Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-10-09
THE EXILES.
A RUSSIAN STORY.


ioicingl" asked he, pointing to the little
pates, the custards, and the frozen fish
1--WE expected the father Of the family"
said the old Yakoute woman. 'He has not
returned from the summer chase-and nv
daughter is under the influence of the sor-
ceress Two such misfortunes are a great
deal for one day!"
''HoW old is shea" demanded M, Laf1eur.
sit has showed eighteen times since she
came into the world"
81 am going to cure her.
care you CLAIMANT" (Coniurer and doc
tor
eyes, and come from affair.""
M. Laf1eur wished to say, perhaps, that
no man is either prophet or a chaman in
his own country.
Ihen In tone of authority, the Partisan
directed his companions to take some of the
dellcacies spread out upon the table
I'VE are famished," said he, ''and,shall eat
everything there, for your husband will re-
turn neither to-day nor tomorrow"
''Will he ever returnl" asked the old wo-
man, anxiously.
''My art reveals to me that he will" au-
with lie his role of sorcerer He added:
''You shall Judge of my power"
AT this, he seized his violin and, despite
the numbness of his fingers, drew from it
harmonious sounds He played a reverie, o
cradle-song or a prayer.
AT the first notes, the attention Of the
young girl was awakened. Soon she changed
her position and sat up; then quivering, her
eyes lost in kind Of ecstacy, she advanced
towards the musician, bowling before him
.. ii,
more when he drew solemn sounds from his
instrument and raising herself at tne high
notes, radiant, light, with outstretched
arms. Her nervous disease took a new
character.
At the last note, she sank heavily upon
the floor. M. Laleur raised her. carried
her to the bench she had occupied a mo-
uient before, and said to the old Yakoute
woman:
''Now some tea, babouchka (mother),
some tea, great deal of tea, and your daugh-
ter is out of danger-cured for a long while
perhaps, forever"
Everybody was amazed The mother of
the invalid wept for JOY.
The other Yalloute woman, u h0maly crea-
ture, who bore upon her face ruu II tattoo
marks, embraced M. Latleur after ine fash
ion of the country. She was the invalid's
aunt-and an old madl
Nadcge said to Yegor:
How good NJ Laheur isl 1t was for US
he did all that!-it was to secure US a hos
pitable reception"
Yegor thought he could do no less than
add his note to the concert of congratula-
tions in progress around the pretended cha
man.
Yermac's pitcous look was a sight to see.
81 have become the companion of a charla-
tan 7" thought he
''You are all welcome, " said the Old Yak
quite woman to her new guests. "And now,
partake OF the best we possess. You are in
the house of 2ietek, the first of his tribe.
Before coming, following the course of the
Omolon, to settle on the shores of the ko-
lima, he was chief"
Aided by the old maid, who had embraced
M. Lafleur, Metek's wife pushed the heavy
table into the corner where the travellers
were seated and, taking seat herself, in
vtod them to eat by setting the example.
The young unfortunate, exercised by the
chaman of the Faubourg Saint-Antoine,
placed herself at the side of her liberator
the latter did not lose a mouthful. He
ate four pieces at Il time. they say, al
though the food was entirely devoid of salt.
Let us not forget the tea! !" cried he af
ter his hunger was somewhat appeasCd. 'It
is necessary for the invald-and for US! !"
Three days had elapsed since the fugi-
tiyes had disembarr&Sacd themselves of
their Ccssack escort, and they had partaken
OF nothing warm after quitting the yourte
of refuge.
The request of the chaman for tea was
. 1 Il,
a seductive smile, made significant gesture,
she would look after it, and it would be
good!
NJ. Lafeur then noticed that the Yakoute
old maid wore, over her reindeer-slln pant
aloons and under her kanley, an immense
,rinoline This crinoline which Was Ill
,he rage in Paris number OF years a40,
Va evidently making tour of the world.
Chort appeared at the door
''What about the dogs?" demanded he.
The dogs were bowling without. as if
hey knew they were excluded from the
feast.
I'VE will give them the fish intended for
ours" said Metek's wife, to relieve them
from suspense.
Chort was directed to carry out the kettle
which was boiling in the tchouvale
As to Wab, that in.elligc-. animal ran
around the table, receiving nor7aI5 ii and
LETT.
You will sleep here" said the old woman
to the travellers.
Yermac had scarcely touched the food
placed before him. With his head in his
hands. and his elbows on the table, he was
plunged in deep thought. Never had rep
resentative of the law and authority been
placed in a stranger situation! That he
should find himself constrained by circum-
stances to share the fortune and the wants
Of rebellous subjects whom he ought to be
bringing to punishment But had not the
moment come to break this bond of COM
plicity with them which had been only too
long in force? His obligation? But is a
magistrate ever bound to keep his word
with malefactors. whatever he may have
promised them! If Metek returned to the
village, in his quality of chief, could he not
summon him, declare that he was the victim
of violence and demand assistance to take
the fugitiyes back to Sredne-Kolmsk shun-
found, in the detachment of Cossacks fur
nished by the StanitSa and subject to the
orders of tho IpraVsnik Of the town, a force
more than sufficient to assure the triumph
OF the law!
CHAPTER xvuI.-AT THE MERCY OF HURRI-
CANE
The chief of police was seated, as on the
preceding days. in NJ Laf1eur's marta. The
fagitiyeS were fast leaving in the distance
the settlement where they had been so hos
pitably received.