Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 54, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 February 1904 — The Secret Dispatch [ARTICLE]

The Secret Dispatch

By JAMES GRANT

CHAPTER I. “Heaven aid me! Where am I now — which way shall I turn—advance or retire?’’ exclaimed Balognie, as his horse came plunging down, nlniost on its knees, amid wild gorse atni matted jungle. A cold day in the middle of April had passed away; a pale and cheerless-sun, that had cast no heat on the leafless scenery and the half-frozen marshes that border the Longa in Western Russia, had sunk, and the darkness of a stormy night came on rapidly. The speaker, a mounted officer in Russian uniform, who seemed too surely to have lost his way, reined up a weary and mud-covered horse on the margin of the stream, and by the light that yet lingered on the tops of the tall pines and gilded faintly the metal-covered domes-of a distant building on the opposite bank, looked hopelessly about lnm for the means of crossing the dangerous river. Though clad in the uniform of the Russian regiment of Smolensko, the traveler was cool, wary and determined, one of the many Scottish officers whom misfortune or ambition had drawn into Russian service, both by sea and land, from the time of Peter the Great down to the beginning of the present century. The rider’s green uniform, fueed with scarlet velvet and richly laced with gold, was covered by a thick gray pelisse, trimmed with black wolf's fur; he wore a scarlet forage cap with a square top, long boots and a Turkish saber. “Swim the river I must,’’ he muttered, after having traversed the valley in vain, looking foisa bridge; “but death may he the penalty. Well,” he added, with a gleam o£_ire in his dark-gray eyes and a bitter smile on his lip,. “there was a time, perhaps, when I little thought that I, Charlie Balognie, would find a nameless grave in this land. I was to have found a bridge here. Can that Livonian villain, Fodatehkiuo, have deluded and then left me to my fate?” Balognie buttoned tightly his holsterflaps, hooked up his saber, assured himself that an important dispatch with which lie was intrusted was safe in an inner pocket, and prepared seriously for the perilous task of swimming his horse across the stream.

With a brief invocation on his lips, he gave hi* horse the reins anti gored it with the rowels. A strong, active, undersized nnimni from the steppes of the Ukraine, with a tierce nnd angry snort, it plunged into the' torrent and breasted the icy masses bravely: The slippery fragments that glided pnst struclTat times both horse and rider, forcing them to swerve down the stream; others were dashed by the whirling eddies against the projecting pieces of rook or roots of old trees; but after twice nearly despairing of achieving the-pas-sage, his horse trod firmly on the opposite bank. It emerged, pautiug, snorting, dripping aud trembling In every fiber, from the flood, anil then Captain Balognie found that he had escaped with his life and had safely passed the swollen waters oj the Longa! Leading his sturdy little steed by the bridle ami caressing it the while, he made his way up the opposite bank; but he - proceodetb with extreme difficulty, for the underwood was thick nnd dense; ere long, however, he reached « plat mu, the border of n park or lawn, and saw the snow-whitened walls nnd turrets of an edifice towering before him. The light in its many windows, the red and yellow colored curtains all indicated warmth nnd comfort; with the snowllakes freezing on his sodden and saturated uniform, his limbs betnmiber. and his teeth well nigh chattering, Balogliie hastily led his horse forward and applied his hand vigorously to the great brazen knocker on the front door. It was speedily opened, and a whitebearded porter, wearing a lon# flowing eont of fur, lined with red flannel,, admitted him with many humble genuflections, at the same lime summoning a groom to take charge of his horse.

CHAPTER 11. Captatn Balognic, of the Regiment of Sn\olousko. soon found himself in a comfortable bedchamber, where the genial glow of n Russian wall stove, diffused warmth through his chilled frame, and whence every current of the external atmosphere wns carefully Occluded by double window sashes, adorned with artificial flowers between.. A valet, after supplying him with hot coffee, said that his master would rejoice to have the pleasure of the visitor's society, after he had made a suitable toilet, and exchanged Ids wet uniform for n luxurious robe de cliambre, in the pocket of whirl) he took special care to secure his dispatch unseen. He was ushered into the* presence of Ivan Mierowitz, whose name at once inspired him with confidence and satisfaction; for. by one of those singular coincidences, lie hail arrived at a mansion where he wns not altogether unknown. “I have to apologize for this apparent intrusion,” said lte: "but I have been misled or abandoned by tny guide. I am Captain Halognie, of the Regiment of Rmplensko. and have the good fortune to number among my friends your son. Lieutenant Basil Mierowitz, the senior subaltern of my company." "For Basil's sake, not less than your own, Captain, you nre most welcome,” replied Ida host, lifting and laying aside liia cap. He was a man well on in years; ids ataturo was not grent, -neither was Ids' presence dignified; lie stooped a little, mid wna thickset, with a venerable beard. His eyebrows were white, but Ida eyes were dark, keen, quick, and expressed n spirit of ready Impulse, for laughter or for ferocity— one who by turns could be auore or irritable. ' "When did you laat see my son?” lie ‘.asked, in trine more of authority than of anxious inquiry. "Some three months since; he has been detached on the Livonian frontier.” “And you, CaptainV” "I am proceeding on urgent imperial aorrire from Novgorod, where my regi-me'fct-ie stationed in the old palace of tha Canrs. .

" “To whither?” “Schlusselburg.” The host changed countenance and almost manifested signs of discomfiture on hearing .of that formidable fortress and prison—the veritable Bastile of St. Petersburg, nnd he said: “A name to shudder at!” “And, but for the feather in the wax of my dispatch," ‘resumed Balognie, showing a red government Ybal in which a piece of feather twitched from a pen was inserted, the usual ltussiau emblem of speed, “I had not, perhaps, tempted the dangers of the Louga, but sought a billet on the other side, if such could be found.” VYorf know not, perhaps, that my woods are full of wolves; but this is not the way to St. Petersburg.” “Yet I was so directed.” “Yon have been misled, and are only some seventy miles or so from the place you have left.". “You amaze me,” exclaimed the perplexed Captain; for in the Russian service an error becomes a crime. “Captain, you should have gone by Gori, Oustensk, and so on.” “Podatclikine, an orderly of Gen. Weymarn, who sent him specially with me, has either deluded or abandoned me.” “Yet we must thank your Fodatchkine, ip so for that he has procured us the pleasure of your^society in this lonely place—■■my daughter and my niece, Captain Ivanovitch Balognie,” continued his host, introducing two young ladies who came through the curtains of a species of boudoir, “Natalie and Mariolizza Usakoff. Our visitor, Natalie, is that Ivanovitch Balognie of whom Basil has spoken s’o much and so kindly.” Without heiug a vain man. Balgonie felt at that moment considerable satisfaction in the conviction that he was decidedly a good looking young fellow, with regular features, fine dark eyes, curling brown hair and a smart mustache; for Natalie Mierowna, like her cousin Mariolizza, was one of the most attractive women at the dangerous court of the Empress Catahriue 11. “The friend and comrade of my brother Basil is welcome,'' said Natalie, presenting her hands to Balgonie, who bowed and touched them lightly with his lips; “he has often written to us concerning yon and your adventures together in Silesia." "1 am hilt too fortunate to be remembered thus.” “Nay,” rejoined Natalie, “we could scarcely forget that daring act of yours,, which won you the rank you hold fft-pi-eseilt. Ah, Basil told us all about that when lie was last here,” she added, witlu a beautiful smile, of which she knew that many had already felt the power. There are few Russian ladies who do not speak, with equal facility, German, French and English, and Natalie Mierbwha and her cousin were mistress of them all. Thus their acquaintance with European literature enabled them to excel in an easy nnd well supported conversation of which their kinsman could make nothing: and which they (;ould embellish by their wit and power of quotation, and with an exquisite charm peculiarly their own. When this was added to the great beauty of Natalie, she could hut prove n perilous acquaintance for the young Scottish wanderer. She took his arm and led tiie way to the dining room, which was lit by brilliant crystal giandoles. All made a sign of the cross in the Greek fashion, and seated themselves; hut weary and exhausted by his long ride and recent immersion in a swollen and icy river, Balgonie found it almost impossible to partake of the supper that was pressed upon him. The jaded traveler could only make a pretense of eating. After a time he mastered sufficient energy to beg-that lie might he permitted to retire, as lie had his journey to resume betimes on tlie morrow: and lie was escorted to the chamber by his host in person. Its four corners seemed to he in rapid pursuit of each other now, and the floor and the ceiling to he incessantly changing places; then his senses reeled, and the light departed from his eyes. He foiinj himself fainting. The sudden .and rapid .journey l from Novgorod, the lack of food and the toil lie had undergone for one night and two entire days, while wandering with the treacherous Podatchine, the Crossing of the Louga, and the bruises he had unconsciously received from several pieces of floating ice, had all proved too much for his system, and brought on n relapse of an old camp fever from which he had suffered once when serving with the army in Silesia —and in the morning lie was delirious. Though weak, bewildered, seared by the prospect of loitering thus when proceeding on urgent duty, enduring a raging thirst and a burning pang that shot with each pulsation through his brain, stilt m every joint nnd covered with livid | bruises, he had still strength left ns dawning day stole through the double sashes of his windows, to stagger from bed, and search for the dispatch, which, on the hazard of his life, lie was to place in the hands of Bernikofl’, the Governor of Schlusselburg. , He hurriedly, and \vith a tremor ttwt Increased, examined each of his pockets iu succession, then his sahertasche, and lastly the pocket of the robe do ehambre; ] hut the dispatch—the dispatch of tiie Empress—intrusted to him as n chosen man by Lieut chant General Weymarn was gone! Lost or abstracted, it was irretrievably gone! Was he the victim of treachery or of n snare? Was it a dream that the beautiful Natalie, with her snowy skin, her dreamy eyes, nnd her fascinating smile, liml is>nn hovering about him —a dream or a realityV Alas! he knew not; for again the walls nnd windows were wliirliug round him in wild career, and he sank ou the floor insensible. Poor Charlie Balgonie Joiew not that the morning on which he made this ularmlng discovery was tlmt of the second ilny since bis arrival at the Castle of Louga. a

CHAPTER 111. Scarcely had Charlie Balgonie achieved the passage of the Louga, and forced his panting horse up the wooded bank than guide and orderly, Corporal Mlchail Podatchkine, who, for reasons which were his own, had decoyed him many, many miles to,.the southward of his proper route and then abandoned him, while he still cautiously followed, and watched him plunge into the perilous stream — watched him in the hope that he might perish in its icy current; Corporiil Podatehkine had barely seen (Jw officer’s safety was.certain and assured, than lie turned his horse's head, and with a liokrse malediction on his bearded mouth, rode away in an opposite direction. Ere long, with a grunt of satisfaction, he struck upon a track that led to the right and left, and he unhesitatingly pursued the latter. Finally he came to a place where the forest was partially cleared, and there stood a little hut, built of sqqared logs. The walls of this edifice were whitened by a. coat of the fast freezing snow. A single ray of smoky light streamed from the window near the door, on which Podqtchkine, without dismounting, struck three blows with the but of his lance.

“Nicholas Paulovitcli,” he exclaimed, “are you within?” The door was soon unfastened, and thereat appeared a figure not unlike an Esquimau, bearing a pine torch. He was a man of great stature and muscular development, clad in a coat of coarse, thick and warm material, girt by a broad belt in which a long rusty knife was stuck. He held up the pine torch, and its flaring light tipped with a lurid, weird and uncertain glow his fierce, tawny and repulsive visage. “Is it you, Mich ail Poilatchkine —andalone?” he asked, surlily. “Yes: even so, alone. Dost think I have the evil eye about me that you stare so, Nicholas Paulovitcli?” “Heaven forbid!” cried Nicholas, with a shudder, for this idea is the grossest and the greatest of all Russian superstition; “but I expected two —yourself and another.” “Who told you so?” “Olga Paulowna, my sister, who yesterduy saw you at Krejo.” “True, I remember. Now listen, old friend and comrade ” “Hush, .the...girl is within and may hear you."

“Well,” said Podatclikine, lowering his voice, while the other extinguished his torch, half closed the door and drew near the speaker, “by order of General Weymarn, Governor of St. Petersburg, I am ordered to guide this Carl Ivanovitch Balgonie. who is a stranger, to the gates of Schlusselburg, as he hears to Bernikoff a dispatch of importance; but 1 have been promised a heavy sum ” “Ah! how much say you?” \ “Two hundred silver roubles, if I, by fair means or by foul, prevent the delivery of that paper into the hands of old Bemikoff.” ' “He whose dagger tickled the throat of Peter III.; and by whom are you offered this, friend Podatclikine?” -“I can trust you; well, by the Lieutenant Apollo Usakoff.” “The grandson of the Hetman 11azeppa!” “The same; and by Basil Mierowitz—” “Well, and what have 1 to do with all this?” growled the half breed, “Much; fifty roubles will he yours, Paulovitcli, if you will assist me,” said Podatclikine, in a husky Whisper. “Let us talk over tills; dismount and come in.”

“Nay, there is Olga Paulowna; then I have other work to do. My next instructions are that the dispatch, which is from the Empress herself, nnd which bears the imperial seal, shall never be delivered; but must he obtained by me for Basil Mierowitz and the Lieutenant Usakoff, now detached upon the Livo nian frontier, and who both know as little as I care, that its hearer is actually their own dearest and most valued friend! I misled the Hospodeen Balgonie, lured him to the river's brink, and left him there, in the hope that he and his horse might become frozen on the steppe or in the forest, where I could rob him at ease; but the man seems made of iron, anil, to my astonishment, 1 saw him swim the Louga. 1 thought all gone, he, the dispatch and my two hundred roubles, when he plunged his horse into tho river; but he stoutly won the opposite hank, nnd has made his way straight to the dwelling of Ivan Mierowitz, where now, I ilouht not, lie isr safely housed.” "It seems to me. friend Podatclikine, that you took a great deal Of useless trouble when you had your dagger and pistols,” said the other, suspiciously. (To he continued.)