The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-03-29

~A"M Ooh ~ AANA ubu pCWoEAul hDC VI
Cawnpore. Muller was sitting on a aettee,
and his knces bent. His long hair, almost
white now, fell on his rounded shoulders.
A deep furrow marked his brow; tho mus
cles Of his face had contracted his hollow
cheeks, n here also captivity had craven
two deep lines.
The proceedings had taken three months
and Muller's beard had grown long, rough
and neglected. 1t framed his face in a
grayish cloud which enhanced the express
sion of this energetic face.
When lana entered he rose at O bound,
but of a sudden, letting his hands fall at
the side, be said:
"rhanks, madame, for having come,
"Oh!' she said, chow you have suffered. -
Have | not? Yes, my career is ended.
approach the end slowly. / shall have
been born in the purple + should have been
a great king. Such is fate"
"You are more than that. You are a
great man."
She wiped away a tear.
"Oh, Muller, how noble, how grand you
were. l loved you at that moment. / can
ton for you"
He smiled sadly.
':Yenrs ago would have paid with my
lfe's blood for the words you nave Just
pronounced. I thank you for them, but
they no longer make my heart beat. My
here" pointing at his head. DO you nm
derstand that? 1 had wished to transform
the creeds of mankind and had to learn to
doubt my own and t } reject them with con-
tempt! Oh, lana, that is fearful! To have
to say to myself: Your whole life has been
q crime. Yes, | have been sinful, and when
l reach the first principles of the Christian
religion. which n poor shepherd in the
country taught me down there IN my faith
er's house, ! say to myself: Oh, Lord, I
have sinned in thought, word and deed. It
is my fault, my W fault. my very great
fault. Yes, lana, have becomes Christian
once more"
my poor friend" said lana, with her
melodious and persuasive voice, "do not
despair. You have fallen nobly, if this can
be called to fail. Even your judges were
filled with admiration for you. I am
your ideal, you have told mo; we'll, Muller,
! admire you. Your memory will never
leave me-"
"Ihnnk you, madame! -FOUR image will
from time to time appeal to me on the
plains of Siberia and recall TO me yonr
sweet words. Perhaps they will send me to
Irkutsk, and work will appear less hard to
my feeble hands when your blessed image
shall appear to me-
Work! Siberia! Why, did you think
for a moment we would consent"
and where would you have me go if not
to the mines?"
"You will not leave us! The emperor
"What should 1 do here? Drag my shame,
my disappointment. after me in the midst
of ar Indifferent population? No! 1 de-
mand expiation, work, immense deserts,
the knout th~reatening; in fact, a genuine
expiration. Every humiliation. every tor
|ture will raise me in my own eyes"
Muller was interrupted; the door opened,
and Vladimir rushed in. He cordially en-
braced Iii, old friend.
"Muller." he exclaimed, you great and
noble heart! You have saved me. How
happy l am to press you to my heart."
They embraced each other.
II am once more what l was. my friend,''
said Vladimir. Ellis majesty has sent me
shall obtain. They have condemned you,
but the emperor shall pardon you, l swear
it!'
Muller said firmly: Your wife has just
told me the same thing. My pardon,
Vladimir! Years g l refused jt-from
pride. Now l refuse it, but from a very
different cause"
"Muller!"
Pardon me! But I am q criminal. 1
have murdered, pillaged, burnt, despised
God and man, and should l not be punished
in this world. What would l then nave to
desert. immensely. t~ortures and the thought
of death-that is my due. Religion has at
last entered my heart. Let me obey it's
sublime consultations. Let the punishment
of man fall upon my head, lest the punish
ment of God should come upon it."
lana remained silent.
Vladimir said: muller you judge your
self too severely. You are not criminal,
you"
"Ah, you say that?' Muller interrupted
him. ''You? Then l know you have for
given me! And really. l think, Vladimir. I
have expiated whatever wrong | NAV have
borne to you. But that does not prevent
my having been u bad mans worse agent,
having sent twenty men to Siberia. massa-
cred thousands of my own race in the name
of n criminal Utopia, having, in fine, at
tempted to play the part of God in order to
avenge myself with my own hands. All
this must be expiated. That is why l shall
mo your friendship, say nothing more about
Then we can do nothing for you?"
asked Vladimir,
"Yes! much! Your adventure will make
you one of the great men of the empire.
socialist who rises against society (but from
sincere conviction) you will remember
me and be indulgent. Fools are much to
be ritied."
'Oh, l promise l will! But. Muller, I
also am tired of life. l shall resign"
wen, bueU, SUtu MulteT WlUu u sign.
you can do absolutely nothing for me but
forget me-"
With these words he rose and said:
Farewell, my friends, do not prolong
this visit. 1t is time for me to break with
tho past. Your presence revives my pains"
He embraced Vladimir and held him
in his arms till both sobbed bitter
ly. Good bye"
"You do not bid adieu to my wife, Null.
Ter? You do not kiss her? See how she
weeps."
lana held her arms open. He embraced
her. For the first timo IN lis life perhaps
he was not fully conscious of what he was
doing. He stammered:
Farewell, farewell. my dream! We shall
be reunited up there! Surely! You will
for meY"
lana answered in II voice full OF emotion:
shall pray for YOU, Muller, l premise
"Vladimir, | beseeoh you, take her away!
farowells are too much for me-"
lana was the first to 60 to the door.
Vladimir followed her. On the threshold
he looked once more back on this friend of
good and evil DAYS. Muller was seated on
his stool. Two burrows were traced by his
Vladimir. filled with compassion.
was about to return, but Muller waved him
back and said: