?” hesaid. “I desire to have one. P be I hed, supposing it to be some Russian way yop ee Riaahip, and as I had been Ss shortly before, when in London, fetched one and gave it to him, while Lord Monteroi Neprsng mney Our pleasant de- sultory chat over my various treasures had now gone on for some hours, the rain had longsince Ceased, and the evening was closing in, “I much regret our having to leave you, Mr. "the count said, “but it is imperati that we should get back; our friends will miss ws—I could not dream of allowing you to ‘rouble to drive us back. I think you men- tioned there is a train to the town on the other the moor; once there, we are within distance of where we are sta; 1! Sahie in heaton ‘there is a train pe ‘ere in half an hour. I shall be sorry to ‘ou and Lord Monteroi.” ‘ x regret is mutual, 1 assure you, Mr. Hobbs,” Lord Monteroi :cplied courteousl; “You must come and spend a month with me | produced “Dawkins!” She jumped up and yelped, “Tl go and pack now, directly, Mr. Jobn,” and she scurried off. ‘Let us not be puffed up, Dawkins!” I shouted severely after her. Of course I wrote at once a letter of thanks to Lord Monteroi and one to the exalted per- sonage, saying I was proud and glad, and that I looked on the day as one to be marked with a white stone generally; and then I began to wonder what the Russian ambassador wanted. The czar was going to Denmark after the following week, and would be absent from Russia some months, I knew. “Oh, well, her majesty a eaie her subjects wear foreign orders,” I though@; ‘‘per- ps he’s going to give me the order of the diamond snuff box; however, here goes,” and I wrote a polite reply, also assuring the Russian {ambassador of my—John Hobbs,—-most dis- tinguished consideration, and that I would do myself the honor—that’s the phrase, I thought —of calli on the following Monday. I wasift sure whether “give myself the felicitation” didn’t sound prettier, but it sounded too much — “you’re another,” so I let the first phrase shde, While Dawkins was packing I strolled down to the village post office to send off the letters. On my way I saw my page, Billy, with a deep- y-interested posse of nillege boys around him. hey were far too absorbed to notice me; #0, as L bad before had experiences of Billy’s jowers as a raconte lodged around the edge and listened: “Well, as I was sayin’, ‘Billy,’ sez the emperor of Russia to me, country orter be proud o’ sich a nobl lookin’ lad as you, it’s boys like you wot grows inter them fine sojers wot give my best troopses sich a lickin’ at Serbasterpool,” and he sorter sighs like, and I felt sorry for’im. ‘I don’t want to bribe yer, Billy,’ sez the czar to me, ‘not to do yer dooty, but ‘eres arf a suvrin not ter ever fight agin my folkses, if yer can see yer way outer it,’ an'I gives the em- peror my ‘andon it,” and the Young scamp alf a sovereign, the first he had ever owned, and which the czar had given him, as a confirmation strong as holy writ of his story, which was devoutly believed by his listeners, “If that boy goes on as he is beginning he'll be a magazine editor one day; he’s too good to be an author,” was my mental comment, for I hadn't the heart to disturb him; and when I got home there he Was, as innocent as any lamb, After reaching London that night I dined with the honorable Sam at the Oxford and Cambridge club and made his eyes bulge at the tale I toid him. “Monteroi told me to ask you to dinner,” he said, but he left it to you to tell me the reason, and told me to bring you north for the shoot- ing. Look here, I want some. Go and see the Russian ambassador on Monday; today is Sat- urday, and we'll go north Tuesday.” This pro- posal exactly suited me, as I should not be in funds for about six weeks, when my March dividends would fall due, soI closed with the offer at once, intending then to go for a spring continental trip. And the following Monday, in glorified apparel, I was walking up the steps of the Russian embassy. A dapper little attache welcomed me avec effusion, as the French say. “His excellency the ambassador would be charmed to know me.” I was glad to hear it— as long ashe did not embrace me. But he knew English ways, and when we were seated and alone he began— “The czar enjoyed himself very much, Mr. Hobbs; in fact, he quoted to me the saying of the late Emperor Napoleon, that there are few lives more enjoyable or desirable than that of an English country gentleman. He has desired me to say that be will be always glad to do you any service, should you require it; meanwhile he has commanded me to give you this pass- port:” and, opening a drawer, he took out flat silver case. On opening it he produced a roll of prepared thin Russiun leather. In the center was a copy of the portrait [ had given the emperor, photographed on the leather; above was a Russian inscription, saying I was the guest of the Russian empire, and desiring all officials to show me every courtesy and kindness; then followed the ordinary passport form with bianks for personal description, which his excellency then filled up; and, finally, below the photograph were several lines of cypher. “There, Mr. Hobbs, if you will let me know when you take your next trip to Russia Count Labinski shall be in attendance to meet you at St. Petersburg. You will be put to no ex: ense, but be the guest of the czar and the jussian nation so long as you please to prolong your visit.” This was imperial hospitality, indeed. I was touched and gratified, and bowed pro- foundly while I begged the ambassador to transmit my warmest and most respectful thanks to the czar; and, finally, at his excel- lency’s smiling suggestion, I made an appoint- ment to go by steamer directly from Eugland and be met by Count Labinski at St. Peters- burg early in April. And after a pleasant month’s visit to Lord Monteroi, and a hurried run to the country, to ut Mrs, Dawkins in funds and give her final instructions for the couple of months I in- nded to be away, and to learn, among other mall beer,” that Billy had gained the Sunday school prize for truthfulness, I sailed for St. Petersburg, where Count Labinski had been notified to meet me. The czar would be absent all the time, and I was rather glad, as I dreaded the stiff etiquette and formality of the court, and wished, if ‘ible, to see the interior of Russian life, and study their man- ners and customs, and perhaps, later, write a book. Isaw rather more than I wanted to before I had finished, and, most emphatically, I shall not write a book. The first indications I saw of the capital as we came up the Neva, were a long golden spire like a needle—or, when the sun is shining on it, like a distant rocket, and a large | golden dome like a balloon. The needle-like spire adorns the admiralty. the ball of gold is the center cupola of St. Isaac’s cathedral, and for at least half an hour the steeple and dome are all that canbe seen of St. Petersburg— they seem to beloug to nothing, and to be float- ing in midair. Hardly had we warped along: side the wharf before Count Labinski tripped smili on board. He was what ladies would on my moor in the north. 1'll write and fix an early date.” I thanked hit and shorth Ereceived « hearty gord-b shook hands e ? a nt 5 8 i i : i features, and she flashed her magnificent black eyes into mine and shook back her wealth of blue-black hair, in which nestled # single dee; red camelia, I knewI had met my fate an that henceforward the world contained but one woman forme. In reply to my eager ques- fnons she told me she was the frien era Labinski, the count’s sister, and, with an arch smile, told me that it should not be her fault if we did not meet soon again; but there was a reserve and sadness about her that puzzled me, and I determimed to ask Count Labinski about her. “Ha! my feiend,” said Labinski, as he came into my room, “you look played out. eh? A drive in the country will do you good. You know today we spend with my mother and sis- ter; there I introduce you to my betrothed, then some friends come to dinner and we drive back by the moon. Come, the droschky is ready.” Hardly had the ‘‘isvostchik” tucked the rich furs around us and adjured his team—‘‘Ho! lit- tle mother, ho! son of a noble father! their best pace, than I turned to Labinski, “Count, my chum,” as he liked being called, “I am in love. I love Ag Baskiroff with all my soul; tell me all about 1 bee The count started and looked keenly at me, then said simply, “I tell you ail I know: She is an orphan; she is what you call pretty rich; she is a medical student from choice, not necessity; her father died from hardship, her mother from grief. He was in prison over the Met- chayeff sedi ions—Metchayeff was the precursor of nibilism—but he was found innocent, co Olga could keep the Rroperty he left—she is a good girl" And he stopped abrupt! Icould see there was something, so he told me she was your sister's friend; surely you can trust me.” He hesitated and looked furtively around, : “I don’t want her toknow my sister, Ithink— I don’t know—she is mixed up with nihilista.” My fears of something dreadful vanished, and I laughed heartily, but the count looked er “Tell me, count, what is nihilism.” 'm glad you ask me here, not in the pal- alls have ears. I do not know much. Nihilists are of two kinds, those who have noth- ing in their heads and those who have nothing in their pockets. Their creed is there is noth- ing new and nothing true, and nothing signi- fies; at first a mere passive negation of what our stern laws made everybody believe, or pre- send to believe, and which proscribed all revo- lutionary works, and even philosophical trea- tises reported dangerous; but before the assassi- nationof the late emperor a reaction had set in, and, together with much genuine enti asm for reforms of all kinds, the more active minded of my compatriots began to conduct themselves like schoolboys suddenly re- lieved from the presence of a master, when the czar iiberated the serfs; and instead of softening the hearts of the nihil- ists by his granting a certain measure of liberty, while making it evident more would follow, the late emperor, by the mildness of his rule, encouraged them to adopt an attitude of defiance. “The emperor threw the people their freedom as ove throws adog a bone to save one’s legs,’ their leader Mikilailoff declared, by means of his secret newspaper press—Kolo- kol, ‘Ihe Bell’ Zimal-e-Vola, ‘Land and Lib- erty,’ aud Veliko Russ, ‘Great Russia.” This was not to be forgiven; the Romanoffs did not fall from heaven; we do not want a power which offends us, which impedes our intel- lectual development and the civic and econom- ical development of the country; we need no czar, no ermine mantle covering hereditary incapacity, no emperor anointed in the Cathe- dral of the Assumption, but @ simple, earthly man, understanding human life and the people by whom he should be elected. The emauci- pation of the serfs and the events following showed that the new government is good for nothing. There is not one class which imperial power does not offend. The emancipation of the serfs is the first step either to a grand future or to immense misfortunes for Russia. It is for us nihilists to choose. The emancipa- tion is important because it has sown the seeds of general discontent toward the government; it has alienated the proprietors, hitherto ite chief supporters and agents, without con- tentin, The peasantry. We have land enoug for tens of thousands of yeurs—if it is necessary to kill one hundred thousand eniet tenes we will do so. We lost more in the Huugarian and Polish wars at the capriceof Nicholas without any advantage, Slay—our association will have the annihilation of state, church, property, marriage and every institution on which society and government has hitherto rested.’” “A terrible and iniquitous manifesto, count,” Isaid. when he ceased. “I can see it has deeply impressed you.” “Surely,” he said, ‘the czar, as symbolizing everything the nibiliste proposed to destroy, was first of all sacrificed, jo can tell when the war on landed proprietors will commence? The lava crust is very thin; any moment the yoleano of insurrection may burst forth, but let us not think of these things. You have your Irish troubles,” he continued smilingly. “The nibilist leader Katkoff was called ‘Lord Katkoff,’ because he thought English institu- tions the finest in the world, and our comic journals always Ls ~ieemed him with a Scotch cap on his head. Here we are. After dinner, when my mother and sister and betrothed have retired, I am giving my farewell drinking party to my country bachelor friends—as a bachelor, for we shall be married soon, now;” and while I was congratulating him the imperial droschky stopped at the door of his mother’s country seat. Lhad met most of the company before and we soon entered the banqueting hall. It is only fair to the count and myself to say what we had, as it will account for the amount of liquid refreshments we required later in the evening and for what followed. The table was laid in the sensible Russian fashion—whichis now almost universally adopted in England. It was covered with flowers and fruits, the place of honor being held by delicious small melons, brought by caravan from Astrakan to Moscow —a distance of a thousand miles—and thence by rail to St. Petersburg. At the upper and lower ends of the table, though it was only May, were placed two china vases containing cherry trees in full leaf and fruit, which was afterward gathered by the company. - sideboards one be sem = the “za- ouska,” or preliminary feast, consisting of Sevres plates, on which were salted ee. cherries preserved in vinegar, salted mush- rooms, caviare, dried and pickled herrings, smoked raw ham and tongue and cheese, all cut Up ito portions about the size of a die, to pro- duce an appetite and thirst; » in exact contrariety to the French custom, small glasses of liquors were handed around before the repast. e dinner—carved commenced with shchee, “English pepper, serf alike, except that in often omitted. Then rich oily, yellow-fleshed sterlet, in shape between an cel and a whiting, and which, by a curious freak of nature, can exist only in the waters of the V. from which it is brought in water tins, Then if if £ i Li iF i E 3 Ii te eed THE BVENING.STAR: WASHINGTON a be Bn SATURD ay ee family!"—thie w it is near ough by the collar T ‘ho! son of to your t disgrace not exactly what he said, but ad was to the naturally came in for the greatest share of —‘‘wouldst thou upset their sainted excellencies, th: hes of no con- ies, thou wretc! lullo, ‘4 ‘heel tying on She! chaumee, twinte to be done Labinski sat up and ruefully regarded the “Here,” I said, “let's upset the droschky down the embankment ats end for it; Pll take all the blame, It’s the first time I have misbe- haved myself since I have been the guest of holy Russia. It’s government property—nobody pays.” “We are two duffers; is that right, eh?” re- ae the count, and linking his urm in mine @ procession started, first Labinski in full uniform, and I in evening dress, both very muddy; and then, at a respectful distance. the “isvostchik,” leading the horses;and I could not help thinking of the vast difference in the phrssoplogy. used by the courtly “isvostchik,” and that of the western cowboy when he exhorts the impenitent mule. As we reached the soldiers on duty they promptly turned out, for I will undertake to say such a sarge had never before scan- dalized the defenders of the Russian metropolis. The production of my magic passport, and a brief colloquy between Labinski or the officer of the guard explained matters; and he courte- ously sent a detachment with the ‘‘isvostchik” and horses to bring on the droschky. As we stalked through the deserted streets of St. Pe- tersburg we were the recipients of much official attention, and occasionally a figure passed us swiftly, and evidently passed on a signal to others in another quarter, and I could see we were “shadowed” until we reached the palace. “Hist! take no notice,” Labinski wi ispered nervously to me. hili watching to see who you are; t! fall report at their headquarters about you tomorrow.” “Let ’em,” I fling a yawn. “Let's have a small bottle of crimskoi, and turn in, I want to be up early to leave my letter for Olga Baskiroff;” and I siept the sleep of the just. I met Olga Baskiroff coming out of the Car- melite hospital next day at noon, and she was not a whit less beautiful in her jaunty Russian costume than she appeared in her ball dress and jewels. She introduced me to her two coin- ions, Voleska and Katinka Ogareff—two impled, laughing, mischievous Russian maid- ens, and we formed a merry quartet at lunch. I met Olga constantly afterward, both in the daytime and at various balls and soirees, She had always skillfully parried any direct avowal of my evident affection for her, and had ay declined to give me her address, though I thought I could see she loved me in return. She had told me there was no other man she caréd for; and that was all I could elicit; and thongh both she and Katinka and Voleska were always pleasant, I could see there was some dark and mysterious shadow hovering over their young lives. About a week had passed when Count Labin- ski came to see me one morning looking per- plexed and anxious. “My betrothed has written me word she de- sires to see me on urgent business; can you ex- cuse me today?” “Surely, my dear chum,” I replied, “I shall be gad of a day’s rest, and shall stay in all day.” “I shall be back tomorrow,” he said, as face brightened, and I settled’ down for a quiet y “A letter, sir,” said the major-domo shortly after he had jeft. As I carelessly glanced at the signature I saw it was from Olga, the first I had received, and I eagerly read it, It ran in English, which she spoke fluently: “My dear friend: I desire to see you on matters of great importance. To avoid talk dine at the English club as usual, then come to the street of the Limes at 9, a droschky will be waiting at the corner for you. A person who knows you by sight will accompany you. and bring you to where Ishall be waiting. Come punctuaily and secretly. “Your q O16.” It was undated and unaddressed, after the manner of some ladies, but contained no post- script. I was too deepiy in love to hesitate for amoment. To serve her in any way was my dearest wish, and I was punctual to the appoint- ment. An elderly serving man was in attend- ance, and silently entered the droschky with me. His first proceeding was to pull down the Beg saying with a bow, “Mademoiselle Olga’s wish. Inodded, and no further conversation ensued until, after about balf an hour's driving, we drew up at the house. Whether purposely or by accident, the street lamp was out, and all surrounding objects were buried in imponetra- ble — “This way, excellency,” my taciturn com- panion said, and we entered a room on the ground floor. It was furnished in the usual scanty Russian style, with “icone,” or pictures of the saints, on the walls, the wooden floor eee with bee’s wax. “Sit down.” As I id so I moved the mechanism of the arm chair, ite arms closed round me, and I was locked as if ina vice, and before I could utter a cry or strug- gie, I felt it swiftly descending. The rapidity of the descent, which must have been some twenty feet, took my breath away, and when I looked amazedly rround I saw I was in a large subterranean chamber, surrounded by a num- ber of men in black masks, while, at the end of the room, lookiug pale end sorrowful, Olga was standing somewhat apart from Katinka and Voleska, who looked serious and subdued; all three were unmasked. “Unioose and search him,” said the leader, who was distinguished from the others by hold- ing evolver in his hand. The shock of being betrayed by Olga had stunned me, and I made no resistance—in fact, I saw to have done so would have been futile. With practiced hands two searched me, while the others stood ready to spring on me if I made the least resist- ance. Watch, chain, letters, cigarette and card cases, money—the usual contents of a gentle- man’s pockets—were contemptuously piled in aheap. At last the searchers came on the thin silver case containing my passport, and which was hidden in an inner pocket; this was at once seized, and a buzz of satisfaction ran through the group of men as several clustered around the leader to examine it. After a crucial ex- amination the leader stepped up to me and placed the cold muzzle of the revolver to my forehead. ‘We do not value your life a straw, he said in English, with a strong Russian ac- cent; “tell me fully what this passport means; who are you who can come and go through the barriers of St. Petersburg unquestioned; why the tyrant gave you this; what devilment you serve him to make him f teful; who of us you betray in England?” he hissed, as his black eyes glared at me through the mask—“you English mouchard, police spy, eh?” I was so astounded at this accusation that I could only stare blankly at him, “You no answer; see, I make your lover, Olga”—he laughed sneeringly as he saw me start—‘‘and the other two medical students torture you, vivisect you—you die slowly—in se death you useful to science, not your life. ih! you not the first,” and he pointed to long black table, bloodstained in places, and to boxes of glitteri amputating and other knives, and I could see he was terribly in earnest, Without saying a word, though they were deadly pale and trembled, Katinka and Voleska commenced putting on the canvas arm bandages ae. frou wel it tecbenst ae. Yel fore commencing surgical operations, ——e her hands before her face, and the tears trickled down. Indignation overcame my hor- ror. “Yon spiteful cats, I won't be vivisected!” I roared. *‘Confound science, and your beastly bayeey too; Olga, you perfidious little wretch, ’m ashamed of you.” “Seize him, [ovaiski and Pougatcheff,” briefly ordered the leader, and in a moment the two brawny ex-serfs had me fast. ‘‘Now, will If Ibelieve your statement you shall ivisected, merely shot—in any case you 7] if leapt elougide 9 needn't she meee tae Ciitint crue was only what you English T looked at her; she had fainted; a matter of course, no one noticed such a trivial detail. “Confound all of mr in are an fal tod of eases, call 81, -1889—-TWELVE PAGES. was bound by her allegi- ait‘ In the day's but, as The only wo occasions I have met any of you, and extremes meet, was when I that frowsy swindler, all the thanks I rough and me—come on: the czar and helped Boscovitch, and nyt to have a and scrag To my surprise, instead of rushing in—for while [hed been ‘speaking they had ‘been ex- ding like a fan around me. at a si Be knew them to be utterly their leader—and I from reckless brave men—he held up his hand, and Theard the name Lenko Boscovitch repeated by several in tones of surprise. The leader said: “Perhaps, Englishman, there is a chance for your life. I don't want to take it, for you are brave—though your race is that.” (You can't bow to compliments very well, when you are pointing a revolver at the utterer of them.) ‘And yo where we thought you were you helped me! do so.” He dissectin, commen: ared under it—and I & grim smile. Russian.” stare. ‘Where is my friend: ‘Gone an hour roughly. ‘He paid t! hilling ‘ou must go.’ anxiously searching ‘Drugged—rol ruined.’ “The waiter I saw he was and that his distress was ge1 seeming honest “Englishman, life is safe.” promptly Mdilles. Th the likeness, cause; me too ruption. falae charge of forging hurried to Russia by the to his sufferings.” The motionless groaned and curse sobbed. first time, I notice tries of Europe. English gold packed packets of English in net contained a full with for any brother ordered there. handed a roll of papers to the leader, who beckoned to Olga to give them to me. “You hold them so that I can read them,” I said to her, She meekly obeyed, and I ran my eye over them. The last report he had sent in emorandum of his meeting me and a warm account of the little kind- ness 1 had shown him. I had forgotton to give him my name and address, but he mentioned the appointment he was intending to keep when he had obtained funds from the nihilist treasury. Ilooked up. I felt I was entirely at their mercy and must trust them unreservedly, a tiger. nt. “Well, call those biack-muzzled retainers of yours the other side of the room, and rl ve @ command in Russian, and the: ranged themselves against the opposite wall, one or two thrusting back, in their long un- tanned leather boots, the long knives they had all drawn, “Be brief,” he commanded, while I took ad- vantage of the lull to place myself behind the table—Katinka and Voleska, with ble forethought, had already disap- grasped re only an ass You said nko Boscovitch; tell us all, and remember we can verify here your state- the longest and rightest of the amputating knives with my dis- engaged hand, which preparations the leader (from whom I never took my eyes) noted with he gas} “Well, I was one day in Soho; went there for one of the foreign dinners to be got there.” He nodded impatiently. “Tell your tale in I nodded and continued: “There was a fellow asleep at the table next to me; he was very poorly dressed. The waiter shook him roughly and woke him. He started re a bewildered ’ the waiter replied ning and gave me his a nuine. " the leader replied, in a voice that trembled ‘with emotion, while mutter of surprise and satisfaction rolled along the phalanx arrayed against the wall he is Prince Demetrieff-Mamonoff, and was one of the leaders of our cause, He was sent to —— with other brethren to shadow the czar on his visit. The man who drugged and robbed him—where you saw him—of papers which sent numbers of our brethren to unknown scaffolds in the tyrant’s dungeons, was a traitor to our ie has since died on that tab! gasping shriek from Volesk: they convulsively pressed their hands to their eyes as if to shut out some horrible sight, told lainty what his fate had been.) The leader went on, not heeding the inter- “The next day he was arrested on a rouble notes and was secret police; he is now slowly rotting in the quicksilver mines of Siberia, his teeth and nails are gone, and were there a heaven he would pray to it for a release yhalanx against the wall the women moaned and roul nd Katinka, ec to let you sleep an hour. Time is up. “While the waiter was speaking he had been in all bed of all,’ he gasped. ‘I am grinned deriively; pockets. but gentleman My excel- lent and cheap dinner had warmed my heart, for I had just Tinished, and spoke $0’ him in Russian and left the cafe with him. To cut the story short I lent him four pounds two and six- pence good English money, which he swore he would repay in a few days. ‘I kept the appoint- ment he made, for he seemed a genuine honest gentleman down in his luck, but he never turned up and I never heard of him again. I was sorry, not for the money, but because I took a liking to and believed in the man and wanted to help him;” and for a moment I forgot my present position, as I regretfully thought how I had been misled by his courtly wa and hoarse ‘your Katinka and Voleska ‘awled from under the torture- table; while Olga, who had recovered her senses, gave a little cry of joy. ler took off his mask and I could see “‘Lenko Boscovitch is my brother; “Here are the proofs of what I say. Secre- tary Netchayeff, open the safe marked ‘En- gland’ and produce the necessary documents.” The man at the head of the row of masked figures stepped forward and, for the @ row of ponderous safes labeled with the names of the different coun- As he opened the safe marked “Engiand” I saw maps of London, mass of papers and books and piles i leaux and Iver and bank notes ready The secretary or notatall; so with an affectation of bon- homie I threw the revolver knife on the table. “All ri ‘Though the leader mentally. “Secretary, pa: the money he lent my brother ani id a I said. are nibilists we are not thieves,” I disclaimed this statement mputation the Englishman ” I pocketed the money and took my belong- which were gravely handed to me, with affected nonchalance and bowed. rt till the grand “We must keep your council of the nihilists deci mn it, I know, for Olga’s sake, you will be silent. You will join usin one toast,” the leader said, “and then you shall be set free—to the regenera- tion of Russia!” “Certainly,” I said fervently, for I thought itcould not be in greater need of regenera- tion. The other end man of the phalanx came for- ward—they evidently stood in order of their a tray and a num- ber of large horn cups. Man No. 2 filled “Take this cup,” I heard e filled two silver gob- rank—and prod them with qvass. Voleska’s voice say, as 8] lets on a tray behind me with Donskoi cham- pagne, forthe leader and myself. Katinka car- ried the tray to the chief and then brought it The last I remember, off, were the shouted words, * to me. “Let every man drain his cu; shouted, ‘to the regeneration of “The ip,” the leader Russia!” tion of Russia!” The powerful drug Katinka had put in ata private signal from tne prince had ite work. i E 4 eae ee ____. PARK, N.3.—" YICTORI. MTL En gtet Tino roma s s a -- THE BKIGHTON, 3D AVE, Shout the house maculate had taken you. The Russian dains drainit you with « , social status, and sets you to clean her patri- archal streets. While these thoughts were passing through what I once regarded as my 3 J. Mich! he aay Michieam ave, wear the Beso, T= CARLETON, Lake, N.3. intellect my more nimble and practiced com- ay Reduced rates tor Rejitember panions had chosen their brooms, leaving two, | <*°?-2*__ ——_- § BINKSOE Pop, | which a dapper little Frenchman and I gingerly i aati one =e up. Iam nota connoisseur in brooms, | ~ Open June 22 to Octoler | 4 ut I can safely answer that mine was, without | _ ‘Terms, address B.C. BOICK, Prop’r. jel-3m exception, the most disrepfitable-looking broom — —— mee — cea a had the twin, THE MOUNTAINS, ETC. ut mine gloried in its bad pre-eminence. ; ian. — “I'm the guest of the great white czar, and ‘2, A A or , a xs — no mistake,” I thought. “A palace and a po- | huntink and fishing Fates Tor suitiuun. Por cise culars address AJ. MYERS, Man: MATZ SPRINGS AND BATHS. ORDAN WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS. ne. of Wiuchester and 1 \y miles ae. int | Depot, Frederick cbuuty, Va. my lé-¢m lice cell—a brougham and a broom—this is i deed a treat.” My philosophical reflections were a by an incident not uncon- e point of a gendarme’s sw ow quickly you see the me things—and the procession starte were marched through several streets until we reached our field of action, and were <7 tutes NPHOSE IN PURSUIT would do well to visit HEALTH OR Pi bet EASURE elsewhere. | Fishi ng frat, mum, dancing & vor Sprinies, arranged in a line across the broad thorough- fare. I glanced at my brothers in affliction on ch side of me—one was a very frowsy caftan- clad moujik, the other was the dapper little Frenchman, wielder of the twin broom, - bastopol and Moscow are avenged,” I bitterly thought as I heard him sacreing, while I re- _ PIANOS AND ORGANS. J) *CRER BeOS. ViaNOS | REPRESENT ALL ‘that is best int art of Ju marked, “Godfrey Daniel!” and commenced id on Sti mi ee — to sweep the muddy road. “Cheer Lin sy Fy ESTEY SOS. A few up.” I said in French,” “it's fine | “TSTEY ORGANS Two Lunived au ten tienunand healthy exercise.” promptly uncorked | (210.000) Estey Organs ‘have been tude aed ena the vials of his wrath: ‘His Leonie was all that | }°v style" tor Farior, Church and School use. Sold was distinguee and charmante, but his sacre- iakos AND ORGANS FOR RENT. bleu mama-in-law, helas!” and I learned that | _ instruments taken in part pajment for new she had been interfering in the domestic me- ee em nenek ania nage, and he, Jules, had been worsted in the 2 Py a war of words, and had fied into the nightto| 13 , Baltimore, Md 2 seek comfort in the flowing bowl, and that he ——__ 5 oul-3an had snapped his fingers ata gendarme, evidently A with an hereditary hatred of Frenchmen, who Aa had incontinently locked him - My ®ympa- pak thetic listening to his woes, as I scrubbed the NN A A lean earth, was interrupted by the ripple of TaNos,. silvery laughter, and I looked up to see those | UNEQUALED IN TONE, TOUEH. ORKAANSere two nihilists, Katinka and Voleska, who had! gyecis) attentions Went. nt os ‘uasers” is invited to their come out of their way as they went to the | “New Artistic Styles,” fulened in deayns of High- Carmelite hospital to see the fun. EST DECUKATIVE AKI. Pianos tor rent. “Don't apukae me, you deceitful hussies' SECOND-HAND PIANOS. — A large assortment roared, as I shook the disreputable mud- im the covered broom at them. Voleska laughed till Coursing sluost every, well-known mals country, ub thorough repair, will Le closed jow byures. SPECIAL INDUCEME |, and a inst the lam yrces atid ity W Ladcks lence in the ranks, rapscallions!” shouted the sergeant commanding; “*pile your brooms.” I threw mine on a heap in # cart. “Catch hold of those wheelbarrows, fail in line, first man march back to the police station.”* “Sometimes effect precedes cause,” I thought, as I looked at my wheelbarrow—‘wheelbarrow effect—my- | self cause—thank goodness! here we ure and I can get off now.” SIs Market Space, LADIES’ GOODs. Rests: FRONTS"! FRONTS!!! Just the thing for Summer. Always ip order by plain comban, Lx. M. 3. PRANDI, nw. CAlrs. Harrison's, “T'll wait for you.” whispered the French- haporter of man as the names and addresses were rapidly mated ne French Haur Goode, taken down, and Icame last on the list. I] au7i eg S se Shampootng. KENCH DYFING. SCOURING AND DRY CLEAN. ING ESTABLIBHMED( » New York ave, First-class Ladies’ and Gente work of every descrip: thanked him with a grateful look, and my companions rapidly dispersed, But my special troubles were not yet ended. Without think- ing I gave my right address at the palace in | Yt; Jiushy Selvet and sven yt - the Nevskoi prospect. ‘The inspector on duty | ud Maisou Yio, Paris” SMH With A. Faschet glared at me through his gold-rimmed spec- tacles. I saw my error; it was much the same as when I recollected a’ very disreputable and brazen Fenian, at the time of the rising in Dub- lin in 1867, giving his name as Lord Abercorn and his address at the viceregal lodge, when he was arrested, which name and address, the | police inspector afterward solemnly assured | the magistrate, “the police had on inquiries ascertained to be false;” and I was about to be | pat back for contumacy and inquiries, when I | thought me of Mra. Dawkins’ letter, the | only thing left to me, and on showing them the address they came to the sapient conclu- | sion that I was a tutor they had known of- | ficially—Jack Stonybroke, whilom of Caius and-curtly told me to be off. My friendly | ame tne Urmine from Frenchman was outside, and as I had told him | amiue our stock ot f spe Wine how I had been robbed we hada welcome glass | of vodka, and after a ‘brush up” I returned to the palace, | Although it was early I found Count Labinski | already returned. He flew at me and em-| braced me coving e | TON | ALISA: |< Lindiien’ ad « | Dyed without FISCHER'S DRY CLEANING ESTAB- ENT AND DYE WOLKE. HO ¢ ~« un Lag rapped. Ladies" ¥ & specialty. ‘Thirty-five years’ experi moderate.” Goods called for and delivered LL-WOOL GAKMLNT», MADE UP OK RIPPED dyed & good mourning black A. FISCHER. ela 8OUG st now, FAMILY SUPPLIES. INE W INES. Fam G | Parties returning from the sen shore Grocer ‘We guarantee to give best value for t A. HEITMULLER & ©¢ aul7-3m 1533.) 4th wt _ ATTORNEYS. 17 & FORREST, nw. I did not mind on this) special occasion; he was pale and anxious | Fyapg bem ang he brightened up considerably. | P ATTORNEYS AND COUNSELLORS AT LAW, y friend, my betrothed and sister and I) 4.) 52. 103 Ob «a2. are in great trouble. They had received an | _TlePhone 1195-2 Side anonymous letter warning them me ge were | ¢ ‘AMPBELL Cakicl KNEV-AT-LAW in great danger of the nihilist and the writer | }-\**uster Law Butid ag +. Washington. begged them to ask you to return to England | nn 4 at once. I hurried back, but you had gone out; | perce. 8 saat you did not return all mght; if anything should | WOOD AND COAL ar ae to potge oe passport gee} have to | = “77 es ill myself, e czar would send me to oe ’ Siberia, See, courtiers never know when the MLE one ee claws will show through the glove,” and he | piss quaiity Georse's creck tnntorind Coal for opened a ring he habitually wore, showing me steam purpc ; a tiny fang. “If the emperor uttered the word | Office, 1214 silt wt. Tele) mn ‘Siberia,’ I press that poison fang,” and he ae ‘ed. 17 e¢ 956-2 Jelephone, 954-2. Zaptand Whers, 00s w TT ‘ i= — I gasped in horror; “my poor dear . anaes chum, T have seen the nibilists; I cannot tell | PRINTERS. you anything, but they have got my passport.” | The count gave a little gasping sob aud) GPeSotcal Hock @ND JOb PRINTERS swooued. I hastily used all the remedies I could | AND BOORBINDEKS, think of and brought him to. | _Jel-7m 338 Peuusy vane avenue. “Count, dear count, it may not be so bad; |) =~ - him popberieey * gan Mamonoff; I will beg | MOCO SoS Nb ob pRiwrens, i re i 1108-1116 & st. u. w.,south made. be shouted, ‘Demetrieff-M:monoff's BRIEFS, TESTIMONY, KECORDS, PETITIONS ‘ PROMPTLY AND ACCUKATELY Pai TLD. “Why, he is my betrothed’s uncle. I will go FINE WORK A SPECIALTY a9 to him’ af once and throw myself at et. Your English face is so unlike any nihilis they cannot make use of the passport,” and, seizing his hat, he hurried from the palace. My reflections were not enviable and I de- termined to return to England at once. I sat, down and wrote a heart-broken letter to Olgay | telling her I should forever remain single fo4 her sake; that I forgave her and loved her. then wrote various letters of farewell, and while engaged on the last the count returned. He was deadly pale and trembled convulsively. Without saying a word he went to the buffet and drained a tumbler of brandy, then he turned to me; twice he tried to speak. Then, POTOMAC RIVER BOATS, GTEAMER JOHN W. SHONPSON POR POTOMAC © RIVER LANDINGS. ‘Leave Oth-strect whart every SUNDAY, TUE and THULSDAY at Op Lovnardtown, Curreo: Lowe, Coan Wharves, Vandiny at above whi are as far as Nou: Fare below Nouin, wul4-lin Daux Nozrox Lise OLD PULNT AND THE SOUTH. Steamer Lady of the Lake, iran 6: Gay, Thursday, and Suturday, 5 Leary, 7th. A . 01 Wedbiesciay, and Freda ina husky voice, so different from his usual | } yy ey ge bright, chirping accents, he said to me, as, Lake Tet call 4: Lowry, 230 SL with nerveless uncertain hands, he fumbled at c PTOMAC RIV £ his breast pocket, ‘Here is the NEW IKON STE. DINGS. rt; [have “\ AKEPFIELD” MONDAS, THC RSD AYS had to pay a deadly price for it, I know too wes 7 th-atreet whart much, and I have been compelled to take the | PidDAIS and SUNDAYS. pe LUDA, du, touching at Landings ag tar as Nomini Creek, Va, SU Clemer and Leonardtown, Md. Connects with Band ©. kk. Shepherds. See schedule. JOHN B. PADGL'T _C.W. REDEEY, Mauayer. YOTOMAC TRANSPORTATION LINE. For Baltimore and River Sunday ot 4vclock » mor surther y mh6-6m 7 eh at. oaths or die. I am now a nihilist,” and the poor little courtier broke down and cried bit- terly. We looked at each other blankly for some maaidoe,” Toad, as pointed to the ile of let, 4 said, as I poin' his ‘relations among others, nodded; he understood. it is bet re Though I shall be deeply grieved to lea “Tho ve you, my dear chum,” I said Rdlestionstely, “the sooner the better; tomorrow; you must come over and visit me.” “You forget [am not my own master now,” h ji sadly; “if my master, the ___ OCEAN STEAMERS. - ————s OK ROUTE TO LONDON. I get He brightened up and he gave me pee upward @ berth, to! London I oe adult , steerage at iow rates, 26 Penn. ave. ‘Avply tox. ¥. DROUP anal ie i i f. E. : & E E F BE : i b t Bed fF fi 5