The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1885-02-21
esl easier for having maae the at.

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 Nertchinsk. There ]
shall be drafted of with others to work
in the mines. We go all the way on
foot and in chains.
"What an awful fate!'
Ceneri smiled "After what have
passed through it is Paradise opening
| before me. When man offends against
the Russian law his one hope is that 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.
If 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 underestimate
ness brought on by solitary confinement
and cruel treatment If every morn
ing as you woke YOU had said, Il, too,
shall be an idiot before night-fall.' If
YOU had been frozen, beaten, starved,
in 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,
YOU would look forward to and long for
the gentle rigors of Siberia l swear
to you, SIR" he continued, with more
fire and animation than he had dis
played, ''that if the civilized nations of
Europe knew one-tenth part of the hor-
rors and deeds in Russian prison, they
would say, guilty or innocent, no hui
man beings shall be tormented like this,
and for the sake of common humanity
would sweep the whole accursed Govern
ment from the face of the earth!'
"But twenty years in the mines! Is
there no hope of escaping?"
"Where could | escape top Look at
the map and see where Nertchinsk is.
If escaped l could only wander about
the mountains until died or until some
of the savages around killed me. No,
Mr.. Vaughan, escapes from Siberia only
occur in novels"
"Then you must slave until your
death?"
II hope not. l once gathered togeth-
er much information respecting Sibe
ran convicts, and, to tell you the truth,
was rather disguised to find how incor
rect the common opinion is Now l car
t only hope my researches showed me the
: truth"
= 1.-The treatment is not so bad, then?'
at is bad enough, as you are Away
2 at the mercy of petty tyrant. There
is no doubt but for year or two l mus
, slave in the mines. If survive the toll
which is very unlikely, may, by find
= ing favor in the ruler eyes, be released
(; from further work of that description
( / may even be allowed to reside at SOM
1 town and earn my living. / have grea
Q hopes that my professional skill may b.
t of use to me. Doctors are scarce il
Asiatic Russia"
Little as he S'Aerved it. my hear
echoed his wish; out as l looked at hin
l felt sure there was small chance O
D his enduring even years toll at tn
2 mines.
g The door opened and the Capital
S once more looked in. He was growin
l quite impatient. had no reason TO
t wishing to prolong the conversation. S
l l told him 1 should have finished in
n moment. He nodded his head an
7 withdrew.
4 If there is anything more I can do lie
v me know" l said, turning to Ceneri.
l There is nothing-Stay! one thing
d Macari, that villain-sooner or later h
n will get his deserts. l have suffered
o so will he. When that time comes, wi
l you try to send me wordP 1t may b
difficult to do so, and have no right t
e ask the favor. But you have interes
. and might get intelligence sent me.
d l am not dead by then it will make IN
+ happier"
e Without waiting for my reply h
l. walked hastily to the door, and with tn
? sentry at his side was marched off to th
|. prison. 1 followed him.
a As the cumbrous lock was bein
turned he paused. Farewell, Nj
h Vaughan" he said. "If have wronge
g you entreat your pardon. We sha
|, meet no more"
It $50 far as l am concerned forgiV
q you freely"
He hesitated moment and then he
10 out his hand. The door was now opel
| could see the throng of repulsive, vi
lie famous faces-the faces of his felloy
ID prisoners. l could hear the jabber
curiosity and wonder. l could SINE
g. the foul odors coming from that reekir
den crowded with filthy humanit
" And in such place as this, with SUI
associates, a man of education. cultu
We and refined tastes, was doomed to sper
In his last days. 1t was fearful punis
u ment!
Yet it was well merited. As he stoC
It, on the threshold with outstretched hal
tn l felt this. To all intents and purpos
ry the man was murderer. Much NOV
as l was by his fate could not bril-
he myself to grasp his hand. My refus
may have been harsh, but l could n
10