National Republican., 1885-05-23

after something besides fire-water kept
| even the most incorporate sober. 1t is
said that the scent of blood drives away
the fumes of liquor.
1t was cloudy, wet wretched night.
Only fitfully the moon shone out Of the
ragged clouds that hung like beggar's rags
in tho sky. And on this stormy, bowling
night Kasia knocked on the window of
Staszos cottage loud, hurried, startling
knock. Staszo was not sleeping; he was
dressed and sitting by the fireplace, cut
ting a scythe handle. He opened the
window.
Let mo in" gasped a ghostly figure
outside.
"Kasiaw cried the young farmer, and
opened the door.
Kasia staggered in aud sank on his
breast, not with the caress OF love, but as
II half dead with terror.
II have fastened Luba to the post out
side" said she. breathlessly. II had to
tell my father that she was sick and must
bring her to you, as you had medicines,
else he would not have let me come out
such a night. Do you know what night
this ~ she asked, with a troubled look
into the young mans face.
81 do, certainly" he said shortly.
did they pass by here with axes
and pitchforlSs and scythes and guns, in
and out of tho castles, to burn and mur-
der and plunder" gasped Kasia, her
words choking her in her emotion.
Staszo stretched out his hand and
pointed to two places in the evening sky
where red glare of light was seen,
greatly magnitied by the foggy atmos.
phere. There are two castles burning
already" said he.
- 70 ,
moaned Kasia. Hundred and hundreds
or were there millions? ] could not
count them, but they were like the count
less drops in storm-tossed sea And
they were all drunk with whisky and
blood"
"They were going to seek vengeance
on those who have oppressed them, who
denied them the freedom that tho em-
peror has granted them"
"Oh, Staszo and they will kill all,
even those who have never harmed
them" she said, shuddering, and hiding
her face on his breast.
Suddenly she lifted her head and looked
at him. "Why did you not 20 with them,
Staszo?" she asked, in a shrill, sharp tone.
81 did not 20 because only the despair
ing ones went, and because l still hope. |
do not go because love you, Kasia, and
because perhaps you will decide to be my
wife. l did not 90 with them because
the avengers themselves will fall aud die
in the streets, and | must live with you,
Kasia, and for you !"
Yes" said Kasia, with confused look,
"yes, will be your wife, Staszo, to-mor-
row-wheneyer you will. And we will
be happy, very happy. But tonight you
must do one favor for me, Staszo! No,
do not speak, ONLY listen, for time presses
You must 60 over to tho castle of Prince
Leo. Do you hear2 II is not burning
yet and the night still covers it. But the
murderers will come, and the fire will
blaze. So you must so at once-armed.
The peasants look to you as the best
and strongest of them all. You must
restrain them, or IL you arc not able
to do 80. you must save him-him---
the princes son, you know. Why do
you look so strangely at mer He-he-
has been my fathers beneiactor. When
yet u lad he saved us from arrest and dis
grace. But why am i talking so much A.?
You must savo him. StaszO, do you hear?
And thon | am yours tomorrow, forever.
Ask me no questions! hasten, haston, L
beseech you Here, take this AK Go
go! il You do not wish to sec me fall dead
before your eyes -"
She seemed beside herself. II was with
a fierce look that he still gazed at her, as
he took the AK from her and hurried out.
Sho unfastened Luba from tho post and
once more threw herself on his breast. He
spoke not word--not syllable. He
pressed hor TO him in silence, AS il for tho
last time in life-in silence, rs ii soluo-
thing had died within him. Then he dia-
appeared in the fog.
When the wild crowd of avengers,
drunk with liquor and blood, ragged
through the castle OF old Prince Leo,
murd0ring, burning, and plundering,