Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1890-10-04


aware that was striking her below the
ribs, and that the blade would pene-
trate. The very moment I was doing
this knew I was doing something ter
rible, but that consciousness was IN
Simultaneous, like a flash of lightning,
and the deed followed so close upon it
as to be almost simultaneous with 1t.
Ny consciousness OF the deed and of its
nature was painfully distinct l felt
and I remember the momentary re-
sistance of the corset, and OF something
else, and then the passage of the knife
cutting its way through the soft parts
of the body. She seized the dagger
with both her hands, wounding them,
but without staying its progress.
Then having plunged the dagger into
her body, instantaneously drew it out,
anxious thereby to remedy what 1 had
done, to stay my hand. I then stood
motionless an instant, waiting to see
what would happen, whether in was
possible to remedy it.
She suddenly sprang to her feet and
screamed out, Nurse, she has muir
dered mel" The nurse, having heard
the noise, was already on the TIRES
hold. was still standing motionless,
expectant, incredulous. Suddenly the
blood welled forth from under her cor
set, and then I saw that what l had
done was past remedying, and the same
instant decided that it was not desir-
able that it should. be remedied, that
this very thing was what I wanted and
what ought to have been done. I lin
gered on still, till she fell, and the
nurse, excIaiming, Coed Godl" ran to
her assistance; it was only then I flung
away the dagger and went to my room.
What must 1 do now?" asked my
self, and at once knew what. Going
into my study 1 went up to the wall,
took down the revolver, examined it
it was loaded-and placed it on the
table. L next picked up the scabbard
from behind the sofa, and then seated
myself on the sofa. I remained thus
seated for long time. thinking of moth
ing, recollecting nothing. 1 was con-
scious, however, of considerable stir
in the other rooms. l heard vehicle
driving up to the door with some one;
then another. Then I heard and saw
George coming. "Did you hear what
had happened?" I asked him. "Tel
the dvornik to go and inform the po-
lice" He went out I rose from the
sofa, and got out my cigarettes. Be-
fore had smoked one, l was overcome
by drowsiness and fell asleep.
1 slept for about two hours. I
dreamt that she and I were living on
terms of affection, that we had quar-
rallied, but were making it up, there
was some little obstacle in the way,
but that at bottom we were friends.
I was awoke by knocking at the
door.
THAT'S the police" I thought. II
fancy 1 murdered her. But perhaps it
is she herself who is knocking, and that
nothing at all has happened" The
knocking at the door was continued. I
did not answer it, but strove to decide
the question. Had all that really taken
place or not? Yes, it had. I remem-
bered the resistance of the corset and
the passage of the blade through the
body, and the recollection sent an icy
cold chill along my back and made my
flesh creep. Yes, it had taken place.
There was no mistake about that. Now
it's my turn, thought, but even while
1 was still saying that to myself, I knew
that I would not kill myself. And yet
I rose and took up the revolver again.
1t seemed strange. 1 remember how
many times before that 1 had been on
the point of suicide-it always seemed
such an easy thing to do. But now
could not even harbor the thought.
Why should kill MYSELF" I asked.
And no answer was forthcoming.
The knocking at the door continued.
%Ah, yes, must first see who is at
the door. There will be always time
enough for this" and laid the revolver
down on the table and covered it over
with a newspaper. 1 then went to the
door and drew back the bolt. It was
my wife's sister-a well-meaning, silly
widow. "Vasa, what's all this?" she
exclaimed, and the tears-always ready
with her-fowed abundantly. "What
do you want?" asked, cunning to her
gruffiy. "Vasa, she's dying; Ivan
Zakharievitch said So" Ivan Yak
AaIIoNAGCu WAS IHo uOcGOr-nor DOCTOR
and adviser. as he here?" 1 inquired, |
and all my hatred for her revived.
Well, and what if she is?" con-
tinued. ~Yasa, go to her." '%Shall I
go to her?" I asked myself. And at
once decided that it was my duty to go |
to her, that it was the correct thing to |
do in such cases; that when husband |
kills his wife, as I had done, he is |
bound to go to her. If it is always |
done, l reasoned, then 1 suppose must |
go. Yes, if it should prove needful, I |
said to myself, thinking of my intention |
to commit suicide-I shall have plenty |
of time to do it afterward, and + fol- |
lowed my wife's sister.
Strange as it may seem, as left my
study and passed through the familiar |
rooms, once more conceived hope |
FIAT all this had not really taken place;
but the puDgent smell of the abomin-
able drugs, of iodiae, of carbolie acid,
me, and 1 knew it had
really taken place. Passing along the
corridor by the nursery, saw Liza she
gazed at me with terrified look in her
eyes. l fancied the whole five children
we're there and were steadfastly looking
at me.
went up to the door of her room, /
and the maid opened it and went out.