The Dickinson press., 1892-01-09

THE COMPACT.
AS Rachel set her foot upon the dread
island of Sakhalin she felt that at last two
things were about to come to pass, two
things for which she had suffered so much
and travelled so far. She would see her
1ather; she would accomplish her purpose;
and now it may be stated what that pur-
man who had wrought such misery and
ruin in her tamily-thc hateful and hated
Peter Alexic1f
Such man. so she thought, was but an
outrage on Nature, ali eXcrcsccnce on the
earth, and she had resolved that lie should
die. The mode OF accomp ishing his death
she had not yet thought OF; what she did
some means and some opportunilv would
present themselves. And though ke was
now on the island by the Govrrn6r's ex.
press command and as his prisoner, she
was not downcast, not disheartencd. The
end as it seemed to her. was in view, and
the end would crown her work
AS the cNiles landed on the dcsolate,
barren shore, they could scarcely reprcss a
shudder. Great masses OF ice We're still
piled up there. and the whole island
seemed wrapped in dripping mist.
A strong convoy waited on shore to
escort the prisoners to their destination,
and as soon rs all were landed, the march
miles away towards the east. The route
was through narrow, dreary valley, the
bottom OF which was marsh, and made
travelling exceedingly. disagreeabe and
difficult. There was no road only track
and c"nvlcts. AnNlii!ns mo 'rcncl .naholy,
more desolatc and sad'irnin, than the
whole valley presented it would be no
easy matter to imagine, and the clahking
chains OF the poor convict> seemed suited
t.,t) N,,lti \, ~, iIp
the vegetation consisted OF n course marsh
grass and bog cotton. Nowhere was there
II sign Of human habita;iou, and the slopes
oil the mountains ,hnt hcnmcd i'll the
valley were mere stony wastes.
Through this awful region, where the
air was bitterly cold. and the wind some
times moan'd like Il thing i'll PA II, and
anon screeched as il in irrc, delight that
more victims had come to that living grave.
the people toiled onwurds for hours, Until
the day began to close. Then they reached
IL large wooden barrack erected at the edge
of II swamp, and which was used as q
temporary shelter for convict parties
marching TO the set lemcnt.
AT this place they halted for the night.
everything that might have c"nduced to
even the most barren of comforts: FOR
beds there were only bare grea-y plank !.
Such ventilation as there was came through
the cracks and crannes o the hall rotten
boards; but from time to time many OF
these crannies had been stopped with moss
i'll order to keep out the dFausht, with the
inevitable result causing the ins de air
to become pc>tiierous and ietid when Il party
OF convicts had been congrcgatcd there Tor
a short time.
In short, the accommodation afforded for
the wretched beings WHO were at once the
objects OF The Russian Governments hate
and revenge was such That Ill uny
civilized country man would have hesi-
tated to put his dogs in such y ace:
AS soon as the muster-rolld had been
called the convicts were inlnrme that they
could do as they liked until reveille in the
morning, when the march would be re-
sumed.
Rachel was the only woman in the gang,
and it can we'll be imagined how her whole
being revoted againt the misery she was
called upon to endure; and feeling faint
and sick sha went forth into ille open air,
nnd in few minutes soldier ot the guard
came up and spoke to her. Women were
not often seen on lhe island, and that
fact made her conspicuous, and then her
hcallty had attracted him.
"linw comes it, woman, that you arc
here?' lie asked. not unkindly.
~ am Il prisoner" she answered.
"That know, hut wlereioreare you so?
"ll is due TO the caprice OF your master,
the Governor"
"Ah! he has many caprices; but why
country"
81 have not been sent. l came voluntar-
"You speak riddle Youarea a prisoner,
and yet you came voluntarily. How recon
cile you the two things?"
81 iourneyed across Siberia to see my
father"
.N,,,r C,+l, ,rD,,
Yes. lie is exiled to this place. But
when arrived at Nikoacvsk / was made
prisoner by order OF the Governor"
.'rhat is strange" NUT cred the soldier.
"Why strange? Would anything be
strange that Peter Arxietf did?' The
soldier in answer 10 this simply shrugged
his shoulders, either as a sign of indiiler-
Governor. "kmow you the Governor
well?" asked Rachel.
mo. have been here out four months
was sent from Tobolsk. DO you kno"
him well?"
Would to the God of Abraham did
not"
you arc Jewess?' asked the man.
81 am"
"Yes."
What is his name?"
"Aaron Arama.
For moment or two the soldier ookcd
at her pityingly and sadly and then he re-
| marked;-
'Know you not that Aaron Arama il
dead?"
'.Dead.' echoed Rachel, in strong hol
| low tonc as ii size were u mechanical figure
rather than livin,, breathing woman
and. reeling little, she supported her
self against the wooden wall o: the bar
rack.
"Yes, said the man sympa;hetically
and falling to recognize altogether how
terrible was the shock lie had impaired Il
his listener, whose eyes were fearless, AM
almost stony, her breath labored and ster
torouS and lier whole manner that OF on
who was partially stunned. But suddenl.
she seemed to recover herself, and layin
her hand on the soldiers arm she eXclaim
ed, Did Won say lie was dead?"
II dii,' returned the man.
''When dicl hc!!"
"Well, it must have been about thre
months before came'
You did not know him, then?"
NO but his death was much talke
| Tor it WAS sail that he was iiogIed to deaf
by the Governor
Raclc! groancd Then setting her liz
firmly She drew Il long breath through til
nos,rils Il ter the manner o! one who's
passion and bitterness could find 10 ou'i'
in words but. alter a little while, tlIc>o II
!. wolnanly nature asserted ii e, nd sta;
O geriny to wooden bc,.ch near the doc
y size ell upon it, and .obbed with passion
ate sobbing.
The soldier spoke some kindly word
but they were unheeded, and lie went il
q way.