South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1883-09-14

must have ceased to live, or the slave
would become the victim instead. OF
the first day have no remembrance.
1t did not consist Of hours, but of mo-
ments, each separate and distinct-of
ideas born only to die. In a word for
the first twenty hours was Graz.
ed. The second day found me cool
and helpless. | made nv plans. o.
hey | must. for my wife's sake aud
my own; Jelikoff must die that we
might live. For five hours debated
where to do the deed; then still un-
certain, walked to the edge of the
town, and "a l walked some one join.
ed me-Lodiski.
Tomorrow said he inquiringly.
Tomorrow I returned. IT must
be tomorrow for one of u.s. aud
shuddered.
we stood apace i'll silence; the
man came closer, and placed his hand
upon nv shoulder. Listen! it is
hard it is dangerous. Capture means
death. Here is money. You must
flee instantly, when the work is done
'Unwittiagly / thrust the gold into
my bosom, and repeated after him:
i must flee instantly. Aud my
wife?'
Il will care for her until you re
turn
Ina single breath my brain cleared.
the dread cloud that for two days had
Swallowed it passed, and | knew the
hand that had worked my ruin. |
was to become an outlaw, in order
that my wife might be the spoil of this
monster. What power ii was that
he'd my hands | knew not. The
rage IN my heart, the frenzy to seize
the accursed one at my side and tear
his heart out, all but overpowered me,
and 1t was only by Il sUperhuman els
fort OF the will that | remained 81
lent.
The deed must be tomorrow, con
nnued Lodiski, 'and the ouly place
where YOU can find Jclisof alone il
in the bell tower. Thithcr he goes
every evening before the curlew rings
TO watch the change of guards upon
the opposite river bank. You can
conceal yourself there, aId strike him
down. 1t will be long before he is
missed, and you Will have time for
flight
L bowed my head / dared not
trust my tongue. 1t might he that !
should strike TOO SCOT. Deep within
my heart the determination to kill
was we'll fixed but, unknown to my
chief, the victim bad beer. changed.
Il will JOIN YOU at the foot OF the
tower after curfew. See TO it that il
Is aiter-the end, Lodski concluded.
My blood leapea.
lit is we'll 1 replied. aud he left
me.
That night told my wife all and
he: love stood the test. Ere morn
ing dawned und4r the escort of
faithful servant, she was at the Volgo
Dernstam "a landing ten miles away
and when the early sun kissed the
reaches OF land about our town, it
found her upon the deck of river
steamer bound for Astrachan. All
day long | gathered my little store
OF goods, and late in tue afternoon
sold them for gold to q triend-a
AihiIl5t like myseIf-wlo secretly
conveyed them to his home. Then,
as the light WAVED, and it drew to-
ward night, thoroughly disguised, and
armed with pair of pistols and my
dagger, | skrted the town, and came
at last to the lonely watch tower
where hung the great bell that rang
the curfew. Ere the ringer had en-
tered the tower from his supper |
was secreted in the loft near the win.
dow. 1t was not my intent to kill
JelikoK. If he came could confess
all, then descend and wreak nv
vengeance upon Lodiski below, and
lee the country; or if he came not
the end would be the same. Still
bound by my oath, and environcd by
q thousand spikes, / dared not flee
until night And Lodiski must die
Alone in the grim tower waited
and bats about me squeaked, and tn G
damp wind Of the steppes swept
mournfulIy in and kissed my hot
check. The moments passed ! Sud.
denly n nameles5 dread fell upon me.
lnstlnctively felt ihe presence of
some new and near danger, and
sense of doom overcamc me, as if /
listened to the words of the judge
who recued the condemning proofs of
my falseness 10 our order. fl did
not kill Jelikott and failed TO find
Lodiski, must die. Quivering with
the new terror, / glanced suspicious.
ly about me-into the deep shadow
Of the corners, behind the great
beams, aloft among the bats, nests.
and at last beneath the mighty bell
silent at my side.
And ly ng there prone under the
great iron dome, 80 close tina, the fret
swim ging of the ponderous metal
would crush him, Law Lodiski. his eves