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"Good day, Maxi, Peter I came yesterday I have a letter for you"

"Where is it?" I cried, delighted

"Here," replied Maxi his hand in his bosoave itation the following lines: "By the will of God I am deprived of my parents, and except you, Peter, I know of no one who can protect me; Alexis commands in place of my late father He so terrified Father Garasio and live at our house, where I am cruelly treated by Alexis He will force me to beco the trick of passing for the niece of Accoulina I could rather die than be his wife I have three days to accept his offer; after that I need expect no mercy from him O, Peter! entreat your General to send us help, and if possible, come yourself MARIE MIRONOFF"

This letter nearly crazedthe spur to h my mind to rescue her Arrived in the city, I hurried to the General's and ran into his roo me he stopped, alarmed at my abrupt entrance

"Your Excellency, I come to you, as to my own father; do not refuse me; the happiness of my life depends upon it"

"But what is it?" said the General; "what can I do for you?"

"Your Excellency, permit me to take a battalion of soldiers and half a hundred Cossacks, to go and stororsk"

"Storm the fortress?" said the General

"I answer for the success of the attack, only let reat a distance the enemy would easily cut off all cohtened by his military wisdohter has writtenfor relief Alexis threatens to compel her to be his wife!"

"Ah! Alexis, traitor! If he fall into my hands I shall try hilacis of the fortress! meantime patience"

"Patience!" I cried; "in the interval Marie will be compelled to obey him"

"Oh," said the General, "that would not be a misfortune--it is better that she should become the wife of Alexis, who can protect her When we shall have shot the traitor, then she will find a better husband"