The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1892-12-08

ana at TINS stern command TWO SOluleTS
hurried forward, and, without the slightest
ceremony or compunction, they seized her,
dragged her up, and with brutal rough
ness thrust her back amongst the women.
For q moment Paul looked like a wild,
fierce animal driven to bay and about to fly
at the hunters. But his eye caught Cathe-
rine's eyes, and there was something in her
expression that restrained him. If the otti-
Ger of the convoy, however, had rot been
obtuse. he must have recognized that she
was a potent factor that would have 10 be
rcckoned with, for the convulsive working
of her hands, her closely-set teeth, and the
fearless, flashing eyes spoke too surely OF
ferceness that sooner or later would burst
out end commit havoc. And presently
she whispered savagely to Rachel
God forget me if | forget this wrong"
And now, all being ready, every
the telagas filed with their load
OF suffering humanity, and the soldiers
drawn up in marching order, the officer
called out hoarsely to the eonvicts:-
"Stroisa" Qorm up.) Ready; march. "
Then the chained convicts moved in
close column, fanked on either side by the
soldiers The women who were able to
walk followed; then came the telagas, and
bringing up the rear were more soldiers.
Paul Petrovna did not ride, nor did his,
Catherine. But occasionally as they halted
on the road for rest they were enabled to
exchange few words, and Catherine babe
him be of good cheer, for an artela would
Gan artel is q secret union, formed with
the vowed object OF carrying out some act
of vengeance. 1t will be explained more
FULLY later on) be formed, and then the
hour of vengeance would strike. Paul
smiled grizzly at thisand he muttered i'll
response
Yes; there shall! be day of reckoning"
sOfcourse Ivan AleXieff accompanied the
party; and as he was under no restrictions
save such as applied to every individual
who formed one of marching party, he
found ample opportunity to converse with
Rachel and he renewed his protestations OF
love. She no longer checked him, no
longer told him there could be no reci-
procity. She knew how useless it was to
do so. He would not be influenced by
anything she said. One day, when he had
tried in vain to draw from her some ex-
preston that he might construe in his
favor, he exclaimed:
"Ah, how cruel you are! What sacri-
fees would l not make for you, and yet
you give me no sign that l may hope"
As she turned and looked at him she laid
her hand upon his arm and said. E.
all that I have suffered has made
me so. You say you would make
any sacrifice for me. Do you remember
your oath in st. Petersburg?"
IL do"
you promisedt to make sacrifice should
demand"
II did"
She turned away from him for a few mo-
ments as if some passing emotion had over
come her. And when she looked at him
again her eyes were moist, and, in solemn
tone, she said this to him
Ivan Alexieff, we are approaching the
Of nd fryin
about to enter upon another act Of the stir
| ring drama in which we have taken part
| Before it is too late, would beseech yor
| to accompany me no farther. l cannot bt
| Indifferent to your feelings, insensible tC
| your future happiness; therefore it is that
ask you now, plead to you, to leave me
| lest the sacrifice l may demand of yor
brings curse upon both of u.s. Therefore
instead of sailing with us down the Amool
| to Nikolaevsk, strike south, and in few
| days you can reach Vladivostock, auc
thence proceed to any part you like"
II should, indeed, be poor
fool" he, exclaimed, IF after all
have gone through and endured on you
| account, turned craven now at the las
| hour and deserted you. No, Rachel, gt
| on even though death, with uplifted spear
| stands in my pathway. know not, car
not, what the end is so long as l am will
| you. Perhaps this is madness; but if it il
| prefer to remain mad rather than be
| come sane again.
ut must be so; it must be so then,p sh,
| murmured rather to herself than as if ad
dressing him, and signing deeply. Their
she added, ut is fate, and late is not on
| own making"
! And now after another days march The
last stage ofthe weary journey was enter
ed upon. The party reached a place or
the Amoor River called Kasakevich
where they embarked on board the convic
barge that was to convey them to their des
tination. And two days later, when thu
east was grey and gloomy and the west wa
sank, the barge anchored at the lonely sta
ton of Niko1aevsk, at the mouth ofth
| Amoor, and across the narrow Gulf O
| Tartary the dreary and dcsolate Island o
sakhalin doomed grimly in the fading
| light