The sun., 1892-12-15

V By J.E.r1veooS"'
eyes that were foreign to them, and the
lines of beauty had hardened the SOFT
rounded lips being drawn, land the white
smooth brow indented with two Deep
vertical burrows, so that she no longer had
the girlish, gentle appearance of old, but
stern, implacable cruel woman.
She was no Longer the Rachel as We first
knew her In st. Petersburg. Then life
seemed full of promise and Hope smiled.
But the promises had not been REALIZED;
Hope was dead, and her heart-in which
loves flower once bloomed-had turned to
stone. Death had no terrors for her, and
the aim and substance of her life now
were all summed up in one word-ven-
geance.
The day was done before the party
reached their destination, the main
gloomy, weird region, where
the ground is so swampy and boggy that
cultivation is impossible.
Here in this sterile spot are two huge
barracks or prisons. There are also few
wooden houses for the accommodation of
wilderness. On Sakhalin God seems to
have set His curse, but to Sakhalin the
mighty Car of Russia sends many of his
subjects with refinement of the cruelty
that might be the invention of the COM
mon enemy OF mankind. And there they
rot while yet alive there they 60 mad,
there they die there they are buried, and
in little while no man knoweth their
grave.
The next morning Rachel was brought
before the Commandant by his orders, and
once more she and Peter Alexieff were lace
to face. He had changed materially since
they last met. Climate and rough living
hn n I~~s,a 1, LII
his eyes were sunken, and the miasma OF
the swamps had withered his skin and
turned it yellow.
$50, Jewess we meet again." he said, as
he fixed his eyes upon her and evinced sur
prise as he noted the change that had taken
place in her.
1--WE do, she answered. with a suppress.
ed fierceness that increased the habitual
trown his face wore.
You have come to see your father2" he
remarked with cruel, callous smile.
II set out from st. Petersburg with that
object, AS he is dead I shall see him no
more in this world.
How know you that he is dead?" cried
Alexietf, with sharpn ess thatseem to con-
ceal menace.
Il learned it, she answered with sneer.
From whom?"
II will tell you not"
Have care, woman"
"Oh, do not threaten me. I am here in
your power. l know it, and you may tor
ture me and fay me as it so pleases you.
But, Peter Alexieff, in the name of the
Great God on high, the God of Jew and
GENTLE alike, say beware. Human life is
but span, and the Lord has said, "Ven-
geance is Nine"
She spoke so solemnly and strangely that
his cowardly. superstitious nature caused
him to shrink within himself, but raising
his voice. which was harsh and discord-
ant he exclaimed: woman, brought
you not here to handy words with you,
cursed face he has lost his reason, and he
has followed you across Siberia. You have
bewitched him. do not say that you
have done this purposely, but It is so, and
bes f bFes g9n dhe t6aH end Of
held him so long in thran will pass away
when the object that provoked it is far
away. Then will his reason return, then
will he be my son again, and will come to
hate your race as I hate them. Now mark
you this. You are prisoner here. Your
life is in my hands; but give you that life,
l give you liberty on condition that in my
presenceyou tell my son that under no cir
| cumstances will you accept his attentions
further, and that henceforth your paths
will be widely asunder. When you have
done that will give you facilities for leav-
ing this place and reaching Vladivostock
| sia and go to France or England, or any
where you like. Say; do you accept the
| condition."
II do," she answered, with disguised
| sneer.
Peter Alexieff smiled to himself as he
rang his bell, and gave the attendant who
came some instructions. And few min
utes after that Ivan was brought to his
| fathers presence, guarded by two soldiers.
| "Boy," said his father sternly, ''behold
this Jewess whom like one distraught you
have followed so many thousands Of miles,
Here now from her own lips that the pas
sion you have is hopeless one. Speak
Jewess is that SOP"
1T is"
"And nothing on earth would induce
you to accept him for your husband?"
Nothing"
You hear that boy. This Jewess de-
spises you, and yet you, Christian, have
shake off you madness and be man. Let
this infatuation influence you mo longer.
| Surely you have more ambition than to be
despised by Jewess! Go, and when you
next see me let me know that you have
come to your senses"
Ivan spake no word. made no answer,
gave no sign that he was influenced by
what he had heard. When he had retired
in company with the soldiers Peter once
more struck his bell, and told his clerk to
make out a passport for Rachel Arama
which would not only entitle her to trav-
Ell to Vladivostock, but give her the right
| when once there to ship without let or him
drance to any port she might be disposed
to 60 to.
The passport ready. he handed it to her,
saying I'm two or three days time con-
voy will be going down to the coast and
thence to the mainland. You shall go with
them. And ere you go will give you
money enough for your immediate needs" I"
Rachel took the passport, and as she fold
ed it up and placed it in the bosom of her
dress she merely remarked
For the present your greatness has done
with me7"
eyes. You may CO."
| Without another word she turned and
left the room, and then Peter ATexieff
laughed to himself as lie thought that he
had done a very clever thing.
| TO BE CONTINUED.