Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1890-12-27


sight of her supplicating attitude all
the country people present fell on their
knees with one accord and reverently
made the sign of the cross. A sort of
stupor seized the large assembly, lords
! and judges seemed struck dumb, and
the silence was 80 profound that could
plainly hear the ticking of the great
clock upon the wall as the pendulum
swung back and forth increasingly, like
the measure Of eternal justice. The
clock was the first to break the silence
striking the hour of noon with it's grave,
harsh voice, while every one listened
! breathlessly. The sound reused Akonlina,
and she turned toward the door with y
last agonizing look Many an eyefollowed
hers. and think that no one would have
been astonished to see Anton Petrovitch
enter at that moment. But the door re-
mained closed; and now, for the first
time, perceived the old peddler stand
ing near it, clad in his ragged pelisse.
His small, blinking eyes wandered
round the room, his gaze resting timidly
upon the judges, then passing on to
Akonlina and her children. As he look
ed at the little ones an expression of
gentle kindness came into his face, such
as had often seen when had no money,
and he gave me the pictures from Souz-
dal. When the president began to read
the sentence Uncle Fedia listened for
minute, looked up ut the crucifix and
down at the children, then slowly, and
taking care to disturb no one, he made
his way to the platform and stood twist
ing his cap in his fingers.
What do you wantT asked the presi-
dent of the court rs he stopped in the
middle of his reading.
II beg your pardon, SIR" said the old
man, "this woman is innocent; l set the
house on fire."
The judges and the people looked at
him III amazement, and the president
asked him some questions. His replies
were given awkwardly, but left no room
for doubt rs to his guilt. lie said that
he had spent the first part of the night
in question in the old MILL and had seen
Akonlina going with her bundle of straw
toward Anton Petrovitch's barn. Soon
after midnight he had made his way to
Ivanofka and set fire to the house out of
revenge, the owner having caused him
to be cruelty beaten q year before. AS u
proof he mentioned small pot of tar
which had been found at Ivanofka and
which he had bought the day previous.
A feeling of relief spread among the
audience when it became evident that
the poor woman was not to suffer un-
justly, and every one seemed glad to
find that the first suspicious against the
peddler were correct. A new sentence
was drawn mp. and rs he stood waiting
to hear it read Uncle Fedia dropped his
head in shame at seeing every eye fixed
upon him in scorn and reproach.
He was sentenced to the mines of Sibe-
ria, but his time was limited to ten years
in consideration of his having voluntari-
ly confessed his guilt. The guards led
him away, and as he passed Inc put a
few rubles in his hand and whispered:
"Good-by, poor Uncle Fedia."
Thanks. child" he answered. "It
does not matter about me; there is no
one to grieve for me-"
The next minute had lost sight Of
him.
The time passed by, and six years later
j TGluEtltu W uOllC LUZ tuG Sullillcl
vacation.
One morning while we were at break
fast in the garden we saw the priest of
the parish hurrying toward us in great
excitement.
What do you think has happened?"
he cried.
II know" replied my father. THE
miller fell from Il ladder last night and
has died of his injuries"
"You do not know the most terrible
part of the matter" said the priest. IL
was sent for by the dying man, and he
told me his dreadful secret. Father,
said he, i committed great sin six
years ago-I set fire TO Ivanofka.
What! / cried; it was the pedd,er,
Fedia'- But he interrupted me, say
ing: Il set fire to the house to reverg sc
myself on the owner, who had caused
me to he taken rs soldier. Uncle Fe-
dia passed night IN the mill after sell
ing me pot of tar. thought that lie
suspected me then, and on the day of
the trial he came to me and said with an
earnest air:
".Tkere is going to be a terrible piece
of business; they are going to condemn
Akonlina to Siberia. Perhaps she is in
nocent. would not listen, but threat
ened him so fiercely that he went away
frightened. All! what good man he
was-he pitied the woman and her little
children and sacrificed himself to save
them. Oh, miserable wretch that am!
how can hope to obtain pardon! He
died q few minutes after his confession
Without losing II moment we took the
priest to the governor of the province,
and the latter on hearing the declaration
wrote to the authorities in Siberia.
Months of fruitless correspondence en-.
sued. Owing to the lack of particulars
furnished them they could not make
sure as to which convict our magistrate
referred. At last the governor general
of Siberia closed the correspondence, re
fusing to investigate further.
"Do YOU suppose it possible" !" he wrote