Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-05-18


"And now quick and bring the samovari'
ordered the Colonel.
In the kitchen the inspectors wife was
heard to sob aloud. PalkIn smiled.
jana and Vladimir were left alone; the
whole tenderness that filled their hearts re-
vealed itself in words, in looks and in en-
braces, Vladimir looked at Jana, as pure
and fair as ever, and wondered that she had
not changed; he had so often feared that her
early sorrows might injure her beauty. The
two young people exchanged thoughts and
sentiments with wonderful rapidity, telling
each other everything that had happened
since their enforced separation.
MANY a time should have died, =" said
vladimir, "if 1 had not thought Of you.
That thought strengthened me in every situ-
alton. Do you remember the day when you
told me one of your strange dreams? Well,
one night stood at the window Of my cell
in the fortress, and looked at the fast pass
ing waves of the Neva, when your words
came back to my mind and brought me
great comfort. 1 said to myself, She will
come to me, I shall see her again, and since
that moment have been resigned and con-
tent in my hearts imperishable hope.
dearest vladimir Then you have at no
time doubted me for moment?"
He hung his head.
"I beg your pardon, Jana, but at one sim
gle time; that evening when all happened-I
was cruelty punished for my doubt, but
bore it all. Ny Jana, to doubt you is a
crimep
She laid her head on his shoulder ten
derly; then she told him how she had come
to Siberia, not only to bring him aid and
comfort. but also to collect proof Of his inno-
cence She asked him to relate to her once
more the events Of that fatal night. Vlad-
imir narrated all the incidents; then he told
her how one night he had been put on o
kibitka, reaching Irkutsk after o two
months journey. .
"The name on Schelm's portefeuillo had
| explained to me all. felt perfectly inno-
cent. 1 repeated 1t to the walls Of ny
prison and to the jailer who brought me my
meals. The walls preserved silence, and
the jailer laughed ironically. Till the very
end lived in hope my uncle would yield
and procure me an investigation. This hope
was not to be realized. When I sat in the
kibitka and drove along the wide highroad
toward Siberia, 1 tried last time to
struggle against my fate. told the gems
| darme who accompanied me my whole story,
although he seemed to be dull and unfeel-
ing. Can you imagine that this man dur
| ing the time of IS days which we spent in
| going from Petersburg to Kat-Arinenburg,
never had said one word TO me? In the
meantime repeatedly asserted my inno-
cence and accused infamous Schelm. It
was not until we were on this side OF the
Ural mountains that his tongue was
loosened. do not know, Jana, IL you
have noticed here in Siberia people are
so far out Of the world that everything as
sumes another form? Here the fear Of high
personages vanishes, because they are so far
distant; even the love Of money has an
| end, because money is of no avail here.
Conscience seems to speak louder here, in
| the face OF God and immeasurable space.
] Nv gendarme grew less and less silent; we
met no men any more, no human settle
ments; flight seemed to be entirely impossi-
Bile, and many a whole long DAY we did not
meet living being. Poor young man.
he said one day to me, perhaps all is true
what YOU have told me so o(ten-but I can
not help YOU. Why do you pour out your
heart to me? Guilty or not guilty, you are
Siberian colonist, and you have but one
| hope-the mercy OF the Carl But this also
reaches but rarely the innocent man, be-
cause between him and the Gar there are
ALWAYS many whose interest it is that the
exile should not return
"Thus the gendarme spoke to me one
| evening in a boundless plain of snow, which
glittered in the pale light Of the moon. His
| sympathy soothed and cheered me. I began
here proofs of my innocence, you will be
disappointed. I have no evidence but my
own conscience
"You are mistaken, dearesti We are no
longer quite so weak as we were. That port
folio itself is a strong proof. And then I
also have found out that Siberia changes
mems character. Will you believe 1t, that
this Colonel OF the gendarmes has been inde-
fatigable in kindness to me? As soon as we
were on Siberian soil there was no token Of
respect and consideration which he did not
show me-"
II would be cautious, Jana" said Vladi-
mir, "his features are not such as awaken
confidence"
"There is certainly nothing attractive in
his face. felt the same aversion at first
of which you speak. But did him wrong.
He was my faithful protector during the
whole long Journey, and much concerned
about MY comfort He seems actually to
have fallen In love with me-"
ain lovel ohoi' said Vladimir.
"You will not be jealous7" threatened
Jana. "But do not take back what l hav
said. 1 really think he Is now sincerely in
clined TO help you, and has proved that al
ready. have found out in our converss-
| tions that he is q bitter enemy Of Schelm,
| who has injured him In his career, and on
| whom he wants now to avenge himself.
Moreover, he confessed TO me that his pres.
ent mission IL u kind OF disguised disgrace.
lie IL convinced of your innocence, and will
help Us to prove IL 10 the world"
"Can We really fully trust his sim
esrity9"
1--WE eapnet doubt II. Your former sec.
retary, popofi, who has come with him"
"Popeii IL here?"
"Yes, with his mother and his betrethed,
who have accompanied me. For the FIRST
time since We left KasaD, Palkin has al
| lowed them 10 converse with each other.
They have gone ahead 10 Irkutsk under the
escort Of O gendarme, TO select rooms for
us there"
"How did he get here2"
"He Is exiled as you Rrei that is all |
know. Only once, at Oursk, he succeeded In
spite Of Palkin's strict watohfulness In
speaking TO mej he could only whisper
these words to me; 'Palkin Is honest, for he
hates Schelm.' PopOf has in his possession
some evidence against our enemy and per-
secutor, and only waits for favorable mo-
ment to use II. That is why they want him
| TO disappear In some way or other. lie
kissed the hem of my dress when told HIM
that his mother and his bethrothed were
with me. The Colonel had told him no.
thing OF 1t, and the sleigh in which he sat
always remained SO far behind ours that he
could not recognize any one. Thus, you
see, dearest, there is reason TO hopeP
God grant it, my darling jana"
81 have brought large amount Of money,
nearly million roubles. Much can be
done with that. Ny father is busy with
your affair in Petersburg. shall soon
start now for Irkutsk. By the help of the
Colonel I hope shall prevail on the Gov
ernor to permit you to live In a colony
| naarer IN the canital for think this nlace