Page:By order of the Czar.djvu/399

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BY ORDER OF THE CZAR, 387

old Polish housekeeper, who was devoted to the old man, he saw the apparition of his daughter Anna. She came out of the distant woodland, crossed the rough bridge which spanned the stream, a tributary of the great lake ; then pausing, she turned towards the cottage. The old man smiled. The summer sunshine fell upon the much- loved figure in what he conceived to be his happy dream. " My dear, dear Anna," he said ; and the woman came on, flowers in her path, peace in her heart. She was no imagin- ary Anna walking in the silent land of the father's tender fancy ; she paused at the primitive gate that finished the rough fencing of the tiny garden, and saw her father. There was no demonstration on the part of either of them. Anna was dressed very much in the fashion of her early day. Her face was pale ; but the old light had come into her eyes. Her red-gold hair showed streaks of grey ; but her step was light, and her voice sweet and musical. When she entered the garden the old man rose to his feet. He passed his hands over his eyes, then stretched out his arms. {i Father," said the well-known voice. " Anna," was the only response, and the old Polish woman found them locked in each other's arms.

In the closing days of this history Anna Klosstock and her father are removing to the pleasanter country between the post stations. of Ceremishkaya and Sugatskaya, which Mr. Kennon has described as a rich open farming region, resembling that portion of New York which lies between Rochester and Buffalo ; and which may therefore on our side of the Atlantic be fairly likened to the wolds of Lincoln- shire or the wealds of Kent, without, however, the beautiful hedgerow characteristics of the old country. The means of the Countess Stravensky, despite the disappearance of their owner, had in a great measure found their way into the hands of Anna Klosstock, and her father had received valuable assistance from his banking frifends of Moscow