Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1885-05-01
CHAPTER wv.

CHAPTER wv.
DOES SHE RgMENsER?
1t was time to bring om. interview to
an end. 1t had lasted so long that the
civil Captain had more than once
peeped in with significant look on his
face, as much as to say there wss such
thing as oyerstepping the limits OF
| even such an authority as held. / had
no desire to protract the conversation
with the convict. The object of my
long journey had been attained. 1 had
learned all that could learn. I knew
Pauline's history. The crime had been
fully confessed. The man with me had
no claim upon my consideration. Even
had felt inclined TO help him had nc
means of so doing. Why should
Gnger?
But / did hnger 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 8
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. l watched
him in silence.
Presently he spoke: You can find nc
excuse for me, Mr. Vaughan"
None l said. 1t seems to me
there is little to choose between you and
your associates.
He rose YEARLY. Pauline viii re-
cover, you Think" he asked.
Il think-I hope shall find her al
most well on my return
you will tell her how you have
found me; she may be happier in
knowing that Anthony's death has in
directly brought me to this"
bowed assent to this dreary request.
Il must go back now" he said, with
kind of shiver, and dragging his weary
limbs slowly toward the door.
In spite of his sins l could not let the
wretched being 60 without word.
''Stop moment" l said. Tell me
if there is anything I can do to make
your life any easier.'
Il
me money-Aa little. l may be able to
keep it and buy few prisoners luxu-
ries."
gave him several notes which he
secreted on his person.
''Will you have more?" l asked. He
shook his head
Il expect these will no stolen from
me before l spend them
But is there no way of leaving
money with any one for your use?'
You might leave some with the
Captain. 1t may be, if he is kind
hearted and honest, portion of it may
reach me. But even that is doubtful. ="
1promised to do so, and knew that,
whether it reached him or not / 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 lifeF'
They are taking us right to the end
of Siberia-to Nertchinsk. There
shall be drafted off with others to work
in the mines. We 90 all the way on
foot and in chains.
what an awful fater'
Ceneri smiled ''After what l have
passed through 1t 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, untrsed 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 madness-mad-
ness brought on by solitary confinement
and cruel treatment If every morn
ing as you woke you had said, 4, too,
shall be an idiot before night-fall.' Ii
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. Iswear
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
KAN 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!'
s'But twenty years in the mines! Is
there no hope of escaping?"
where could escape to? Look at
the map and see where Nertchinsk is.
If escaped 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 yoI must slave until your
desth?"
i hope NOT. once gathered togeth-
er much inforraation respecting Sibe-
rian convicts, and, to tell you the truth,
was rather disgusted to find how incor-
rect the common opinion is. Now can
only hope my researches showed me the
truth"
The treatment is not SO bad, then?''
1t is bad enough. ~ you are always
at the mercy of a petty tyrant. There
is no doubt but1for a yea. or two must
slave in the mines. If survive the toll,
which is very unlikely, l nay, by find
ing favor in the rulers eyes, be released
from further work of that description.
l may even be allowed to reside at some
town and earn my living. haze great
hopes that my professional skill may be
OF use to me. Doctors are scarce in