OCR Text |
Show V k and that the beautiful Shilka flowed between it and the extensive railroad shops that are maintained at this point. During his first day in. the town, he put up at the Darnivostock hotel, but found the lodging so abominable, the fare so execrable and the service. "so insolent that he was glad to engage an old peasant woman of all work and begin housekeeping in some unoccupied rooms of the Trading Company's store. Besides this old woman, his only companion was a young Russian clerk, who spoke a little bad English, which he practiced on Hardy with such persistence that he became a nuisance, him with such reentertaining marks as: The "Good morning, Mr. Hardy. barn of my store is not so large as the barn of my .uncle. Have you seen the barn of my uncle? or, Good evening, Mr Hardy. Do you think the black horse is as good as the white horse? Neither the one nor the other is so good as the horse of my aunt. This interesting person was possessed of the "skin of a baby, pink cheeks, very thick, red lips, blue eyes and hair. His name was Vasili Ogorodnikoff. He imagined himself a great merchant, and his manner toward Hardy oscillated between superciliousness and the other extreme of sudden servility when reminded of his position. He was either presumptuous or groveling. It was Impossible to treat him as an equal. And here, from the very start, Hardy got his first taste of hard work, and came to realize what a blessing it is; how it ennobles a mans surroundings, however, strange, prosaic or uninviting, and what a royal panacea it is for blues, homesickness, lovesickness, or any species of festering discontent. In addition to the daily business of the store, it was necessary for him to take stock, familiarize himself with the details of the trade, get what idea he could of the accounts, study the commercial possibilities of the region. He saw immediately, that if he did not wish to continue at the mercy of Vasili, he must learn the Russian language as soon as possible; this, indeed, must be his first object. He must swallow Russian in great gulps and must digest It. He therefore looked about for a teacher. The only available person he could find was a Russian Jew, who, despite his youth, wore a great bale of bushy red whiskers, falling to the fourth button of his shabby waistcoat. Mordecai Baruch knew English very well, as he had spent several years in New York In the factory of a relative engaged there in the manufacture of caps. He undertook to teach Hardy Russian, and he found the latter a most assiduous pupil, devoting as many as four hours a day to the subject. Hardy had not been long in Stry etensk before he received a letter from Mrs. Johnny Folkstone, the Boston society leader, calling him a naughty boy for running away to the ends of the earth and deserting all his friends, and assuring him that society would not have been able to do with out him, money or no money, had he seen fit to remain. Another letter, received not long after his arrival in Stryetensk, gave him more pleasure. It was written on the daintiest and lightest of Japanese paper, in very small and exqulsitely-formefscript. As Hardy picked this letter up from bis writing table, there was something about it that suggested femininity, even before he opened it. A woman, eh? he muttered, and in Japan. I wonder who are in Japan this summer? Perhaps the Castle-tontin-fo- script group of old women, two or three soldiers, and a farmer or two SYNOPSIS. Frederick Hardy, a fashionable Boston society man, lost his wealth, wasto jilted take by a girl and sent by a friend charge of an American Trading Company store in Russia. On his Journey through Japan he met Stapleton Neville, sup-to posedly a.i Englishman. They agreed go together to Russia. Because of suspicious circumstances they were several times molested by the Japanese. Hardy was arrested and found upon his person were papers showing maps of Jap forts. Hardy was proven guiltless. Onof a a train Jap he met Aisome Sano, daughter In Nevilles shoes Jap found merchant. a be to him of forts, proving pictures Russian spy. Hardy departed for Ruswrecked was sia on a steamer, which He was rescued by a shortly afterward. On reaching VladiRussian steamer. was well he treated. He started vostok for Siberia, meeting Princess Romanovna on the train. Hardy boarded a vessel for Amur. Hardy showed the princess his steamer expertness as a rifle shot. The and her The princess was stranded. maid were attacked by Chinese. Hardy thanked saved their lives. The princess Manchurians Hardy for his heroism. fired upon the craft. Hardy slew their hurled upon were arrows chief. Burning the Pushkins decks. An attempt was The attacking made to board the vessel. Chinese were repulsed. Romanoff sneered for the princess, at Hardy's solicitude sent for help, was fitanka. a messenger nailed to a cross on the shore. To put an Hardy himself pd to the awful torture of his misery, taking his put StankaIn out his hands. Forest fires menown life aced the vessel. Hardy volunteered to he go for help. Refused permission Jumped overboard and started to swim Rodistress message. the with princess' manoff was angry at Hardy for his brave efforts to rescue the princess. He wooed tier In his own savage way. to Hea said love openly JapHardy bad made came and the princess anese girl. Help was rescued. CHAPTER XXI. Knight-Erran- t. Hardys journey down the swift, vague, mysterious river that night was an experience never to be forgotten. Often, as he clung to his little raft, his knees would scrape on the soft sand, and just as frequently he would swing off into deep water and hang suspended above depths where he might easily drown, should he take a cramp or lose his nerve. Several times he grounded on and was obliged to drag off his wooden buoy, a matter of no little difficulty, and as it was partly water-loggevery heavy. Once he drifted close to shore and found himself in a counter current, that actually was taking him back toward the Pushkin, aDd it was only by swiftiming at right angles to this and giving his raft frequent vigorous pushes, that he managed at last to get out into the downward sweep of the stream. Four hours after leaving the boat he was on the military road that stretched, dimly gray, between the stolid, silent black of- the Siberian whisforests and the river. of the black pering He reached the military station a rambling building of square, hewn struclogs, flanked by several small breakand, ten oclock, about tures to a ing his bottle, gave his dispatch white-haireand corpulent soldier, with a very red face, whose frayed and faded uniform proved him a petty officer of some sort. This man glanced through the paper with wondering eyes, then read it aloud to a nonde sand-bank- d d Cf s who soon collected about him. Then he dashed into the house and set a telegraph Instrument, over which he sometimes preside'i.o clicking. Hardy, chilled to the marrow, now that he had ceased walking and running, and wearied to the point of collapse, sank on a rustic bench, believing himself forgotten in the excitement evidently occasioned by his news. In this he soon found himself mistaken, however, for a toothless old crone, with a kindly face and a red handkerchief tied over her head, came up to him ajid, taking him by the arm. Inquired: Zakouska? He swallowed three glasses of' vodka and ravenously devoured several caviar sandwiches, after which he was supplied with warm, dry clothing and tucked away in bed. When he awoke it was and the old commandant had dictiondelved into a Russian-Frencary sufficiently to dig out the words, which he pronounced many times, with a smiling face: Sauves, monsieur, tous sauves! thereby affording the American the greatest joy and relief and establishing his own reputation at the station as a wonderful scholar. Hardy remained at the station one week, at the end of which time he resumed his journey to Stryetensk on horseback, escorted by a half dozen Cossacks bound for Irkutsk on some military mission or other. He learned, very soon after his arrival at Stryetensk, that the relief party had put in an appearance a short time after his start down the river-ohis perilous trip, and that the princess had been rescued this time entirely without his aid. h . d s. He held the envelope closer to his eyes to examine the script to see if he could guess at the writers identity, when the problem was solved. A faint and elusive perfume arose to his nostrils, so faint as to be almost imperas the ceptible, yet imperishable memory of a kiss, and the image of Aisome took shape again in his mind CHAPTER XXII. Aisome, as she had stood that night on the wharf at Hakodate, bidding Letters. Two Receives Hardy him good-by- , dainty as a The store at Stryetensk was a low, as a Queen of Fairy land exquisite rambling building, constructed in the Yokohama. August 16. 1903. shape of a capital E without the midYou will perhaps be surprised at heardle bar. A high board fence, connecting from me. but you will not accuse me ing the extremities of the two wings, of forwardness, I am sure, when you inclosed one side of a square yard learn my reason for addressing you in which contained outbuildings and this manner. Some time ago the estimme the honor of desirsheds for horses, a droshky or two, able toMr. Sano did marry me. Soon after your deing and several of the long parture for Hakodate, he again offered telegas that do duty in that country me his hand, and when I made it plain as drays, in the outhouse, moreover, to him that I should never consent, he ow became very angry and accused was kept a supply of plows and other shall I express myself? of having become while the implements, agricutural infatuated with the American, meaning store itself was stocked with an im- you. In his jealous rage he revealed the mense and motley assortment of gen-- fact that he had given secret orders to captain of the Shikoku Maru to have eral merchandise suited to the retail the he exyou disposed of. "You will demand of the region, and for whole- claimed. gnashing his teeth like a wolf, beloved American again." sale shipments to the towns along "behold can imagine that this confession did the Shilka river, on which stream You not advance Mr. Sano to any great exStryetensk is located. tent In my esteem. Though I did not beHardy found the city itself deary tray myself to him, I was nearly frantic in the extreme, consisting merely of a concerning you. I went to the higher autold them frankly of Sanos procollection of raw, squalid houses, lo- thorities. posal to me, and of his against your cated on dusty or muddy streets. It life. I disclaimed anv plot interest In you, was as new and rough as the newest further than the fact that you were innon frontier town in America and hope- cent, and that you were a American, and that it would not be wise lessly unattractive, despite the fact at this time to excite American hostility, that it was surrounded by noble hills, or to involve Japan In complications with inoon-flowe- boat-shape- me-h- , ) that country. Sano, being summoned, denied the plot, denied that he had ever sought my hand, or that he had any feeling for me except admiration for my talents. The authorities were rather amused over the affair and seemed to think that I bore Sano some private grudge, which I was trying to pay off. I was reduced to despair, hardly knowing what course to pursue next, when the news arrived that the Shikoku Maru had been wrecked and that you were taken oft and carried to Vladivostok by a Russian merchant steamer. I take it for granted that you are safely in Stryetensk ere this and are deeply Immersed in your new duties. Sano, by the way, is so bitter against me now and so Intent on my ruin that I have applied for service in Manchuria, a task for which I am fitted by my thorough knowledge of the Chinese language. So you see Into what trouble you have got me by calling me your "Queen of Fairyland" and your "IJttle Lilac Blossom." Are not women silly? I am firmly convinced that this susceptibility to flattery renders them unfitted for all serious work in the world. But I could not rest without letting you know that I did not deceive you, and that I am not the treacherous creature you must have thought me, If you gained any Inkling of the designs upon you. I suppose you have entirely forgotten your Japanese friends ere this, and that you have become an enthusiastic admirer of the beauty of the Russian ladies. Still, if you should ever think of me again, I should hate to have any unpleasant Impression associated with the memory of one whom you once thought of as a "Lilac Blossom, and a "Queen of Fairyland. Am I not silly? Your friend, AISOME- MOSURO. He gained from the letter that Aisome was a most feminine woman, de- spite her calling, hut the idea never occurred to him that she was in love with him. CHAPTER XXIII. s One at his room The Hated Jew. morning, as Hardy was busy desk in the rear of the principal of the store, Vasili came and beside him, smiling supercili stood ously. Are there many Jews in America?" he asked. Hardy, believing that this was sinv ply another attempt on the part of his clerk to take an English lesson, replied sharply: dont know. Dont talk to me now, please, Im busy. But Vasili, contrary to his custom when be was coolly received, persisted: The Jews are very numerous in Russia. They are much hated by the our crucified Christians. They Saviour and they sacrifice young children to tbelr heathen rites. This was rather an extended effort for Vasili, and, though it had a decided Ollendorfian ring, there was something in his manner that indi cated a deeper purpose than the mere desire to profit by his superior's Eng- ,I lish. "Nonsense! exclaimed Hardy with irritation. I have nc patience with any such folly. That Is all an idle to be enter superstition unworthy tained by a man of your Intelli gence. Nonsense, Is It? sneered Vasili My father hates the Jews, and my uncle hates them worse than my father. Do the Americans love the JewsT" "No, they do not love them, neither do they hate them. Some of our best citizens are Jews. There is no such thing as religious persecution in America. Any man is respected in that country who earns his living hon estly. Vasili went about his work, but returned later with the remark: The people of this town want the Jews to go. They do not understand why you are seen so much with the Jew, Mordecai. It might be dangerous for you. If there should be trouble. Some say that you are an American Jew. Hardy dropped his pen and looked up with interest. A slight flush, a red spot, crept into his cheek. You may tell my esteemed and somewhat meddlesome neighbors, for me, he drawled, that I am neither a Jew nor a Choctaw Indian, and that when I need their advice in my private affairs, I shall call yiem in. 1 am a Russian, persisted Vasili; "do you love Jews better than Russians? My dear Vasili, when you persist in making a nuisance of yourself, as at present, I am quite sure that I like the Jews better than the Russians, or, at least, than some Russians. If you have anything to do, will yon kindly go about it? I never felt better able to endure your absence than-a- t this very instant Vasili moved away, smiling, but it was an evil smile. 1ardy returned to his accounts and trie! to dismiss his clerk's remarks from his mind. He succeeded for the time being, as the work before him was engrossing, but later in the day the Russian's observations persistently recurred to him, and caused him considerable annoyance. He fancied that the retail trade had been falling off somewhat, and wondered if this were a result of the Russian lessons with the Jew. The next morning he took a long walk with Mordecai, crossing the ferry that Is ingeniously run ny the force of the rivers current, aud struck out into the hills. Hitherto be Lad been deeply absorbed in the I Am a Russian, Persisted Vasili; "Do You Love Russians? Russian lessons, and ever there x had been constantly in his mind the thought that this was her language, and that,' if he should ever meet her again, he would be able to talk with her in her own tongue. Now, however, he was distracted by the scowling faces of the early villagers whom he met on the streets. The raft-lik- e ferry was crowded, and he noticed that the passengers drew away from himself and Mordecai, as though fearing some contagion. These people muttered, repeating the words, The Jew! The Jew! with a loathing and fear such as Hardy had never heard put into human speech before. As uttered by them the word, itself become an epithet of hate and superstitious horror, the most opprobrious insult that could be hurled at a fellow creature. Hardy glanced at Mordecai. His companion stood silent, looking down, nervously clasping one hand in the other, the collar of his long cloak turned up about his ears. Once he looked up, a fleeting glance, and there was a baleful light, half bate, half fear, in his reddish-broweyes. On the country road which they took after leaving the ferry, they or long several telegas, passed wagons, coming into town, and Hardy observed that the drivers of these also eyed him and his companion with looks of loathing,- and again he heard, above the rattle of the wheels, that ancient cry of hate, The Jew! The Jew! They sat down beneath a tree on the side of a hill commanding a view of the town and the winding Shilka, up whose rapid current a steamer was now shouldering Its way, leaving behind a trailing plume of black smoke of incredible size. They conversed in Russian for awhile, Mordecai skillfully leading the dialogue, without any reference to the unpleasant incidents of the morning. When, however. Hardy arose at last to return to the shore, the Jew said: "You have made great progress, my dear pupil. You will now be able to get along by yourself, or by the help of a Russian teacher, who does not know any English. I do not defeire to make a change, replied Hardy; "I am more than ed with iny present teacher." Insisted Baruch, "Nevertheless," the time has come when It will be no longer safe for you to go on with me. have wanted to speak of this for several days, but it has been so pleasant to me to have the society of a human being here in this country of wolves and dogs that I have not been able to bring myself to the point. Besides. I need the money that you pay me. I greatly fear that another Jewish persecution is about to break out I have seen the storm brewing for some time. If it were not for my old mother, for whose sake 1 came back to this accursed country, I would quietly leave. At any rate, there is np need of your becoming involved in n - satis-di- 1 Jews Better Than our trouble, perhaps losing your life. The people do not understand your associating with me. It Is even whispered that you are of Jewish descent. Hardy laughed. "My dear fellow, he said, It is nobody's business whom I employ for a Russian teacher. I shall pursue the course that seems best to me, and I shall not allow these people to interfere with my private affairs. If necessary, we will warn the authorltiea that trouble is brewing. Baruch sprang to his feet - and looked over toward Stryetensk, hia eyes blazing wih hate. he cried; "do "Oh, the authorities! you know that the persecutions of the Jews in Russia are connived at by the authorities, and tolerated even by the czar himself? Could not the authorities, If they wished, uproot and dispel the superstitions that make the Jews hated and feared? The people of Russia are mere animals, Ignorant and ferocious, and they do what they are toid. But there will be a day of reckoning for Unholy Russia. The God who opened the Red sea for Israel; who led them through the wilderness with a pillar of cloud by day and of fire by night; who talked with Moses In the burning bush; who was with his people of old in Nineveh; the God who has made Rothschild a king of kings; who inspired the brains of Solomon and Heine, the souls of Mendelssohn and Meyerbeer, and the heart of Monteflore he will make this rabble pay for the blood of his chosen race. All the miseries of the Pale nnd the Ghetto, all the degradation and suffering, the starvation, the blows, the massacre and pillage, are they not written down In the books of Recording Angel? The old law of aa eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, was written for you, O Unholy Russia, and when your day of judgment comes your ruin will be more terrible than that of Babylon! Draw out the score, heap high the mountains of wrong, but be sure that the mills of God grind very fine, not matter how slowly they turn! As Mordecai said these words, something of the power of an ancient seer crept into his bearing, his red eyes flashed fire, his shabby cloak seemed the robe of a prophet, and his thin, hooked' nose and Semitic features took on the dignity of the ancient and glorious race whose Insignia they were. We will walk back Hardy arose. together, Mordecai, he said, quietly. On his return to the store he found awaiting him a letter from Moscow. It was addressed in Russian, but the epistle itself was written In French and bore at its head a princely crest. He trembled and his face paled aJ he turned back and glanced eagerly at the Ro"Elizabeths signature, manovna." "Mordecai," said he, "come early this evening. I am going to try to write a letter in Russian, and I shall want you to straighten t out for me! (TO BE continue:' |