Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1891-10-01
A FAIR SMUGGLER.

which stands by itself at the entrance TO
the town A Black sea Cossack, who
was on guard. heard the bells of my car
riage and cried out. with the sharp ac-
cent OF a person suddenly walked up
"Who goes there?"
Out came the sergeant and corporal.
told them was an officer, travelling by
order of the crown. and that wanted a
billet somewhere.
The corporal took us into town. All
the houses we tried were already occu-
pied. The weather was cold: had been
three nights without sleep. was very
tired and our useless inquiries ended by
irritating me.
my friend" said to the corporal,
''take me to some place where | can at
least lie down. no matter where it is.
II know hut in the neighborhood,
replied the corporal. ''where you might
sleep; but am afraid it would scarcely
suit your honor.
go on, said, paying no attention to
his observation.
After much walking through dirty
little streets we at last reached sort of
cabin on the edge of the sea.
The full moon cast its light on the
matched roof and the white walls Of my
proposed hahitation. In the court sur
rounded by sort of palisade saw a
hut, older and more broken down than
the principal one. From this hut the
ground sloped rapidly through the court
down toward the sea. and saw at my
feet the foam of the troubled waters
This will do" | said to myself ITO
morrow morning shall start for Che
lendchik."
A Cossack of the line was acting as my
servant. | told him TO take out my
trunk and send away the position, after
which called the master of the house.
| could get no answer knocked, but
there was still no reply. What could it
meant | knocked again, and at last a
boy of about fourteen showed himself.
Where's the master of the house,
There is none" returned the child, in
the dialect of Little Russia.
No masteri Then where is the mis-
tress!"
Gone into the village"
.'Who will open the door. them
cried. at the same time kicking at it.
The door opened itself and out came a
wave of damp steam.
struck a match and saw by its light
blind boy standing motionless before
me
must here say that | am strongly
prejudiced against the blind, the deaf,
the lame, the hunchbacked; in short,
against the deformed in general. have
remarked that there is alwaysa singular
correspondence between the physical for
nation of man and his moral nature,
as though by the loss Of a member the
individual lost certain faculties of the
soul
examined the child's face: but what |
can one make of a physiognomy without |
eyes2 looked at him for some time
with feeling Of compassion. when sud |
denly saw ON his lips cunning smile,
which produced upon me very disagree
able impression Gould this blind boy |
be not so blind as he appeared" said to
myself. Answering my own question
said that the boy was evidently suffering
from cataract, and that the appearance
of cataract cannot be simulated. Why,
moreover, should he affect blindnesss
Yet in spite OF my argument ! still re-
manned vaguely suspicious.
lis the mistress Of the cabin your
mother said to the boy.
"No.-
who are you, them"
"a poor orphan" he replied.
HAS the mistress any children"
she has one daughter, who has gone
to sea with Tartar"
what Tartar
"How do know? A Tartar of the
Crimea, boatman from Kertch.r
went into the hut Two benches, a
table. and a large wardrobe placed near
the stove composed the whole Of the
furniture. No holy image against the
wall-bad signl
Ny Cossack took possession Of the
other bench. Ten minutes afterward be
was fast asleep. 1, however. was still
awake. and could not drive from my
mind the impression made upon me by
the boy. with his two white eyes.
An hour passed. Through the window
fell upon the floor the fantastic light Of
the moon.
Suddenly shadow was cast, where
before there had been a bright light.
;prang up and went to the window A
llman figure passed once more, and
hen sappeared-heaven knows where
could scarcely believe that it had
escaped by the slope into the sea. yet
here was no other issue.
Throwing on my overcoat and taking
ny saber l went out Of the cabin and
aw the blind boy before me. | con-
.ealed myself behind the wall. and he !
,assed on confidently. but with certain
autiousness. He was carrying some
hing under his arm, and advanced
lowly down the slope toward the sea. 9
This is the hour. said to myself. in
which speech Is restored TO the dumb !