The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1885-02-07
CALLED BACK.
A Wen-Told Story Of Continuous
and Absorbing Interest.
DY HUGH CONWAY.
CHAPTER XII.-CoNTINUED.

He spoke in the quiet tone of despair.
! 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 1 can go back to happiness
or not depends on what you tell me.
You may imagine it is no light matter
which has brought me so far to see you
for few minutes"
He looked at me curiously, but not
suspiciously. could do him no harm
for him the outer world was at an
end. If 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 to him, except more or less
bodily discomfort l shuddered as l
realized what his sentence meant, and
in spite of myself, . compassionate
feeling stole over me.
II have much of importance to say,
but first let me give you some wine and
food
Thank you," he said, almost hum
bly,. You would scarcely believe, Mr..
Vaughan, that man may be reduced
to such state that he can hardly re-
strain himself at the sight of decent
meat and drink"
l could believe anything after the in
terror of the ostrog. opened the wine
and placed it before him. AS he ate
and drank, l 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 i
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. / guessed what he wanted and
passed him my cigar-case and light. He
thanked me and began to smoke with
an air of enjoyment.
For while | had not the heart to in
terrupt the poor wretch. When he left
me it must be to return to that he'll
peopled by human beings. But time
was slipping by. Outside the door ]
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, a.
it were, everything he could out of the
luxury of good cigar. l asked him t.
drink some more wine. He shook hi
head, then turned and looked at me.
'Mr. Vaughan" he said; Eyes, it il
Mr.. Vaughan. But who and what am i
Where are we? Is it in London, Geneva
or elsewhere? Shall | awake and fine
l have dreamed of what | have sui
feredPn
II am afraid it is no dream. We ar,
in Siberia"
And you are not come to bear mi
good newsP You are not one of US,
friend trying at the peril of your life tt
set me free?"
l shook my head. II 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 al
hours relief from misery; 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; man in my state has no nee,
of it"
Tho first question have to ask is