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About Washington County news. (Forest Grove, Washington County, Or.) 1903-1911 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 2, 1905)
By Order of the Czar A S to ry of R u ssian P ow er By MARCUS E A S T L A K E lips hung a p a rt. A gendarm e la sup C H A P T E R I. I t is a patch of sunlight— a tiny portin g him. W e a re side by side. “ V asil!” I w his p atch, no larg e r th an the palm of my hand. I dream ily follow t h e b a r of glis per. H e s ta rts as if from some aw-ful O u r eyes m eet. H e gives a tening m otes upw ard, until my eyes a re dream . a rre ste d by the g rated window of a p ris g re at gasp, sets his lips tightly, and pulls him self together, and I am suddenly on. In an in sta n t I h a r e sprung from my wheeled round and placed in the front. T hen our la s t w alk begins— through low pallet, w here— God is pitifu l!— I h a re been sleeping aw ay the la st few the court, out of the g ates into the g re a t hours of my m ortal existence. I stan d opeu space, w here stra ig h t in fro n t rises here on my prison floor, in full posses th e long platform , and on it the gallow s! Sudden as a flash, a shock of h o rror sion of all ray faculties, feeling th e w arm , sw ift blood coursing in my veins. seizes me. Only now, w ith my terrib le I fall to pacing th e n arro w lim its of doom before my seeing eyes, do I fully my cell w ith rapid strides. A b urning realize it. To be hanged by th e neck! B ut as Im patience of inaction is consum ing me M erciful God, sta n d by me! — a pressing desire to be doing som e sudden my soul cries to my shrinking th in g to bridge over th e m inutes w hich body. “ W h at! A rt going to fail now ?” m ust elapse before the m om ent a rriv e s and I check the shudder th a t is already w hen I shall strid e to th e scaffold, with holding me, d ra w up my body to its full dauntless mien, to m eet m y doom. My height and m arch steadily forw ard. T h e steps to the platfo rm creak be acute sense of b earing d etects the clink I stan d high of the tra p in my door. A p air of eyes neath my heavy tread . are looking a t me out of a brown, b e ard above th e heads of the people, and over look them . T h eir thousand u p tu rn ed ed face. I smile and nod affably. “ Good m orning, V ladim ir A lexam lro- faces are like the w lpte w aves of a W hich is M a rsc h a ’s? r ltr h . I am glad to see you in good troubled ocean. My eag er glnnces skim the m ultitu d e iu sp irits,” says my official. “ And I th an k you fo r y our good sea roll of it. w ishes, my friend,” I reply. " B u t my It is there! Q uite n e a r me. I could b re a k fa st? I tell you, I have a tierce alm ost kiss it by bending fa r fo rw ard. It hunger upon me. R em em ber it will be is w hite. Ah! how w hite! b u t firm. T h e th e last tim e I shall have the pleasure eyes ure full of ten d ern ess; they nre of g ratify in g my keen appetite, until I m elting w ith love unspeakable, b u t they tak e my first meal of n e ctar and am bro nre strong! O ur h e a rts m eet and m in sia, and they m ight chance to keep me gle for one b rief m om ent, then I te a r long w aiting for it on the o th er side.” m ine aw ay. I have a w ord to say before My official laughs. “ K eep your m ind I die. 1 step forw ard to tile edge of the easy, your b re a k fa st com es; and look platfo rm and cry: you,” low ering his voice, “ju s t because “ B rothers, 1 repent not! I die joy I love a brave sp irit, little bro th er, I fully for the cause of liberty.” will deprive m yself of some c n v iar I T he m ultitu d e stir and m u rm u r like have in reserve for my own relish.” a forest of tree s sw ayed by th e w ind. "T h an k s, m y C h ristian friend!” I cry, T he d ru m s roll out in deafening peal. reaching my hand to w ard him through A lready the exei utio n er’s hands are upon the trap . “M ay you never die hungry. me. I cast one last look around on M a One m inute. Tell me, If you know — if ruscha, and up a t th e sky. you have seen him — the lud— keeps he a Som ething Is pulled over m y eyes. I good h e a rt? ” am h astily placed in position b eneath the I feel My voice shakes in my eagerness, gallow s. A m om entary pause. w hilst I rifle my pockets for my last w ith one ex cru ciatin g th rill of h o rro r five-rouble note. "T a k e it, it is all I the touch of the loose rope on my neck. have, or I would give you m ore. How- A stupendous shock as if a crash in g blow bears he him self? H e Is b u t nineteen!” — a noise ns of m any rushing w a ters in “ I saw him even now .” replies th e my e a rs— a feeling as if m y head w as m an, as he seizes the note. " H e does b u rstin g asu n d er— before my eyes a m ill badly. H e e ats not, and his stre n g th has ion w hirling planets, w hilst I plunge left him. H e lies on his bed and moves m adly for a footing. Y et I do not die! I seem to suffer an e te rn ity of agony not ” A t these words the sw eat s ta rts to my befere it gives place to stu p efactio n , and I pass aw ay. brow, and the w a te r to my eyes. “ F riend, good frien d ,” 1 w hisper C H A P T E R II. hoarsely, "see him again! T ell him th a t F a in tly , fearfu lly my sp irit is flu tte r V ladim ir A lexandrovitch bids him be brave! Tell him to e a t— he m u st eat ing in and out of th e deserted house from w hence it has been driven, u n c er •re he go fo rth !” “ L isten. I will ta k e your m essage, tain to go or stay , giving me the fa in te s t ju s t because you a re a b rave one, and I hin t of my identity, to leave me again in d ark n ess, yet re tu rn in g each tim e like you.” “ I em brace thee, m y b ro th er!” I m u r w ith g re a te r confidence, until It finally sta y s to feebly spread itself from h e a rt m ur fe rv e n tly ; and he h u rries aw ay. I am alone again, and continue my to brain, and I realize th a t I am I. I try to move, though it costs m e an w alk; b u t now my m ind is troubled w ith • vision of the fair-faced boy stretch ed effort. My body feels as if sw ollen to on his pallet, and anon I seem to see his an enorm ous size. I am oppressed fo r I striv e to m ake elbow room. w rith in g body on the gallow s. I sh u d space. der and sm other a groan th a t rises to W h a t Is th is? I stretch out my stiffen my lips, and tu rn to seek com fort in the ed arm s, and come in c o n ta ct w ith my From nil m y pores the cold reflection th a t it will soon be over for coffin! him . “ H e is sure to fa in t. God g ra n t sw ea t Is bursting. My b rain is on fire ns recollection rushes upon me— the g al It!” lows, my d e ath agony, and the appalling A pproaching steps in the corridor. My conviction th a t 1 have been c u t dow n door is unlocked, th ro w n open, and here Is my b re a k fa st and the caviar. ^Vhen too soon and buried alive! In my wild anguish 1 fight out m adly the official en ters I w e a r a sm iling face again, fo r I have a c h a ra c te r to sus with both b au d s; bu t, strange, I fight the tain. No m an should h ave it to say th a t air! T h ere is no lid. then, to my coffin! he saw a cloud on the brow of V ladim ir I w rith e m yself into a sittin g posture, A lexandrovitch LubanofT on the m oruing and th ere daw ns for me a glim m er of of his execution. T h e official Is w a tc h hope. C autiously I begin to feel about me. grow ing every m om ent m ore m ysti ing me curiously. “ H ow long now before the play be fied, for my hand comes in con tact w ith gins, m y frien d ? ” I ask betw een the a wooden surface, ou w hich the coffin evidently stands. T hough I jim in my bites. coffin, I certainly am not in my grave! I t gratifies me to note how he flushes A ray of light shoots suddenly from red, and sta re s a t me a space, as If taken behind me across the gloom, revealing •b ac k , before he stninm ers, "T w e n ty one side of the rough deal shell in which m inutes. E xcellency.” 1 sit, a strip of the tab le on w hich it I laugh. T he notion of an official rests, and facing iqe a door. I follow th ru s tin g a title on a p riso n er am uses w ith m y to rtu re d eyeballs the beam , and me. A fte r a n o th e r prolonged s ta re he see th a t it is the moon shining through leaves me. a sm all window. T here is a door and a T w e n ty m inutes! n a i f an h our hence w indow , then, iu my m ysterious abiding I shall be a lum p of cold, senseless clay. place! T he hope leaps in stan tly into vig A nd th a t m ysterious a c tu a tin g essence orous being, and w ith it the d e te rm in a w e call soul, w h at of it? W h at will be tion to escape. I feel strongly about come of it, forced from the tenem ent the second life of m ine, th a t It is a di w herein it has, fo r tw enty-seven years, vine g ift direct from the han d s of God. ruled suprem e? W ill it, too, be e x tin To have to yield It up now would be to guished like a torch th a t is stam ped out die ten thousand deaths. My o th er life un d er the foot of m an? A w ay vain spec I risked on a forlorn hope, and lost. ulations. . L et me ra th e r, in these my T in re w as ju stic e in it. I knew the last m om ents, sum up th e good th a t has pennlty, and had counted the cost. I been mine. I h ave ta s te d as m uch h a p suffered death in its m ost degrading, piness as th is world can offer, and I m ost aw ful form , and have th erefo re leave it ere it begins to pall. I have paid in full. 1 have satisfied the law, know n th e ra re blessing of tru e frien d th erefo re th is life I hold is all my own. ship. and to the last drop of blood I will “ My sp irit flies out to m eet thee, O protect and defend it. I am In some outhouse adjoining e ith e r my friend, and clasp thee in a farew ell em brace!” I have— I still rejoice in the a dissecting room or the residence of b eauty and perfect excellence of wom som e d octor who has purchased my body for dissection. T h ere a re tw o m eans a n 's pure and e n tire love! “ Ah, my M aruscba, thou a rt m y only of exit, a door and a window. T h e fo r regret. Could I b u t ta k e thee w ith me, m er will be certain ly locked. T n e w in my dove! My b e tte r soul! F o r I know dow — I tu rn tow ard it— Is a casem ent. th a t w ithout me thy life henceforth will Alas, fo r my broad shoulders: it is sm all! be but a joyless groping through a v al H ow ever, It is my one chance. I m ust try it. A s we nre in sum m er w heu the ley w here th ere is no sin .” I am surprised by a te a r on my cheek, nights nre short, it m ust be the dead and dash it h astily aw ay. Boom! I t is hour. I have no tim e to lose. I sc ram th e q u a rte r bell sounding from th e fo rt ble out of the coffin. I drop my stiffen ress clock. I close my eyes, and g ra d ed legs to the floor. I reel like a dru n k en m an— I m ake ually a feeling of peace descends on me. Now I can pray. My h ands m eet and the h a lf circuit of th e table, reach the window, and seek w ith my shaking fin lnt< rlace. "S p irit of p erfect Good, forgive me my gers for b utton or hasp, and th ere Is a •ins. F o rtify me and my com rades in rush of cool night a ir on my brow . I t • n r last agony. L et th e evil we have re v ite s m e som ew hat, and now fo r It! done perish w ith o u r bottles, and the good I set my teeth, and raise m yself w ith my hands by the frace, th ru stin g out my re tu rn to dwell etern^jly w ith T hee!” I h e a r th e tram p of soldiery ap p ro ac h head and p a rt o f my shoulders. T hen I pause to g a th e r up my forces. Some ing. and raise my head. “ M aruscha. thou sh a it not blush for thing ta p s my crow n, m akiug my h e a rt m e '" I w hisper, and I feel th a t it Is a leap to my m outh. I t Is ouly th e sw ay ra d is u t face t show them a s they enter. ing bough of a tree! A n o th er violent I advance to m eet m y executioner, place effort and m y shoulders stick fa st! my arm s in poeition and silently subm it And now com m ences a fe arfu l stru g to be pinioned. N ot a word is spoken, gle. I t Is alm ost as bad a s hanging— and in a m inute w e are ready, and p a ss th e sensations are certainly sim ila r— ing in file along th e corridor to join the eyeballs sta rtin g , skull bursting, and legs o th ers in the hall of th e prison. pluuging aim lessly, until a fra n tic kick I c ast a sw ift glance from face to face back w ard brings my foot unexpectedly o f my fellow m arty rs, which is a n sw e r in c o n ta ct w ith the edge of th e tibia, and ed by a flash of recognition and greeting — I get a purchase. from all save one, and th a t Is poor Vasil. I stra in every sinew. T h ere la a c rac k U e la a sorry spectacle; hla blue eyes roll ing and crunching which I im agine to be vaguely, w ithout speculation; his ashen nsy shouluer blade, and I am precip itated fo rw ard , c a rry in g th e w indow fram e, w ith a c rash to the ground, w here I lie, cut, bruised and panting. T h ere is no sound save the w ind tu s sling w ith th e tre e s and bushes th a t en close me. No! w h a t is th a t? I t is the fa in t m usic of trick lin g w a ter! My very soul longk fo r it! My swollen and p a rch ed tongue m akes a fu tile effort to lick my lips. A t length, p u ttin g out m y shaking hand, I feel the ground m oist. A nother m ovem ent, and y e t an o th er, and I come in co n tact w ith a cool iron tan k ! Still one d e sp e ra te effort, and I have dragged m yself up by its edge. My fingers a re in w ater, m y lips touch it! I tak e— ah, w h a t a d ra u g h t; and sink to the ground again, w hilst te a rs I •■an- not check rush to my eyes— a p e rfe c t to rre n t of unspeakable relief. I scrum- : ble to my feet. T h a t drin k h a s w on d erfully revived me. A nd a m om ent pause to lave my tem ples in th e w a te r i before s ta rtin g on my hazard o u s ven ture. T o g et o u t from am ongst the tre e s and a sc ertain my w hereabouts m ust be my first step ; so I com m ence to feel m y way along th e w all u n til I tu rn th e corner of my recent prison, and at length em erge un d er th e opeu sky, ou w h a t ap- | p ears to be a gravel drive. I can dimly | discern the outlines of th in g s n e a r me. and w ithin a few fe et of m e the sleep ing box of a w atch m an , w hich im pels me to b e a t a h a sty re tre a t in am ongst th e tree s again. Now I begin m oving in a sla n tin g direction, w ith a view to a rriv in g a t the g arden w all; and I even tu ally cotne a g ain st it; bu t, alas! my | hopes of escape a re on the w ane again — it is too high to scale! Baffled, hut still determ ined, I set my teeth , and follow th e wall. P re se n tly I come out on a p ath , and before me is a long, low shed, open to th e front. “ I t is a g a r d e n er’s toolshed,” I surm ise, and sw ift as light follow s the th o u g h t; “ H e re I shall surely find som ething to aid me!” I grope my w ay in, and ju s t then as if sen t by a m erciful P rovidence, the m con b re ak s through a clo u d rift, and show s m e a g a rd en e r’s light ladder. In a m om ent it is d a rk again. B u t I have the ladder, and the d a rk n ess is ju s t w hat I w ant. I t is th e w ork of a few m om ents to pluce the lad d er in position, to m ount it, and drop to the o th er side. I lean •for su p p o rt a g ain st th e wall, unconscious of ev ery th in g save the overw helm ing shock of pain in my head. I t is my head— m y head! I f only it fail me not, I h ave confidence in m y legs, u ncertain though they be, to c arry m e w h ith er I m ean to go. W hen I am able to open m y eyes I a t once recognize th e locality, fo r I am ns fa m ilia r w ith St. P e te rsb u rg as a school boj w ith the in te rio r of his tro u se rs porkets. I am in the very h e a rt o f the city. T h is is the N evski P ro sp ect, and I sta n d outside the extensive grounds of P ro f. Schleem an, one of th e first su r geons we have, and second to few in the world. “ A nd so yon h a v e purchased the body of y our old pupil for dissection, little fa th e r!” I sm ile grim ly. “ And I am a thief, for I am stealing it from you. T h e lig h t of a stre e t lam p shines full on me. I re tire quickly out of its radia tion, and pnuse to consider my next move. M y object h a s been, since q u ittin g the shady re tre a t of my coffin, to m nke for the q u a rte rs of m y friend Iv a n Ivnno- vitch K olinsky, th ere to lie iu hiding until I should have sufficiently regained my forces to fly the country! now, how ever, I m ust change my plans. Ivan lodges fully th ree versts from h ere; to reach him I should have to trav e rse m any stre e ts and run m any risks, even if my stre n g th held out. I p u t a hand to m y ra g in g tem ples, and p ass in review the different m em bers of our section. In th e urgency of th e case I m ay not in dulge p reference; the n e are st m ust be my designation. I t is none o th er th a n M a ruscha! Yea, to gain her lodging is my only chance, .for I can gain it in tw enty m inutes if I am fo rtu n ate. My love lives a t th is e n d ,o f th e “ B a za r” over a fu r rie r’s shop. (To be continued.) By Order of the Czar A S to ry of R u ssia n P o w er By MARCUS E A S T L A K E C H A P T E R I I .— (Continued.) I She bends forw ard. “ W ilt thou not be I pass D r. Schleem an’s ga te s and content, w illful one?” she m urm urs. Y et •long the N evski, shrinking u n d e r th e she goes to h e r easy ch air, facing me, occasional glare of a stre e t lam p, and j though she shakes h e r head, gasping w ith relief each tim e I leave one | A s she sits before me, bending over behind me, and can proceed fo r a space h e r w ork, and I gazing a t her, I see a under cover of the darkness. M eanw hile shyness com e over her, such as I have the black, rolling clouds discharge th em never seen before. T he rosy blushes dye selves,. w hilst th e th u n d e r grow ls and h e r fa ir skin, and, as if to hide them , m u tte rs a fte r th e flickering flash. her head droops lower. L ong m ay the storm last, for If it In my love I am cruel and th in k only should cle ar before I have reached my how the blushes a re fo r me, and how place of refuge, fa in t indeed will be my lovely they look. A t length they fade, chance. I f the moon should shine out and I note th a t she looks pale and worn, and illum ine my still w andering feet I and th a t th ere are anxious lines about am lost. her sw eet m outh, and violet m ark s un Soaked through, w ith my sh irt clinging d e r her eyes. T hese, too, a re for me! to my hotly— co at I have none— the w a t B eto re m e in stan tly , b lotting her out er running in riv u lets from my hair, from me, rises a vision from som ew here staggering from side to side, alm ost in my past. I lie p anting, bruised, half blind and w ith a sickening d re ad of fa ll naked, voiceless, w ith a g h a stly m ark ing in a fa in tin g lit, I a t length reach the a bout m y neck— an object to tu rn from n arro w doorw ay which leads by a Bight w ith shuddering horror— ou h e r th re s h of sta irs to M a ru se h a ’s lodging. L uckily old. A nd a f te r? H e r b rav e h e a rt con the n arro w stone passage h a s no door to quered h e r d read ! She took me in, put the stre et, so I sta g g e r in som ehow. me in h e r own w hite bed, nursed me. T h e m ounting of those ste p s is like A g re a t sob lifts my b re ast, and breqk* an interm in ab le nightm are. I d rag m y the stillness. She looks up sta rtle d , and self up w ith long agonizing pauses be the needlew ork falls from her fingers. tw een; step by step. T h ere is b u t the I try to stre tc h my hand to w ard her— one hope left m e now, th a t of looking see h e r I can n o t for te a rs — b u t it falls once again on M a ru sc h a's face ere 1 die. pow erless on th e counterpane. A t la st th e topm ost step is gained, and “ M a ru sc h a,” I fa lter, “ let me— let me I see a b a r of light stream in g from be k iss thy h a n d !” neath th e door. 1 lay m y head dow n on She flies to me. “ My hand, m y lips! the landing and listen. H e r light feet W h at thou w ilt; b u t w eep not, V ladi a re pacing th e fioor to and fro, now fain t, m ir!” now near. I h e a r the sw eep of her She kisses me w ildly, not thinking sk irts a g ain st th e door ns she tu rn s. Now w h a t she does, b u t only of pacifying me. she sighs, ah! so drearily. Is she living “ T hou h a st been ill— very ill; thou through again the aw fu l scene of my m ust not excite th y se lf— It is bad for execution? thee. T h in k not of th e past, It is over P e rh a p s she is m ed itatin g self-destruc — all over, and thou a r t w ith me! T hink tion. M aru sch a can n o t live w ith o u t her how I h a v e striv en to n u rse th ee well, V ladim ir. I raise m y head and try to and thou w ouldst undo all! F ie on thee! cali h e r nam e. T h e sound I m ake T hou h a s t no pity for m e!” sta rtle s and affrig h ts m e; it is like the T alk in g th u s, she ta k e s h e r handker- croak of a raven! I h ave no voice w here chief and d ries m y eyes, sw eeps the with to call M aruscha! h a ir from my brow and lets her fingers I am lying a t h e r door, w here I cannot re st on it caressingly. rem ain. I craw l close to it, striv in g to She se a ts h e rself on th e side of the sum m on up courage to knock. She is bed. I possess m yself of h e r hand, and n ear me again. I h e a r h e r cry in de holding it a g a in st m y Ups, m y sp irit spair, “ V ladim ir! m y V ladim ir! Oh, my m urdered love!” I h re a th e a p ra y e r for slips aw ay into th e sw eet oblivion of dream less sleep. her and— knock. She has paused in her walk and listens. C H A P T E R IV . "M aru sch a — open— it is I!” I croaked My life is a succession of deep and desperately. I used to h a v e a m an ’s tran q n il sleeps and blissful aw akenings strong, deep voice; th is could never be to th e discovery o f M a ru sc h a ’s p res recognized as proceeding from any h u ence. m an being. A nd she Is m y w illing slave in all W ith in I h e a r a g asp ; b u t still she opens not. I m u st g et it over a t once things save one. I m ay not even hold — a t any cost! I strik e th e door w ith my her hand fo r long, or c arry it to my fist. She m akes a resolve. T ak e s a quick lips. I f I v en tu re on the la tte r, she step fo rw a rd — th e key tu rn s in the lock, gently b u t firm ly w ith d ra w s it, castin g on me such a look of foud reproaah th a t and th e door opens w ide. I cannot see h e r d e ar face, b u t O, she I am fa in to blush like a school girl a t sees m ine! She sees me w hen I crouch m y tem erity. M aru sch a avoids all m ention of th a t on her threshold, a ghastly v isita n t from the dead! I feel h e r eyes on me. I aw fu l c h a p te r in m y life, the subject hear her catch in g breath . She recoils, seem s so h a te fu l to h e r th a t I have ab stain ed from questioning her, though and catch es a t the tab le fo r support. 'F e a r me not, M aruscha! I t is I, I am consum ed w ith curiosity to know V ladim ir!” She covers h e r eyes to sh u t how m y sudden ap p ea ran c e out of the out the sight of me. “ M aru sch a— I am grave, as it w ere, had affected her. She evidently fears, too, th a t th e dis uo ghost. I am indeed thy V ladim ir in the flesh!” I croak in my despair. I feel cussion of so pain fu l a them e would in my senses leaving me. “ I would tell thee ju re me in my still w eak sta te , fo r I can 11— th e w onder of it— b u t— I die— I — I see th a t she h a s enjoined Iv a n — the only m em ber of our section besides h e r —p ity — M a ru sc h a ! self who know s of ,my existence— not to let me ta lk of it to him. C H A P T E R III. W heu I w ould speak of it, he has I w ake from a long, long sleep— a sleep which has been troubled w ith different w ays of eluding me. H e will stra n g e dream s, som etim es gracious ones, rise h astily, as though som ething had full of th e presence of M aruscha, w hen ju s t occurred to him a bout w hich he have felt th e soothing touch of her m ust consult M a ru sc h a; o r he will pre hands, looked into the deep blue w ells of tend not to h e a r me, and put a sudden her eyes, and vaguely seen, fnthom ed question, as; “ H a s M aru sch a read th ee P u sh k in 's there, a w ealth of love, and patience, and pity. T h ere is a delicious p erfum e of la te st poem ? N o? T h en I m ust briug roses In th e air, rem inding fe o f the it to thee; it is gloriqus!” * * * • * • • R u g a R a is e L a n d V a lu e . roses in the air, rem inding m e of the I feel inexpressibly sad to-day, and A ll e n to m o lo g is ts k n o w t h a t ra re home in Kieff. As she b u tte rflie s o r m o th s re c u r a g a in a n d B u t I am not a t home. My eyes have M aruscha sh a res my feeling. a g a in in d u e se a so n in o n e sm a ll fa rm begun to w a n d er from one detail to a n sits beside me. her sw eet, fa ir face, o f a v e ry fe w a cre s, a n d y e t w ill not o th er of m y su rro u n d in g s; th e d ain ty dov. nenst. over h e r w ork. I guess th a t it is only m.v presence th a t keeps h e r from be fo u n d In a n y o th e r sp o t in E n g la n d toilet tab le w ith its gauzy d ra p e ry tied weeping. H e r sw ift needle glances in w ith knots of blue ribbons; th e hanging fo r 10 m iles ro u n d , th o u g h a v a s t fo r book shelves a g ain st the w all filled with and out of the linen she h a s on h e r lap. tu n e w e re o ffere d fo r a sin g le sp e c i b rightly bound volum es; th e crim son She is finishing a sh irt for m e to tak e m en. T o su c h a fa v o re d s p o t a rd e n t c u rta in of th e p o rtiere th a t ru n s along w ith me, .and th ere is not m uch tim e e n to m o lo g is ts w ill flock a n d w ill pay one e n tire side— M a ru sc h a ’s room is di left now. Iv a n com es fo r m e th is even a fe e to be a llo w e d to h u n t fo r the vided by a crim son p ortiere! T he vase ing, aud w e leave to g eth e r w hen the In se ct Itse lf o r fo r its c a te r p illa r o r w ith roses ou the little tab le by my bed. d a rk n ess falls. I t h a s been heaven to me, th is calm , c h ry sa lis. In one c a se a L in c o ln sh ire I gave th a t vase to M aruscha! T h ere is a s tir a t the o th er side of b lissful period of convalescence— all too fa rm e r h n s re a liz e d a sm a ll fo rtu n e the p ortiere, and in sta n tly h e r sw eet sh o rt, and here is th e end of it, and the u p o n a d ism a l sw a m p m ea d o w s u r face a p p e a rs a t th e opening in th e c u r beginning of fresh stru g g les w ith the ro u n d e d by d ik e s a n d sm a ll w illow tains. I see the light of a g re a t joy w orld. tre e s, fo r In th is field sp e c im e n s of leap suddenly t<> h e r eyes. T h is m ove h a s been talk e d o f fo r some th e g o rg e o u s “ C a m b e rw e ll b e a u ty ” ‘V ladim ir!” T h ere is a w hole w orld d a y s p a st, Iv a n has been urg en t, and b u tte rfly h a v e been fo u n d w h e n th ey of Joy In h e r u tte ran c e . She hns my my soul responds to his w ishes. W h a t h a v e b e en a lm o s t w holly n o n -e x iste n t hand in hers, and our eyes m eet in one ev er M aruscha m ay say, th ere is d an g er in m y sojo u rn w ith her. T hough ihe long look of u n u tte ra b le satisfactio n . e lsew h ere . situ atio n w a s forced on us by necessity, "M y dove!” I m urm ur. O nly la te ly so m e a c re s o f sed g e w ere and accepted jo y fu lly by my pure-m ind She p u ts h e r finger on h e r lips. H e r b u r n t In th e d is tric t k n o w n a s W ick face is ra d ia n t w ith sm iles, nnd shining ed love, w e feel th a t it is oue th a t m ust h a m F e n , a n d e v e ry e n to m o lo g ist in like th e m orning s ta r from th e golden be p u t an end to as soon as possible. A sob escaped her, and in my desire to th e la n d Is m o u rn in g th e fa c t, fo r In se ttin g of h e r hair. c om fort h e r I assum e aD a ir o f ch eerfu l ’My b e au tifu l one!” th is lo ca lity In se c t sp e c im e n s • h a v e “T h o u m u st not talk, b u t sleep again, ness I am f a r from apprehending. b e e n fo u u d t h a t w e re th o u g h t to h a v e ‘T h is is no p a rtin g , M aru sch a. I go d ie d o u t in E n g la n d . T h e re Is one my V ladim ir!” but to Iv an , aud w hilst I am th ere we She is w ith d raw in g h e r h and, and I sm a ll p la n ta tio n a t th e e d g e o f a con feebly cntch a t It. She will vanish, this shall see each o th e r daily. L et us not s id e ra b le fo re s t th a t, solely th ro u g h -n g elic vision, and leave m e in darkness. m eet tro u b le h a lf w ay. A nd w hen the th e in s e c ts fo u n d th ere , b rin g s In to “ I go b u t to get th ee th y m edicine,” p a rtin g com es th e re will still be th e pros th e o w n e r a n a v e ra g e o f JI2.000 a y ear. she says, and stro k in g the back of my pect of o u r reunion. T h e w orld is wide, T h e a c tu a l v a lu e o f th e la n d Is only hand w ith h e r disengaged one; “T h in k e st and surely I shall find som e sp o t under thou I fio u ld leave th ee ? I can n o t if I a free sky on w hich to build a m odest a v e ry few p o u n d s .— I,ondon T it-B its. little n est fo r th ee aud m e. T h in k of would— thon know est I could not!” H ope fo r the I release h e r lingeringly, and w atch th a t tim e, d e a r h e art. l a r g e s t F o o t in G e r m a n y . T h e re la a N ew Y ork b a r b e r w ho h e r glide aw ay, throw ing back a t m e a b est.” ‘Ah, If thon w e st b u t safely out of w e a rs a n u m b e r 12 shoe. H e w a s a ten d e r glance, and a nod ere she dis th is terrib le land, th en I m ight hope!” appear*. s e r g e a n t in th e G e rm a n a rm y , noted I lie q u ite still, listening to th e rustle M aruscha sighed. fo r h is s ta b ility . H e h a s a b ro th e r in of h e r dress a* she m oves about. T here T h ave g re a t fa ith in th e fu tu re !” I th e old c o u n try w h o se fo o t Is so big is th e fa in t chink of china and she is cry. “ A m an is not sn atch ed from ihe t h a t no re a d y -m a d e shoe c a n be found e t my side again, raising m e w ith her very w a te rs o f d e ath only to be cast to fit him . W h en h e n e e d s a n ew p a ir *°ft arm s about my shoulders, w h ilst she back again like a w orthless weed. T here is som e special end in these sudden acts o f sh o es he b u y s a side o f le a th e r a n d I Buts * cu *> to m y ' ip®' Now you m u st drin k this, nor leave o f P rovidence. T hou w ilt see this, my s e n d s fo r a sh o e m a k e r, w h o fa sh io n s • drop!” she says, w ith a little a ir of second life w ill not be w rested from m e." h is fo o tg e a r a t hom e. H is fo o t Is th e auth o rity . I sit dow n ag ain and d ra w M aruscha la rg e s t In all G e rm a n y , a b o u t No. 17 In I do not object. I f it w ere poison and to m y side. size. “ M a ru sc h e.” I continued, " I h av e been held to my lips b y M aruscha, I would sw allow it; b u t it Is bouillon, and the th in k in g m uch o f o u r fu tu re w hilst I lay N o t In N e e d o f H e lp . fum es recom m end it to m y stom ach. th ere, end of how thou w ouidst help B ore— I J u s t th o u g h t I 'd d ro p In a n d W hen I h a v e d ru n k it. she d e ftly tu rn s m e to m ake it w orthy. T h a t o th er life w as all wrong. I m ade n o thing of it.” k ill a little tim e. my pillow a n d lays m e back. "V la d im ir!” in te rru p ts M aru sch a, and “ Now th o u w ilt sleep.” B u sy m a n — T h a n k s , b u t I p re fe r to H e r voice is like the coo o f th e stock h e r eyes shine like stare. “ T hou gaTest k ill m y o w n .— H o u s to n P o s t. dove! She ta k e s u p a bit of needlew ork th y life fo r th e g re a t cause!” "A nd w h a t hee it av ailed ? Is the A lfre d C a p u t, a P a r is ia n p la y from th e easy ch air, b u t goes and sits w orld the b e tte r fo r my sacrifice? T he w rig h t. sa y s few If a n y re a l d ra m a s where she is o u t of the range of my ty ra n t still oppresses. L iberty still lurks t ision. a ro w r itte n In th e U n ite d S ta te s or “ W here I can see thee, I pray thee. in secret places, and will continue to do ■ gland. so. A nd w hy I B ecause as a nation M a ru sc h a !” I plead. wi. a re not ripe for liberty. O ne-halt Is asleep, the o th e r is in th e th ra ll ot consum ing passions, and nothing a t tem pted in the h e a t of passion can have good results. C onviction m ust have m a tu red into steady calm ere action is pro ceeded to. I t h a s ever been a m ad, blind rush a t th e enem y.” "F ille d w ith a noble e n th u sia sm !” pu ts in M aruscha. “ Oh, V ladim ir, thou a rt indeed changed. T h e cause, then, is n oth ing to thee now ?” She looks m ournfully up a t me. “ N ot so, M aruscha. I t is as ever, ev e ry th in g to me. I love liberty m ore th an life; only my opinion as to how to a tta in it is changed. H ith e rto I w as a t the w rong end. M istake thou not th e lurid flare of passion for the pure flame of en th u siasm ? 1 fe a r it is so.” Iv a n ’s knock aud signal in te rru p ts us. M aru sch a is leaving me to opeu the door. I detain her. “T hou a rt disappointed in me, sw eet love?” I w hispered, w atching h e r face w ith anxiety. H e r eyes seek the ground. " I — I — ua- d e rsta n d thee no t,” she falters. “ Yet thou c a u st tru st m e?” I breathe. T h e blue, bew ildered eyes tu rn on me, and our glances m eet. I see hers clear I and kindle until nau g h t shines iu them but pure, unm ixed love. T hen suddenly, as if by an unaccountable im pulse, she p u ts her tw o h an d s on my shoulders and m u rm u rs, “T hou a r t my very soul and m y conscience, V lndim ir! T hy thoughts, thy aspirations, th y God a re surely m ine!” She stoops and presses h e r lips to m y forehead, and leaves me quickly to a d m it Ivan. H e en ters w ith a coat over his arm , and a fte r g reeting us, produces from his pocket a soft fe lt h a t, which he throw s on a chair. Now he comes and stand* before me, regarding me critically. “ H ow long h a st thou been up to-d ay ?” he inquires a t length. “ Only about au hour. I have hus banded my forces for this evening.’’ M aruscha m akes us some tea, and w h ilst w e tak e it Ivan tells us the la te st news. F ifty m en and wom en have been a rre ste d on suspicion of being im plicated w ith the N ihilists. T h ree a ssassin atio n s of ty ra n ts have occurred in different p a rts of the country, and everybody is talk in g of the d a rin g “ leader” iu to-day’s issue of the “ Voice of the P eople.” Iv a n produced the n ew sp a p er and read it to us. A ud all this falls flat on me. No long e r can I rejoice a t these things, they only m ake me sad. T he day has gone by w hen the w alls of a city could be m ade to fall a t the b last of tru m p e ts. M y h e a rt is full of th e a p proachiug leave- tak in g , and gloomily I w atch the tw ilig h t shadow s creep up and close aro u n d us. I seem to see the relentless angel of fa te pointing to the ga te s of my P a ra d ise , and bidding m e d e p a rt into the d a rk unknow n region w ithout, and, a la s! I m ay not even tak e w ith me my E re ! M aruscha scarcely speaks a word. She stitch es aw ay a t the sh irt, and w hen she has finished it, busies h erself pack ing some thin g s fo r m e in a bag. As the shades deepen, I r a n also becom es silent. H e goes over to th e w indow and sta n d s w ith his back to us, blow ing a tune through his lips. M aru sch a comes to me. I fold h e r si lently in my arm s, aud th u s w e rem ain, h e a rt to heart, cheek to check. A t length Iv a n says, b u t w ith o u t looking around, “ W o had b e tte r not let it get too late, V lad im ir.” O ne long, silent kiss I press on M aru- scha’s lips ere I release her. “ W hen ever thou wilt, Iv a n ,” I reply, clearing my voice, for it sounds stran g ely husky. H e arin g M aruscha s tir nbotit the room, Ivan judges th a t h e m ay re tu rn . I begin to get into the co at he h a s b rought fo rw ard for me, while M aru sch a sta n d s and stra ig h te n s the h a t. He ta k e s it from h e r hand, and p u ts it on my head, slouching it dow n in fro n t to alm ost conceal my face. M aruscha pu ts up her face and w e solem nly kiss each other. Ivan d ra w s my hand through his arm , and M aru sch a precedes us to th e door. “ A dieu, M aru sch a.” Iv a n e xtends his hand to w ard her. She tak e s it a n d sw iftly, ere he is a w are of h e r intention, she lifts it to h e r lips. “ A dieu, and God bless thee, my b ro th e r” she m urm urs, with eyes brim m iug w ith gratitu d e. I. holding his arm , feel the shock th a t th rills his body, b u t bis voice is cle ar and calm ns lie replies, "G od bless tliee also, m.v siste r!” M aru sch a sta n d s w atching ns a s w e slcw ly descend th e sta irs. A t th e to o t I pause to w ave m.v hand tow ard her, though h e r form is sw allow ed up by .he d ark n ess, and we issue forth into the still evening. ■» (To be continued.) T a s k Too H a r d to E n d u re . T h e m a n o f th e f u tu r e s a t b a ck a t e a s e in h is lu x u rio u s a rm c h a ir, his fe e t a rra n g e d b e fo re him a lo n g th e lin e s o f le a st re sista n c e . A t h is e lbow w a s a k e y b o a rd t h a t c o n n e c te d him w ith th e o u te r w orld. H e to u ch e d a b u tto n a n d th ro u g h a g o ld -m o u n te d tr a n s m i t te r w a s t h r u s t h is m o rn in g p a p e r. H e to u ch e d u n o th - e r a n d a tra y c o n ta in in g h is b r e a k f a s t ro se b e fo re him . I t seem ed a n e a s y th in g to do. H e h a d b u t to lift h is Huger. A p h o n o g ra p h b e g a n c a llin g off th e o p e n in g o f th e s to rk m a r k e t A p ia n o a tta c h m e n t g a v e o u t th e s tr a in s o f th e la te s t o p e ra . T h re e frie n d s in d is ta n t p a r ts o f th e e m p ire b a d e h im good m o rn in g a n d c o m m u n ic a te d som e p iece o f g o ssip iu re sp o n se to h is in q u iry . H e ta lk e d w ith th e m a n a g e r o f hla office, w ith h is ta ilo r, h is a irs h ip m a k e r, h is a rc h ite c t. W ith him it w a s in d eed a b u sy d a y . F in a lly h is h e a d s a n k b a ck . H e w a s o v erco m e by th e n n u s u a l e x e rtio n . H e looked w o rried . H is w ife e n te re d . “ W h a t is th e m a tte r, d e a r? " s h e sa id . “ I s n ’t e v e ry th in g all r ig h t? " “ N o," re p lied th e m an o f th e f u tu r e te s tily . " I c. n 't s ta n d th is p re s s u re . I'v e sim p ly g o t to h a v e som eone to p re s s th e s e b u tto n s fo r m e."— L ife. W id o w s in K o -e a n e v e r re m a rry , no m a tte r how y o u n g th e y m ay be. K veu th o u g h th ey h a d b e e n m a rrie d only a m o n th , th e y n e v e r ta k e a second h u s band. W ho w ould re g a rd a ll th in g s com p la c e n tly m u st w .n k a t a g r e a t m an y .