After Long Years and Other Stories

eized with patriotic fervor. For some time he had nursed the desire to be a soldier. At the age of seventeen,

last she tearfully recognized that she must giv

for the right and your coun

some marches and privations. After untold hardships and bloodshed, the army at last reached Moscow, with her many palaces and temples and spires and the old palace, the Kremlin. It was a pl

y in ashes. The army was obliged to retreat; and many thousand brave soldiers, exposed to snow and ice, hunger and cold, met a horri

in the distance a human habitation appeared and gave promise of warmth and f

he need of food became more and more imperative each moment; yet if they had had the wealth of kings, they could not have bought a dry

agons; and on both sides lay the dead, upon whom the fast falling snow had spread a white coverlet. Many of t

d become so weak that he fell exhausted in the snow, saying: "Thus must I die here!" He extended his hand to his friend and with tears in his eyes said: "Should y

ion of the village. He halted, offered his assistance to the two half-frozen men, helped them into the sleigh

lass and said: "To your health, gentlemen. All brave soldiers should live. I sympathize with you, although I am a Russian subject. The sad fate of your fellow soldiers pains me. I will do all in my power to help you.

tly shook the sleigh bells and pawed the snow. As Vosky re-

dder and walking through a narrow passage, they came to a secret door which opened into a bedroom. Alfred Banford looked about

rrow, I must leave you for a little while in order to transact some urgent business; but I will instruc

ctly safe to remain, for he feared that Russian soldiers

our word of honor to remain until my return. I will then devise means to help you reach your countr

a dream, to find myself transported from an icy field to a warm, cozy room," said he. "It borders on the miraculous-I cannot fathom it." But sleep was fast overpowering him. He had lain for so lo