Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-13

drink, let US lorget all, anu to-InorroW lie
us dier'
He sat down and put the bottle on tn,
table.
Hand us glasses" he cried. "Mr. Miller
Helen, pray Our last meal
Mother, have you nothing to eat? I an
starving"
Nicholas! Control yourself. You de-
not know what you are doing! God is with
US. 1t is his doing"
"Quiet" commanded the clerk. 81 am
hungry and l want you to give me some
thing to eat"
The old woman turned slowly to the chest
OF drawers and took from it piece OF bread
and four cucumbers. She put plate before
her son and two glasses on the table.
Nicholas wild looks and his strange wayl
had in the meantime frightened the little
boy so terribly that he crept farther and far
ther behind the stove.
Don't hide so, boy, don't be afraid! Taste
the brandy! Believe me. it is good drink
and makes us forget everything. When l
am drunk may dream that I am the head
of division and sit in my arm chair in a
beautiful Office and gaze at the portraits OF
the Czars. Come here. Andrew, come to
mep'
The boy, whose terror had grown steadily,
was no longer visible.
will no one drink? Not you, Helen?
Nor you, Mr.. Miller? Then l must drink
alone and get drunk alone. And then we
shall go away from here. 1 unto death and
your mother, with the boy, to beg in the
streetp'
He emptied the glass at one draught,
wiped his lips with his sleeves and seized
the bottle. The women wept silently, utterly
unnerved by this picture of despair. AT
that moment Miller, who so far had listened
without opening his lips, rose from the
bench, went up to Nicholas and said:
''Stop there, neigbborl Perhaps all is not
lost yet. Perhaps 1 can get you another
place. But in the meantime" n
With these words he emptied his pockets
and threw five ruble note and some small
change upon the table.
$50 much for to-dayl I need no money!
1 can always have what want. Only do
not give up hope! Till we meet agaiup'
To hide his increasing emotion and to
escape the gratitude of the woman he went
away quickly, repeating on the threshold:
Tomorrow at the latest I'll bring you
news"
Helen broke the silence that followed the
departure of the man from Courland, say
ing:
Your neighbor is a good man! Nicholas,
he'll help you'll"
He" repeated Nicholas. che is neither
rich nor has he any influence whatever, nor
should be be able to help one. He is a poor
devil as am. To be sure, he has given us
five rubles, and 1 bless him for it. But
what is that We may live day longer,
and instead of dying tomorrow we shall die
the day after"
'Nicholas," said Helen rather timidly,
L. To
ask father also."
accept any sacrifice from you. The brandy
if we had been rescued"
He rose and said with bright, shining
eyes: .....
"Yesterdy they beat me! Every day
had to bear scorn and disgrace. If anybody
gave me an order, it was generally: You
ass, do this and that and make haste!' And
all that because they paid so rubles month.
l have borne that treatment for five years,
although my soul revolted at such injustice.
Yes, Mr.. Palkin and Mr.. Schelm! Like a
dog you have treated me, because you knew
that the work of my hands had to support
my mother and my little brother, and that
my place was my life. But now that 1 have
lost the place, raise at last my head once
more and bend nv neck no longer. Mr..
Schelml Mr.. Schelml Tremble before the
worm you have so long trodden under footT"
He emptied q second glass, rose, embraced
his mother and took Helen's hand.
Where are you going, Nicholas?" asked
his mother anxiously.
Helen wrung her hands.
where are you going, Nicholas?" she
asked with trembling voice.
"If you should not see me again in two
DAYS pray for my departed SOUL"
With these words he slammed the door
behind him. The two women, dumb with
despair, sat long time. Neither of them
touched the money. At last little Andrew
came forth from his hiding place, gathered
the raisins that were scattered over the floor
and devoured them eagerly. Then the two
women began to cry bitterly.
Outside the rain was pouring down furi-
ously, continually increasing in violence
X S.
1t might have been 9 o'clock at night, but
the windows in the office of the head of d.
vision were brilliantly illumined. In spite
If the late hour, Schelm was still at work;
opposite him sat his former schoolmate,
Miller, of Millertown. The conversation
between the two old friends seemed to have
for some time, as their passion
,tely agitated features testified. Miller's
ACE was especially excited. He was dead
" pale, but in his eyes glowed an uncanny
ire.
81 have told you," he said, "I am ready
or anything you may order to be donel
The straight road is a nuisance to my eyes,
But yesterday I allowed myself to be misled
" nv better feelings. and gave nv last
money to people who were even poorer than
am. That has not paid we'll. To-day
lave had literally not a morsel of food"
1.-The more readily will you comprehend
hat cannot agree to your demands" said
Schelm.
"For five long years have led this mis-
rable life, and might, if needs be, stand it
little longer. To be sure, have often felt
lick and tired of it. The philosophers tell
is that he is happy who needs little-but
hey ought to have added and does not have
in empty stomach. Your offers are vulgar.
But why not do vulgar thing? Only
.annot respect the thief who makes dis
bread and him who runs away with mil
ion. The world despises both alike, but
he thief knows the difference. If you want
ne to steal few rubles 1 should say moth
ng. But as it is, 1 tell you, will not
cave the path of virtue and of honor with
'ut being paid we'll for it. After that may
happen what will! 1t is only the first step
hat calls for courage; afterward we do no
onger mind conscience and its reproaches.
Do you understand me?"
perhaps. You surely never had so much
money in your lifeP'
''I had at times ten, perhaps twenty, times
IS much.
''But just now you have not 10 kopecks
n your pockets"
''For that very reason my conversion to
he bad must produce goodIy sum. Other
wise 1 do not sell my honor and MY con-
cience. 1 have mentioned my price. Ten
thousand silver rubles and an annual in
ome of the same amonnt durinp the time of