Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-01-12
HANG HIM

at was in the year 1903, began my
old friend, "and not long before Austen
litz The regiment in which | was an off,
Ger was stationed in Moravia.
ave were strictly forbidden either to
Cypress or to annoy the inhabitants but
in spite of this they locked askance at us,
although we were their allies.
81 had comrade, serf who had for
melly belonged to my mother, called Je-
gor he was an honest, quiet fellow; | had
known him from youth upward, and treated
him as a friend.
Zone day there arose lamentations,
clamor, and abuse in the house where l
dwelt. Some one had robbed the mistress
of two hens, and she accused my comrade
of the theft. He strove to vindIcate him
self, and called me as witness He,
Jegor Awtamonow-a thief l assured
the woman of Jegor's honesty, but she
would not listen 10 me.
Suddenly the trample OF horses was
heard in the street. 1t was the Command
er.in.C Chief with his staff.
" He rode at walking pace corpu.
lent, bloated man, his head was bowed,
and his epaulets hung down over his
breast.
GAS soon as the woman saw him, she
threw herself upon her knees, her hair in
disorder, before his horse complained
loudly of. my comrade, and pointed with
her finger at him.
"'Generalr she cried Justice. my
lord Help Rescue This soldier has
plundered me =
"Jegor stood upon the threshold of the
house in a soldierly attitude his cap in his
hand. He had even expanded his chest,
and placed his feet in position-exactly
like a sentinel-but no sound escaped from
his lips. Had the array of Generals stand
ing close before him in the street, intimi-
dated him or had the danger that threat
ened him transformed him into stone? In
short, there stood my Jegor, only his eyes
moved, and he was white as chalk.
:" The Commander 10. Chief threw an alb
sent, surly look at him, and growled irri-
tably, Well? Jegor stood there
like statue his teeth showed. An indif-
ferent spectator would really have imag-
ined that he was smiling.
Then the COMMANDMENT Chief said
shortly Hang him ? spurred mis- horse
and rcde away, at walking pace as be-
fore, and teen at a quick trot the whole
staff followed him. Only one solitary Ad-
iutant tu 4cd in his saddle, and glanced
care.essly at Jegor.
cit was impossible to disregard the com
mand. Jegor was instantly seized, and led
of to execution.
AT first he shrank fir m death and
twice he cried in agony, My God I!
Help After that he added to himself in
an undertone, God is my witness, it was
not l.
He wept bitterly when he babe adieu
to me. ] was in despair. 'Jegor, Jegor =
l cried why did you not reply to the
General !?
God is my witnese, it was not = re-
piled the poor fellow, sobbing The mis-
tress herself was shocked. She had not In
the least anticipated such fri htful issue,
and she began, on her side, to howl. she
begged forbearance OF everyone, wiring.
ing her hands she protested that she had
found her hens, that she was ready to e1'
plain all.
Bat naturally all this led to no result.
This, my ar sir, is military form-disoi.
pline! The woman lsmented terribly.
"Jegor, who had already been confessed
by the priest, and who had psrtaken of the
sacrament, turned to me: Tell her. one
of noble birth, not to grieve so. have
quite forgiven her.
Ny friend, as he repeated these last
words of his servant, whispered" Jego-
ruscha, my little dove, thou righteous
one - and the tears streamed down his
cheeks- Ivan Turgenef.