, 1859-02-11
THE fIAN&5tNGGUE$T


uOlya 1elel0VyeFHa. Ia01 you maze up
your mind! Hang the lock! Aydotya Yer
emeyevna, wait your answer, my precious.
This is the strongest lock I've seen this many
day. Will you speak or not.''
The secretary door burst open with a
crash.
Whoo! What lot of fiae things! Bank
notes, and ducats, and watches! They don't
go; spoiled most likely. A ring I dou't
want it. Oh, I'll take these diamonds. Are
these all crumbs Of Office I"
Chatting in this fashion with himself and
With Duaa, he crammed bis pockets with
money, watches, aud trinkets, and then turn-
I'd abruptly to the halfdead girl. Well
my love, your chnice? Waste no time but
tell me what death will you die!''
We'll, I'm surel Ar'n't you ashamed,
eir : 1t ia very ug'y joke this"
am not joking at all, my sweet one. :"
What lave | done to you? You have
taken what ever you pleased; did not
hinder you.''
''That's very true but do you see, I can't
abide leaving eyewitness behind me I wash
my hands Of them by all means With others
don't stand on ceremony but as you, my
lrvc, are such nice good-natured, amiable
little dear, l will give you your choice Of
death. love po1iteness l, too, have been
brought up in St. Petersburgh."
Still she would mol believe that be was in
earnest
"Eow then, let's have it ut once have
no time to loose. Let Us put compliments
aside. am extremely 4orry, but you must
die by my hand. I am not going to he euch
i TOOL as to let you live, to tell what sort of
moustachcs, eyes. nose, clothes, Hc.. I have
got---what did here, and which way went.
Nov, Advotya Yeremeyeyna, answer quick
IT,"
Every word Of her cold-bloodel torturcr,
VAS dagger stroke to her; her whole blood, /,
ali the warm current OF her life ctrdlcd lac
upon her heart? Her limbs grew icy cold,
and foods Of tears powred owe her inanimat e
face. She tottered aud fell to the d9or. In
her fall she caught tue robbers foot, and
kissed 1t. "Have mercy on me !" Sue shriek-
ed sob, spare nv life, implore you
swear to you before the Holy ViriEn, will
not say syllable to any one. May never
see heaven ifI do! will pray III! my life
for you, a. for my own father my brother-''
The incxorable miscrcant III ,ok her eff
from his loot, kicking her ia the breast. In
vain he raIsed her implorisg looks aud arms
tpsa!ds him; i'll vain she sought to touch
Ills stony heart with alI that Intense despair,
and tho cliuSing love jt'r q yuutful, joyous
existence, coulI breathe int0 The words, the
voice, aud tue tears Of = helpless tcing. The
william, harder than granite, grew every mo-
mcnt more cruel and savage Raging with
ba.k lcr head, drew his k3lle from lis beot,
aud WAS about to plunge it in her tnroat.
"Ol, Oh for tue love of heaven ~ sobbed
th" unfortunate girl, beside her self at the
sight ot thc terrible knite hang me J.
huug me! No bloody aeatb! Mercy Hang
me- IatberW
LAY, W." he said, with hideus grin :"so
you cau sptuk at last. Why did you not say
20 at once! have lost deal OF lime alrear
dy !; still can't refuse you the favour you
are such nIcc girl Don't be afraid, Dana!
You shall die iu the ptcasantcst manner. II
is IN ugly death that of the knitc. Ii i might
choose myself would rather he banged than
knouted, when my time comes. We will look
about for cord"
The wretcl:d girl, powerlcss in miud aud
body through terror, cold as ice, trembling
and almost liFcless submitted to all his coni.
maids The rope WAS so.on found and the
murderer returned With his victim to the
same room where the rcma ins Of the breakfast
still sool upon the table. He threatened 10
kill hrr instantly it she stirred from the spo.
where she stood placed CHAIR on the table
tened the 1ope round the beam, be drew the
knife from bin boot, cut off the projecting
part Of tho rope, stuck the kite into the
beam, and set about making double running
knot on The rope. Dnna stood motionlc=s in
the middle Of the room heat and cold rush.
Ell alternately through her frame sparks o1
fire danced Iefore her eyes she did nothin 6
| but pray, confess her sins, commend herself
to all the saints, and mentally bid farewell to
| all that Wds dear ~ her life.
presently, presently my precious y sait
| the murderer going on with bis work ;'.yo,
shall see how nicely will hang you. an
| not new hand at the job "Do you see nov
all is ready only We must try whether tht
rope is strong enough. 1would not for tht
world you should fall to the ground an6
break your ribs. It is for your interest aue
my osn that DRAW the chair away from
under my feet"
Duna unconciously went up to the table
and drew awsy The chair whilst the robbel
held the rope last iu both haIds, having slip
ped it over one arm up TO the elbow, to COZ
vince himself Of its strength by swinging OF
| it with the whole weight Of his body.
''Push the table aside" Duna did 50.
IAN right : it is capital rope lit vii
bear more than you-yon and me togeth
err
he now let 60 the rope, intending to JUMP
to the grouad. Apparently 1t Vas bis pur
pose to s;artle tue poor girl by tho bold ane
sudden leap but the moose intended for her
gliding along his arm, caught him fast b,
the wrist Dumas executiouer, had, 10 fact
hanged himself by the hand.
Though experiencing the mast acute pain
he wished to conceal his critica! position
from the girl, that che nigh It not avail hereel
o. it to escape. fIe trIed4o reach the impris
oned hand with bis left but the weight Q
his body prevented bis bringing his shoulder
parallel suddenly lie began to whirl au'
ding himself wildly through the air hopin,
the rope would enap : but iu vain if he hat
but tue knife in his boot, he might have sew
cred It, or, ut the worst, have cut off his han,
aud seved himself by fight. How was be t
get at It:
he thought Of one means d desperate On
the last. he collected all his strength, II
shake the knife but With a powerful spriug
The effort failed.
The weight Ct his heavy frame uclfng it
tue air by one hand only, bis violent efforts
the pressure Of the tight drawu knot, occa
stoned the william intense torture; the joint
Of bis arm cracked aud began to part; tn
blood oozed out under the rome fr.m the lac
Grated skin, aud trickled into the sleeve .
lis coat; while that Of the rest of his fran
rushed from the extremities to his head
Every moment it seemed ~ it the hand voul
he torn of. He even wished that it miCh'
His anxiety lest the people Of the houx