The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1885-10-29
From London Society.
SENTENCED TO SIBERIA.

from the ranks. began life much as
other mill hands do; but my head was
set the right way on my shoulders, and
l got to be an overlooker. Five and
twenty years ago, when great Eng
lish firm, whose operations extend over
many parts of Russia, started a cotton
mill at Ekaterinbnrg, was offered a
post as manager. Ekateriunburg is,
as dare say you know, on the Siberian
side of the Ural mountains, and in the
heart of the Government mining dis
tricts. A man thinks twice before he
transports himself and his family to
such place, but had made up my
mind to get on, and this was a good
chance to one in my position.
Twas not disappointed. l looked
after the mill, and it prospered. We
north-country operatives are thrifty
folk, and like living in a plain way. l
saved money; and as it was the policy
of the firm to keep me in my post, and
to give me a personal interest in the
undertaking, l was allowed to invest
my few hundred of roubles in the mill.
These commonplace particulars
about my own affairs can have very
little interest for you, sir. l only tell
them because otherwise you would
scarcely understand what has to follow.
One evening, late in our short Rus
sian summer, when the long days were
fast drawing in, we were in our family
sitting room, l engaged with some of
the mill accounts, and my wife with
her sewing, when Lottie, our eldest
daughter, rushed in, and without a
word tainted right away on the floor.
This did not more brighten my wife
and myself than it surprised US, for
Lottie was a sensible girl, and had
never given way to any hysterical
fancies before. We knew that it must
have taken good deal to upset her in
that way, and as soon as we had con-
trivcd to bring her round, we made her
tell us what had been the matter.
1t seemed that she had been alone in
her room, when, turning suddenly to-
ward the window, she became aware of
a face pressed closely against the glass
and glaring at her. What the face was
like she was unable to describe, but it
appeared too ugly and horrible for a
human being. If it could have been
called that of man or woman, she
said, she should not have been fright
ened.
went out and looked round the
house. Nothing Was to be seen. We
knew l-ottic to be sensible girl, but
we were inclined to think that her fancy
must have played her a trick for once.
After a time my wife left the room to
see about our supper. My wife (she
has been dead now this nine years. had
as strong nerves as any woman l ever
kncw-nothing ever seemed to knock
her off her balance. Well, she came
back in a minute or two, and beckoncd
me to the door. She was calm enough,
but could see by her face that some
thing was wrong. She would not say
what she had to say before the
girl for fear of fri ghtening her
again. So she whispered to me
me outside, ''Lottie must have been
right, there is something about. When
l opened the door of the kladovoy''
(the larder that is) ~ heard something
at the window. Whatever it NAV have
been. it took alarm, and did not let me
sec it; but it has left its marks on the
lattice.'
l followed her silently to the klado-
voy. All was now quiet there. l ex-
amined the fortochka-as in Russia we
call the little window of such a place.
In summer time its glass easement was
removed, and it was now only protect
ed by lattice of crossed strips of fire.
wood. These strips were slie htly dis
! placed, as if some one had tried to
force them out, and thus to gain an en-
trance. The fortochka was about
large enough to have admitted the
body of man.
Nothing was to be seen by looking
out; for though reasonable amount Of
twilight still remained, it was only
enough to show things with any dis
tinctness in the open, and. had shell
tered the back of our house by planting
a number of young fir trees. l whis-
pered to my wife that she should 20
back to Lottie, and that would STAY
where was for bit, and see whether
the robber-if it was robber---would
come again.
1t was scarcely to be called late, yet
it was too late for any of our mill people
to be about, and they were our OILY
ing it INTENDED for another empioye,
but at that time unoccupied), stood
partly within the high wooden fence
which inclosed the mill; that is, thei1
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