The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-01-10
JUDGE AND EXECUTIONER.

About the beginning Of November, in
the year 1S-, in the middle of the day,
. sledge drawn by horse dashed
through small village in Russia, and
stopped in the courtyard of one of the
largest houses. The horse had evidently
run away, and the sole occupant Of the
sledge, woman, was clearly unable to
guide it in the least. !"
In less than a minute great many of
the villagers, who had been attracted by
the Gathering of the inhabitants of the
house, reused by the appearance Of
the sledge in the courtyard, surrounded
the young woman. 1t was evident she
was powerless to distinguish any one
around her. There was just faint sign
of life, and that was all; but to the mar
jority of the bystanders she looked fa-
-Nore dead than alive.
She was carried into the house, and
restoratives were administered. She had
hardly recovered her consciousness, when
questions of every sort and kind were put
to her from all sides. She was asked who
she was; where she came from; where she
was going to; who was pursuing her; and
how the horse had run away. The room in
which she was placed was full Of villagers,
who had come in to satisfy their very
natural curiosity.
Among the most excited of the ques-
tioners was young serf about twenty
years old, who held in his hand the
hatchet with which he had been telling
wood when the sledge dashed through
the quiet village. The beauty and pain
full grief Of the woman seemed TO have
made rather an effect upon this young
serf. He was certainly more anxious
than the rest to hear her story, and was
very prominent in his attentions, and
put himself forward in endeavoring to
offer her consolation. "'-@
AT last the object of all this excite
ment had so far recovered as to be en-
abled to yield TO the entreaties Of those
who surrounded her, and in broken
voice and amid very general silence she
spoke as follows: ..... .....
81 had heard that an old relation of
mine, who lives in a neighboring village,
was dangerously i'll, and determined to
set out and see if could be of any assist
ance. Early this morning l harnessed
our horse to the little sledge and set
out" ..-r.. -.-s...r .-r-t.
o. "AloneT' asked the young serf, point
edly, still swinging the hatchet in his
hand.
The bystanders we'll understood the
meaning Of the question, and the same
word seemed involuntarily to escape from
their lips.
"AloneW .
1t may be as we'll here to give short
explanation, which will account in some
way for the exclamation. .....
When the Russian troops which had
conquered Finland, under the command
of General Buxoyden, were returning
home again, they were followed by
countless troops Of bears and wolves
who ragged and quarreled over the bodies
of those who from time to time died ol
cold or fatigue, and howled for the
scraps of food left behind by the con
quer;2g army. The province which the
army passed through was infested by
these fierce animals long after its de
parture,, and they soon became the ter
ror of ve humble peasantry who livee
in that district. They were not conten
with devouring the various domestic dog
and cats that came in their way, bu
'fercely attacked any human creature
that crossed their path. 1t became i'm
possible to travel in safety at any hou
of the day upon even frequented road
without very strong escort. Any on
who neglected these necessary precau
. tions paid the penalty of his carelessnes
by hideous death. In the course of tn
preceding winter forty human being
In this particular district had fallen
prey either to wolves or bears.
aAloneW answered the young woma
in strange, unnatural voice, half-chokel
with sobs; "unhappily for me, was no
alonel Why, in heavens name, did
risk such journey? Don't compel me
I beg you, to relate the horrors l hav
gone through and all the miseries of ,tha
awful morning" .s.-ts --
"What mas happened 10 your WIN
went with your still asked many 9
those who surrounded the woman an
whose attention and curiosity were mo-
thoroughly oused.
miserable woman that I am," al
swered. she, Il took with me my thre
little children, the eldest Of whom ws
about five years old, the youngest a Iii
tie darling only six months and still 3
c the breast"
An exclamation Of horror ran throug
the circle Of bystanders and each one !
last seemed toguess the hi4:Ssus i1ratl
And then; .::s,uu ...sau more awful silence tina
defore, the young woman went on wit
her story. .-
"It was a lovely morning, the road !
tolerably good order, and the old hor
trotted merrily along. Ny Two lit
boys played at my fcetaA the little Of