Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-01-28
MORNING LEADER.
THE HANGING GUEST.
4 RUSSIAN STORY.


Concluded
Meanwhile the ugly vagabond had emptied
his sixth glass of brandy. At the seventh he
grew pensiye, pursed his brows, and bit his
lips as if pang shot through his vitals; a
dark shadow passed like cloud over his coun-
tenance; suddenly he sprsng from his seat, and
without intending it pushed so strongly against
his companion, that she almost fell between
his feet. He looked round uneasily, took the
| brandy bottle, the bread, and piece of meat
from the table, put them all into the fathomless
pockets of his cloak, and said ''Thank YOU for
bread and salt--your hospitality Gaurila
Michailovich keeps his money in his secretary,
eh! Why don't you speak! You see l am
not such a bad fellow as you thought at first,
my pretty chick love you-I love you so
much-Just tell me what sort of death you
would like best to die Shall cut off your
head, Ell! Or would you rather should hang
you-from that beam, for instance Don't be
afraid, only say what you would like best,
charming Duna."
"What pleasure can you take in plaguing
me SO cruellyi" said Duna, not crediting that
the ugly jester with the red nose could be in
earnest.
"Why don't you answer" said he, examin-
ing the secretary and the lock. 81 should be
glad to know-whether you-would rather-be
hanged, or-O no, Gaurila Mlchailoviteh keeps
his money under two locks, does he! Stay
bit; it is not the first we have coaxed OPEN
So saying, he took an iron instrument out OF his
pocket, and Immediately began to use it upon
the lock. Duna stood as if spell-bound in the
middle of the room trembling in all her frame
"Well, what is it then! Speak out, Avdotya
Yeremeyevna. Can't you make6 up your
mindl Hang the lock Avdotya Yeremeyev-
ma, wait your answer, my precious. This is
the strongest lock I've seen this many day
Will you speak or not"
The secretary burst open with a crash.
"Whoo! what o lot of fine things Bank
notes, and ducats, and watches They don't
go; spoiled most likely. A ring! l don't
want it Oh, I'll take these diamonds. are
these all crumbs of office %
Chatting in this fashion with himself and
with Duna, he crammed his pockets with
money, watches, and trinkets, and then turned
abruptly to the half dead girl, "WeII, my
love, your choicel Waste no time; but tell
me, what death will you die l'
"Well, I'm sure! Ar'nt you ashamed, sir {!
tits very ugly joke this. !"
i am not joking at all, my sweet one. )"
"What have l done to you! You have
taken whatever you pleased; did not hinder
you"
That's very true; but do you see, 1 can't
abide leaving eye-witnesses behind me; wash
my hands of them by all means. With others
l don't stand on ceremony; but as you, nv
love, are such nice, good-natured, amiablellit-
tie dear, will give you your choice of death.
| love pOliteness; ]. who have been brought up
in st. Petersburgh."
Still she would not believe that he was in
earnest.
"Now then, let's have it at once; have no
time to lose. Let US put compliments aside
l am extremely sorry, but you must die by my
hand. / am not going to be such fool as to let
you live, to tell what sort of moustaches, eyes,
nose, clothes, DC, have got-what did here,
and which way went. Now, AYdotya Yere-
meyevna, answer quickly"
Every word of her cold-blooded torturer was
dagger stroke to her; her whole blood, all the
warm current of her life enrdled back unnp her
heart; her limbs grew icy cold, and Hoods oi
tears poured over her inanimate face. She tot
tered and fell to the floor In her fall she caught
the robbers foot and kissed it. "Have mercy
on me % she shrieked. "Oh, spare my life, l
implore you 1 swear to you before the Holy
Virgin will not say a syllable to any one. May
l never see heaven if do For the sake of the
blessed St Nicholas--have compassion upon me!
| will pray all my life for you, as for my own
farther, my brother"
The inexorable miscreant shook her off from
his foot, kicking her in the breast. In vain she
raised her implOring looks and arms towards
him; in vain she sought to touch his stony heart
with all that intense despair, and the elinging
love for youthful, joyous existence, could
breathe into the words, the voice and the tears
of helpless being. The villain, harder than
granite, grew every moment more cruel and saw
age Raging with impatience, he caught hel
by the hair, forced back her head, drew his knife
from his boot, and was about to plunge it in hel
throat.
"Oh, oh! for the love of heaven!' sobbed the
unfortunate girl, beside herself at the sight O
the terrible knife; -'hang me hang me ! NJ
bloody death Mercy mercy! Hang me
rather ~
GAY, ay," he said, with hideOus grin; "sc
YOU can speak at last. Why did you not say Sc
at once2 have lost deal of time already; still
1 can't refuse you the favor: for you are such
nice girl! Don't be afraid, Dunai You shall die
in the pleasantest manner. 1t is an ugly dealt
that of the knife If might choose myself,
would rather be hanged than knouted, wheI
nv time comes We will look about for cord. ,
The wretched girl powerless in mind and bod,
through terror, cold as ice, trembling and almOs
lifeless, submitted to all his commands Tn
} rope was soon found, and the murderer return
: ed with his victim to the same room where tn
remains of the breakfast still stood upon the ia
Bile. He threatened to kill her instantly if sh
stirred from the spot where she stood-placed
chair on the table-and sprang nimbly upon il
Having fastened the rope round the beam, h
: drew the knife from his boot, cut off the pro
iecting part of the rope, stuck the knife into th
beam, and set about making double runnin
e knot on the rope. Duns stood motionless i
/, the middle of the room; heat and cold rushe
alternately through her whole frame; sparks {
! fire danced before her eyes; she saw nothing
! she did nothing but pray, confess her sins, con
! mend herself to all the saints, and mentally bi
farewell to all that was dear to her life.
Presently, presently, my precious " said th
. murderer, going on with his work; "you sha
/. see how nicely viii hang you. am not
new hand at the job. Do you see now all
ready; only we must see whether the rope
: strong enough. 1 would not for the world 70
should fall to the ground aud break your rib
: 1t is for your interest and my own that
], Draw the chair from under my feet"
!, Duna unconsciously went up to the table an
/, drew away the chair; whilst the robber held th
| rome fast in beth hands having sipped il ovt