The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1885-01-21
CALLED BACK.
A Wen-Told Story Of Continuous
and Absorbing Interest.
BY HUGH CONWAY.
CHAPTER XII.-CoYrINUED.

tHAPIEh All.-tONTlNUED'
Hc spoke in the quiet tone of despair.
Ihad 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 l 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 l 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 10 him, except more or less
bodily discomfort. l shuddered as |
realized what his sentence meant, and,
in spite of myself, compassionate
feeling stole over ME. gts
Il 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"
could believe anything after the in
terror Of the ostrog. opened the wine
and placed il before him. AS he ate
and drank, / had leisure TO observe
him attentively.
Ills sullerings had. wrought n 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 10 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
sorry keep. But the probabilities were,
they would not have to keep him long.
He ate, not voraciously, but with n
keen appetite. The wine he used spar
ingly. His meal being finished, he
glanced around rs 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 i 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 i
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 good cigar. asked him to
drink some more wine. He shook his
head. then turned and looked at me.
"Mr. Vaughan" he said; ''yes, IL is
Mr.. Vaughan. But who and what am Ii
Where are wep Is it In London, Geneva,
or elsewhere? Shall ! awake and find
1 have dreamed of what | have suf-
fered?n
~ am afraid It Is no dream. We are
in Siberia"
"And you are not come TO bear me
good newsP You are not one of us--a
friend trying at the peril Of your life to
set me free?'
shook my head. IL would do all ]
could 10 make your lot easier, but /
come with n selfish motive TO ask some
questions which you alone can answer. "
ASK them. You have given me an
hours relief from misery; | am CRATE
full
''You will answer trulyP"
"Why notP | have nothing TO fenr,
nothing to gain, nothing TO hope. False
hood Is forced on people by circum-
stances; a man In my state has no need
Of IT,"
"The first question ] have to ask is
who and what Is that man Macari?"
Coneri sprang TO his feet The name
OF Macari seemed TO bring him back to
the world He looked no longer de.
eropit man. His voice was fierce and
stern. hrt Pr
"A traitorl q atraitorl" he cried. "But
for him should have succeeded and es-
capped. II he were only standing in
your place! Wcnk asI am, l could find
strength enough TO cling TO his throat
til the vile breath was out Of his ac-
cursed bodyr' ~
He walked up and down the room,
clinching and unclinching his hands.
'Try and be calm, DIR. Ceneri," i
said. II have nothing TO do with his
plots and political treasons. Who Is