The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-02-20
CHAPTER XIV.
DOES SHE REMEMBER?

CHAPTER XIV.
DOES SHE RENENBEaf
1t was time to bring our interview to
an end. 1t had lasted so long that the
civil Captain had more than once
pecped in with significant look on his
face. as much as to say there was such
a thing as overstepping the limits oil
even such an authority as held. / had
no desire to protract the conversation
with the convict. The object of my
long journey had beeu attained. 1 had
learned all that i could learn. l knew
Pauline's history. The crime had been
fully confessei. The man with me had
no claim uron my consideration. Even
had felt inclined to help him l had no
means Of SO doing. Why should ]
linger?
BIT l did lingcr for while. The
thought that my rising and giving the
signal that my business was finished
would Immediately consign the prisoner
to that loathsome den from which he
had emerged, was inexpressively pain
full to me. Every moment could keep
him with me would be precious to him.
Never again would he See the face of a
friend or acquaintance.
He had ceased speaking. He sat with
his head bent forward; his eyes resting
on the ground. A tattered, haggard,
hopeless wretch; so broken down that
one dare not reproach him. watched
him in silence.
Presently he spoke: '.You can find no
excuse for me. Mr.. Vaughan"
None" / said. 1t seems to me
there is little TO choose between you and
your associates
He rose YEARLY. Pauline will re-
cover, you think" he asked.
Il Think hope l shall find her al
most well on my return"
You Will tell her how you have
found me; she Epy he happier in
knowing that Anthony .leath has in
directly brought me to this"
l bowed assent to this dreary request.
Il must go back now," he said. with
a kind of SILVER, and dragging his weary
limbs slowly toward the door
In spite OF his sins / could not let the
wrctchcd being go without word
stop Il moment" | said. Tell me
if there is anything L can do to make
your lie any easier
He smiled family. you may give
me money-a little | may be able to
keep it and bay few prisoners luxu-
ries.n
| gave him several notes which he
secreted on his person.
''Will you have more?" / asked. He
shook his head.
Il expect these will be stolen from
me before l spend Them"
But is there no way of leaving
money with any one for your usc?"
''Iou might leave some with the
Captain. 1t my be, if he is kind
hearted and honest, a portion of it may
reach me. But even that is doubtful"
Ipromised to do so. and knew that.
whe Ger it reached him or not l should
feel easier for having made the at
tempt.
but what will your future be?
Where are they taking You, and what
will be your life??"
They are taking Us right to the end
Of Siberia-to Ncrtchinsk. There l
>ilstsi bC luiltb vi Will OlitIS " WI
in the mines. We 60 ali the way on
foot and in chains.
"What an awful fate!'
Ceneri smiled. After what I have
passed through it is Paradise opening
before me. When a man offends against
the Russian law his one hope is tnst he
may be sent At once TO Siberia. That
means going from hell to heaven"
Il do not understand"
..You would if you had lain like me
for months. untried and uncondemned.
Ii you had been placed in cell with
out light, without air, without room to
move. If you had heard those next to
you screaming in their madneSs-mad-
ness brought on by solitary confinement
Ind cruel treatment Ii every morn
ng as you woke YOU had said. Il. too.
shall be an idiot before night-fall.' If
Tou had been frozen. beaten, starved,
n order to make you betray Your
friends. If you had been reduced to
such state that your death-warrant
would be welcome, then, Mr.. Vaughan,
Tou would look forward to and long for
he gentle rigors of Siberia. | swear
20 YOU, SIR" he continued, with more
ire and animation than he had dis
played, THAT if the civilized nations of
Europe knew one-tenth part of the hor-
-orS and deeds in a Russ an prison, they
would say, guilty or innocent. no hui
nan beings shall be tormentej like this,
Ind for the sake of common humanity
would sweep the whole accursed Govern
.ba fann of Tho
but twenty years in the mines! l.
here no hope of escaping"
Where could l escape to? Look at
he map and see where Nertchinsk is.
f | escaped | could only wander about
he mountains until died or Until som.
If the savages around killed me. No,
,r. Vaughan. escapes from Siberia only
occur in novels
Then You must slave until your
lea:h?n
Il hope not. once gathered togeth-
r much Information respecting Sibe- |
ian convicts. and. to tell you the truth,
vas rather disguised to find how incor-
ect the common opinion is Now | can |
My hope my researches showed me the
ruth"
The treatment is no: so bad, then?''
1t is bad enough. as you are always |
It the mercy of q petty tyrant. There |
; no doubt but for year or two must !
lave in the mines. Ii survive the toll. |
vhieh is very unlikely. l may. by find
no favor in the ruler eyes, be- released |
rom further work of that description. |
may even be allowed to RESIDE 1T some |
OWN and earn my living have great !
opcs that my professional skill may be
f use to me. Doctors are scarce m
lsiatic Russia