A Romance of Port Arthur.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8029, 16 January 1906, Page 4

A Romance of Port Arthur.

Day after day passed in dreary monotony Id far away Port Arthur. It was winter, leal Siberian winter, which almost made the blood freeze in your veins, and many a sentry bad already been found frozen dead on bis post. In tb» barracks in the great fort on top of the Golden Hill a roaring fire was crackling in the big fireplace and aronnd the fire were seated a dozen officers in the uniform of the Czar. Two of them wore the dark blue uniform of the navy, while the others were high officers in command of the garrison of the fortress. The conversation was lagging, a heavy feeling of general uneasiness was in the air; no one knew why Admiral Alexieff, the allpowerful representative of the Czar, had called the council this evening. If he wanted to speak to his officers of the plans of defence why had be not callcu t h em t0 lno viceregal P&looe,-instead of meeting them in a simple room in the barracks ? " The Viceroy is late to-night," said Colonel Sergius Pusiakoff, a giant of six feet four, with an enormous moustache; "the Czar's courier arrived here two hours ago, and Aleiiefl's adjutant told me that he looked very serious as he read the despatches. lam afraid; tpt there is grave trouble ahead." "Lieutenant Vorouzaff, of torpedo boat No. 27, says that on his cruise outside the port to-day he noticed that the Japs were unusually active, and that all their ships are •tripped for action," said Captain Wroble wsky of the Czar's'battleship Retvizan, "but let them come ; we will show them the shortest way to the bottom of the sea j then we shall see if those yellow mongrels can swim as well as they can brag." Heavy footsteps were heard outside, a clanking of sabres and spurs, and in the.open door appeared the broad-shouldered figure of the Czar's Viceroy, followed by his personal staff. 1 The officers in the room jumped to their feet, a dozen hands shot to the caps in silent salute, which was gravely responded to by Admiral Alexieff. " Officers of the Czar," he said in a deep, solemn voice, and his usually genial, benevolent face wore an expression of the deepest concern, " I have chosen to meet you here instead of in my own house, because Japanese ">pies have succeeded in gaining entrance thereto. Two of my Chinese cook* were found to be Japanese soldiers. No one can seo any difference between these Mongolians. The utmost carefulness is necessary lest the enemy may find out our deepest secrets aud war may break out at any minute. The Japanese sqnadron is at our very doors, and it is important that every precaution be tal:en X> prevent them from getting any knowledge )f our plans. For this reason nil unnecessary signalling between our ships and forts must :casc. and all flirtations must also cease.

lion, Lieutenant Borctinsky are, I understand, betrothed to a Japanese young lady in iiis township. You must forget her, sir. In

liort, every officer must remain athis post, .vliether this be in the forts or on board the lips, and a close watch must'bc kept on 1 the uovements of the Japanese squadron. These :c the Czar's orders, and they must be tbeyed." ■ A few more detailed orders were given by he Viceroy, and then the council of war was lismissed.

The two naval officers donned their heavy »ats and started toward the port, where a ranch was waiting to take thtiu aboard tho lietvizan.

" 1 really do not think lean keep my promsc to you, Sascha ; you heard the Czar's orler, and if you were found in the city after nidnight it might cost both our lives. You rad belter come with me now."

" You are my captain, Wladimir, and of loursc if you order me to do so I shall have o obey ; but you know how much I am he-i-jllicd to little Takami, and how faithful he is to Russia. She says she hatesherown rountrymen, the Japs, as much as she loves ue. It would be cruel to leave her without .tying goud-'» e. Let me sec her to bid her dieu, and the launch can wail for me at the ■oint, where no one will ever think of looking or it -1 shall be careful." Captain Wladimir V.'riblewsky and the >ur years younger Lieutenant Sascha Dcrensky, had been chums ever since the day 'lieu they first met at the naval academy, loth were byal patriotic officers, ready lo tied fieir last drop of blood for Russia 'and -ie Czir, but while the captain, who was ■oor, had never had eyes ( 01 - anything but lis military duties, Lieutenant Beretinsky .as the most reckless of fellows. Bur Wrobewsky loved him as a brother, and had helped lim out of many a scrape. Nor could he this .ight resist his pleadings, and with a sigh le saw ln> tall, manly figure disappear,in he darkness, then he hurried to the quay, -nd the swift launch carried him to the gangway of the Itetvi/'.u. Lieutenant Beretinsky picked his way hrough a numb'T of narrow streets, never ince looking behind him, and therefore not loticing that he was being followed. He topped in front of a little cottage, knocked .liree times softly on the window, the door vas opened and a beautiful Japanese girl dad in the prettiest of kimonas rushed into lis arms. i

"Oh, Saschinka, my love, I thought you would never come. Why did you'not come early, as you promised?" " My darling, I came as early as I could, md even now I cannot stay, hut I could not leave>you without saying good-bye." " Oh, Saschinka, has the war broken out tnd must you go out to meet those terrible countrymen of mine ? They will kill you, I know it, they are as as foxes, and do not Tight like men in tbe open."

"Do not "be afraid, Takami, dear, there is no war yet, and we will have to stay on board, but w.hat of you, my promised wife"? " "What do I matter? But your ship is outside the forts, and those cruel torpedo boats may blow you up iu the night when it is dark."

"Who cares for those miserable little boats? Our searchlights will lind them out miles away, and if they do not give the signals, one shot from one of our smallest guns will send them to tbe bottom of the sea." "But Saschinka, dear, they have spies everywhere, and I am sure they know your secret signals. Why, even poor little I know the two ihort and one long flash and a blue light." "Ha, ha, Takami, there you aremistaken ; the signal is one long, one short and one long flaihanda, blue and red light, and no one knows about it, the signals were changed yesterday. There, now, you have a state secret to keep, and when we cannot see one another any more you may watch the ships from your window, and if your countrymen come, as I hope they will, you shall see some fun. But now you must sing to me, and we will have a glass of tea."

"Saschinka, my heart is so heavy with fear, and I shall fade'when I do not see your face any more, but I will sing to you to make you leel happy and forget the sadness of parting."

She sang as Beretinsky had never heard her before, and the minutes Hew until the time had come when he dared stay no longer. With a sigh he rose, buckled on his sword and with a little cry the girl fell into his arms.

" Mii9t yon really go ? It breaks my heart, tnfl I fear we may never meet again. I know yon want me to be brave as you are, but I cap do nothing but cry and look toward your •hip when you have gone, and pray for you, ever. Good-bye, my big, brave darling—-

but no, let me go with you 1 I can dress a« a boy and no ono will know me. Just wait a moment, and I will follow you to the quay." She was back again, dressed as a Chinese boy, her long black hair braided into a queue, and together they left the house. » Near the water front they parted, but when lieretmsky had disappeared she did not turn back. Instead she ran through the streets, past the grim-looking forts, down to a little bay outside the Golden Hill. In a little clump of trees close to the water she slopped and looked carefully around. No one was near, only far away could be seen the dim light of the campfire of a Cossack outpost. She gave the shrill cry of a water bird and repealed it twice. Then she listened. A sound came as of muffled oars, then a soft, stealthy footfall, and a Japanese ensign stood before her. "The signal," he whispered in her native tongue ; " have you got the secret signal ? " " One long, one short, and one long flash and a blue and red light—but be oil with you in a hurry lest 1 repent. I feci as if I had Bold my soul." The ensign had gone almost before the words were spoken, and sobbing she sank down at the foot of a tree. The bitter soli roused her to action, and she'turned back toward the city. She was near the foot of the Golden Hill when a rough hand was laid upon her. "Soyou are out looking for seorets, • a harsh voice said, " I have been watching you all night and you are my prisoner now." With a cry of fear she turned to run toward the shore, but leaving part of her dress in the hand of her captor, then suddenly sho Stopped. Tho secret signal flashed .through the air, a moment all waß quiet, and then terrific explosions rent the air, followed by tho'roar of

' office surrounded by his slaff, his face pale and his eyes bloodshot. Facing him stood Captain Wroblewsky and his young lieutenant. "Captain Wroblcwsky, you are guiity oi .grave misconduct and disobedience of orders, and I shall so report you to the C/ar. As for you, lieutenant, you areguiil.v oi' high treason, which has cost us the loss of our best ships. The penalty is death—l::ivc you anything to say ? " " Your Excellency is mistaken, . I swear by St.'Andrew—" " Do not swear, Alexander Ileve'tinskv, your guilt is clear. Bring the woman in,"" hcflidered the guard. Pale and trembling Tak.imi was carried into the room, lijvetinsky .'o iked at her as in a dream. "I confess," lie said, "against my will I have sinned against ISussiu ami tiie Czar, anil deserve death " " And die yon shall," said Alexieff,snatching a heavy revolver from his belt, and sent a bu'nVt crashing through the young officer's' brain. Without u sound he sank totlie door. A piercing cry rang out: Takaini tore herself loose from the guard, grabbed his drawn sword and, pointing it toward her heart, threw herself upon it. The point came out below her left shoulder blade as she fell across the body of the dead lieutenant. By Vicioo ToCTrnit, in the S.F. Examiner.