Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1889-01-24

popuIace does not con- out to greet them,
nor are the bells ringing joyfully. Only one
OF the chiefs awaits them and conducts the
Attaman to where the council is sitting.
In vast hall, with benches ranged around
IT, the gray-halred chiettains are seated
awaiting Kunicki's arrival They are all
clothed in long sheepskin pelisses, their
heads covered with black csapkas. In the
center of the room. on a table, stands cruel
fix and book Of Gospels ready opened, and
near it waits the blackrobed Archimandrite
(priest.)
"Mylords." says Kuuicld, entering the as
sembly, II have come hither to hear your
bidding"
Father Attaman," answers the most an
cient among the chieftains, what hast thou
done with the army Of Ukrania? Where
hast thou left the flower OF our KosaksP
Eight thousand of our brayest men did we
intrlst to thee, and but three hundred hast
thou brought home"
MY lords" replies the Attaman, uncover
ing his head, but holding himself upright,
''my heart is stabbed with grief when think
Of the sunerings Our soldiers have endured,
but it swells with pride when remember
what they have done. Scores Of towns and
villages sacked and burned, the inhabitants
of two provinces cut to pieces-theSe are our
deeds The vast hordes of Tartars, along
with sickness, hunger, and cold, have de-
stroyed the rest Of our army. Such was the
will of the Almighty and my misfortune.
God is my witness, and with Him the three
hundred Kosaks who have returned, that
have neither spared my arm nor shielded my
breast i'm their defense
"Canst thou swear it?' again asked the an
cient chief
Il will swear 1t on the Gospel" And the
Archimandrite reading aloud the formula Of
the oath the Attaman 6nees, and kissing the
cross swears by the blood of the Saviour that
he has spoken the truth, and will relate to
them on his conscience all that has taken
place And rising he details to them from
beginning to end all the events Of this dis
astrous campaign. The recital of so much
misery and misfortune touches every one to
tears, and the chieftains shake their hoary
heads as one after another they withdraw to
the debatingrOom.
KunicN remains alone his eyes fixed
moumflly ON the ground his clasped hands
re- ing on the hilt of his sword mOtionless as
a statue. He raises not his eyes even when
after q time the doors are re-0pened and the
council returns, and one Of them takes the
word:
Father Attamanl the chcftans do not
accuse thee either OF treason or of cOWardice;
they acknowledge thy yalor, nor do they
complain of thy fidelity, and recognize thy
behavior 30 have been throughout upright
and honorable. Never yet has there been an
Attaman dearer to the hearts of the Kosa6S
But the interests of the nation command us
to put aside all personal feelings, and there
fore as till now there has been no instance
of a chief returning without his army it will
be wise TO make an example of this case, so
as to foresee and prevent any recurrence of
the same. A less noble man might be pun
ished by degradation from his Office, but
thou, Kunicbi, shalt not be stripped Of thy
dignity in favor of any other man. This
were ingrattude on our part So Attaman
thou shall remain till thy death. Yet as the
council i'm its wisdom does not deem it to be
secmly that an Attaman should survive the
loss of his army, it viii be advisable that thy
noble life should come to a speedy termina-
ton.
Father Attaman! Thou shalt die by the
sword of thine own people, but thy death
shall be noble and an honorable one, in
consideration of the many and valuable ser
vices thou hast rendered to the nation. Thou
shalt keep to the last the hOnors due to thy
rank and be executed as belts an Attaman
and leader of the Kosaks. Only to lay thy
head on the block will thou put aside the
cranes feather, and thy successor shall not
be elected till thy body is laid in the EARTH"
Kmicld raised his head and viewed the
assembly calmly, without agitation, without
fear as he answered:
Only lords, far be it from me to make any
petition or prayer for mercy. Letyourj udg-
mcnt take its course; but before my death |
should wish once more to see my wife and
child, and say farewell. Fix a day for my
execution, and swear to be punctual, on my
honor as KoSak and as Attaman"
Several voices answered sadly: Father
Attaman! Take as much time as thou pleas
est--a week, month if necessary"
But Kuuicki returns: The longer | wait
the greater win be the pain. What Is defer
red must equally come to pass. one daywlu
suffice, and thank sou Tor that Farewell,
TIL tomorrow
He leaves the assembly, passing down the
ranks of chiefs who all uncover and pro-
foundry salute the Attaman as he goes.