The Iola register., 1885-02-06
CALLED BACK.
A wen-Told Story OF Continuous
and Absorbing Interest.
pY HUGH CONWAY.
!. CHAPTER xn.-cosrrsrEn.

] had been unable to prevent my words
sounding cold and my voice being stern
If my coming had raised any hope in
his heart my manner now dispelled it,
He knew / had not made the journey
for his sake.
Whether I can go back to happiness
or not depends on what you tell me.
You may imagine tits no light matter
which has brought me so far to see you
for few minutes" !"
He looked at me curiously, but no,
suspiciously. could do him no harm
for him the outer world was at an
end. fl accused him of fifty murders.
and Brought each one home to him. his
fate would be no worse. He was blot
ted out erased; nothing now could
matter Ito him, except more or less
bodily discomfort 1 shuddered as |
realized what his sentence meant, and,
in spite of myself, a compassionate
feeling stole over me.
81 have much of importance to say.
but first let me give you some wine and
food
Thank you. !" he said, almost hum
bly,. ss.fou would scarcely believe, Mr..
Vaughan, that asman may be reduced
to such a state that he can hardly re-
strain himself at the sight of decent
meat and drink
I'conid believe anything after the in
terror of the ostrog. opened the wine
and4laced it before him. As he ate
and drank, / had leisure to observe
him attentively.
His sufferings had wrought a great
change in him. Every feature was
sharpened. every limb seemed lighter
he looked at least ten years older. He
wore the Russian peasants ordinary
garments, and these hung in rags about
him. His feet, ,swathed in fragments of
some wooden material, showed in
places through his boots. The long,
weary marches were telling their tale
upon his frame. He had never given
me the idea of a robust man. and as
looked at him | thought that whatever
work he might be put to, it would not
pay the Russian Government for his
sorry keep. But the probabilities were,
they would not have to keep him long.
He ate, not voraciously. but with a
keen appetite. The wine he used spar
ingly. His meal being finished, he
glanced around as If in quest of some
thing. l guessed what he wanted and
passed him my cigar-case and light. He
thanked me and began to smoke with
an air of enjoyment. a...
For while had not the heart to in
terrupt the poor wretch. When he left
me it must be to return to that hell
peopled by human beings. But time
was slipping by. Outside the door 1
could hear the monotonous step of the
sentry, and did not know what period
of grace, the polite Captain might allow
to his prisoner.
Ceneri was leaning back in his chair
with kind of dreamy look on his face,
smoking slowly and placidly, taking, as
it were, everything he could out of the
luxury of a good cigar. asked him to
drink some more wine. He shook his
head, then turned and looked at me.
Mr.. Vaughan he said; ..yes, it is
Mr.. Vaughan. But who and what am Ii?
Where are we? L, it in London, Geneva,
or elsewhere? Shall | awake and find
l have dreamed of what L have suf-
fered?''
Il am afraid it is no dream. We are
in Siberia.
And YOU are not come to bear me
good news? You are not one of us-a
friend trying at the peril of your life to
set me free?n
shook my head. sI would do all
could to make your lot easier, but |
come with a selfish motive to ask some
questions which you alone can answer"
ASK them. You have given me an
hours relief from misery; l am CRATE
full"
''You will answer truly?"
Why not? | have nothing to fear,
nothing to gain, nothing to hope. False
hood is forced on people by circum-
stances; a man in my state has no need
of TT
The first question ! have TO ask is
who and what is that man Macari?"
Ceneri sprang to his feet. The name
of Macari seemed to bring him back to
the world. He looked no longer a de-
crepit man. His voice was fierce and
stern.
a traitor! traitor!" he cried. .'But
for him | should have succeeded and es-
capped. If he were only standing in
Your place. Weak as am, l could find
strength enough to cling to his throat
till the vile breath was out of his ac-
cursed bodyr'
He walked up ard down the room,
clinching and unclinching his hands.
"Try and be calm, DR.. Ceneri," l
said. Il have nothing to do with his
plots and political treasons. Who is
he? What is his parentage? Is Macari
his name?" eE
1.-The only name ever knew him by.
His father was renegade Italian who
sent. his precious son to live in England
for fear his precious blood should be
split in freeing his country. found
him young man and made him one of
us. His perfect knowledge of your
tongue was of great service; and he
fought-yes, once he fought like man.
Why did he turn traitor now? Why do
you ask these questions"
s'He has been to me and asserts that
he is Pauline's brother"
Ceneri's face, as he heard this intel
ligence, was enough to Danish lie num-
Der one from my mind. My heart leaped
as I guessed that number two would be
disposed of easily. But there was a
terrible revelation to be made when 1
came to ask about that.
"Pauline's brothers' stammered Cen
eri. "Her brother! She has none.
A sickly look crept over his features
as he Sspoke-a look the meaning OF
which could not read.