Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1892-10-27

II WILL SWEAR II By YON IKON."
The Rachel OF yore was dead, and a new
Rachel had come to life. Her beauty still
remained though little marrcd by the
confinement, the fetid atmosphere peculiar
to a Russian prison. and the vile and
coarse fare Her sorrow and shame might
have prompted her-as many hundreds Of
untortunatcs have been prompted-to end
her broken life. But one hope sustained
her, and she dreamed Of a day when ven
geance might be hers.
TO understand how such change could
have been wrought in one so fair and
gentle as she, you must go through what
she went through; you must have your
dearest treasures torn ruthlessly from you;
you must every hour Of the day and night
feel that you are the victim of a barbarous
wrong; you must nurse this wrong until it
takes possession of you, and slowly per-
meates you with the ,unquenchable desire
to crush your wronger. you must be bowed
down with knowledge that the sunshine
taken out of your lite can never, never be
restored; that the fires that have turned to
grey ashes on your hearth can be pightcd
no more; you must be shut off for months
and months rom the sound Of loved voices
and the look ofloving eyes; you must be-
come acquainted with human naturein its
most debased and brutal forms; oaths and
curses must ring in your ears. alternating
with groans. signs. and wailing of those
who have TO bear the inhumaniIy OF their
fe.loW-men. Then, and not ii then, could
you properly comprehend the change that
would come about; for the human being is
not born who could endure it and remain
the same.
In Nekrassotfs house Rachel again found
shelter and protection, and, OF course, she
learned that her father had been sent to
Siberia, and was already many months on
the journey; and, further, that the deposed
! Chief of the Police land her own and her
| fath RS enemy had been appointed to the
govern orship Of Sakhalin, whittier her
lover. Moshka had been banishcd. Then
did she determine to 60 eastward too, and
she told her friend Nekrassoif that when
she had regained her strength she would
set out for Siberia. He endeavored to dis
suade her. He told her that she would be
certain to perish on the way; but, under
any circumstances, it would be impossible
or her to undertake the Quincy alone.
So vivid y did he paint all the dangers
and privations that she would have to en-
| counter, that she wavered; but then there
came to her Ivan Alexien, who heard with
unbounded joy OF her release. and fastened
once more to renew his protestations OF
love. But she told him, as she had often
told him before, that it was all useless, for
she could not reciprocate his feelings; and
for him to dream of making her his vile
after all the suffering she and her father
had endured at his fathers hands was
sheer madness.
"Desidcs." she added II am going
| away. Where my father is, there would
be- and il my strength permits, l will fol-
low him.
This is mad project" exclaimed
Ivan i'll amazemelt. and realizing with
acute raintulness that i. she went he would
see her no more
ut may be So" she answered calmly.
v(f,f Ill Hi hOn hof how
done ere now"
But it is impossible that All unprotected
| woman could accomplish such a perilous
journey as that 10 Eastern Siberia" he
| urged, expressing his deep concern in the
| woe-bexone look of his tace and The inet-
liable sadness that displayed itself in his
| eyes.
"Then will I attempt the impossible"
| she returned.
"Oh, Rachel" he cried. with the passion
of despair, as he seized her hand, and re-
| tanned it in spite OF her efforts to free her
| ing turn you from this mad purpo,e?"
Nothing" she answered, with strong
"Then will 60, too, +" he exclaimed, for
can at least perish with YOU and since to
| live without you is impossible l will die;
for what will life be to me i'll am to see you
She looked at him fixedly ard strangely
| Tor little, and then a new idea flashed up
| on her.
This love of yours seems to be very
real thing" she observed.
Can you doubt it? Neither time nor cir
| cumstances have subdued my passion. and
TO possess you there is no sacrifice won
| not make
II will take you at your word" she
cried, quickly and excitedly. "You shall
accompany me. / will accept your escort
| and protection on condition thatyou make
| q sacrifice for me-"
What will the sacrifice be?" he asked.
Nay, that shall remain my secret. II
-four love is as real as you say it is you
| will question not"
Nor will do so. Command me as you
will"
land yet I would warn you that this
sacrifice which may expect from YOU Is
terrible one. and may turn your love for
I me to hatred"
Nothing can turn my love; nor am
| appalled, by what you say"
"But what guarantee have that you
| will remain faithful to your promise2"
Shelooked almost fierce by reason of the
earnestness that actuated her, and she was
agitated in an extraordinary way.
IL will swear it by yon ikon, he ex-
claimed, as he pointed to the sacred pic
ture which is usually to be found in the
guest chamber of every Russian house occu-
pied by Christian, together with the little
! white wooden cross that stands on pedcs.
tai liked to the wall. The cross is a symbol