The Dickinson press., 1892-09-10
CHAPTER Nv.

CHAPTER Nv.
THE sENrENcE-sAKHALINl
An arrest such as that described was to
much OF an everyday event in st. Peter:
burg to cause more than mere passin
surprise to those who had no direct Intel
est in the prisoners. For some time tn
dir had been full o rumors of lots againt
the Gear, and whenever that was the cas-
suspicion like an epidemic, seized upon til
official mind, and no man could be sur
that his liberty was safe for twenty-iou
hours. All the Moshka party who ha
been arrested were Jews, and when tn
news spread through the city q feeling c
Christians. who said-unjustly, of course
cit is owing to these accursed Jews tina
we are brought under suspicion. They ar
the disturbing clements in our Holy Rus
STA, and they, should be driven forth an
exterminated."
Such expressions as these served to shoy
the bent of mems minds. All sense y
hatred which is so powerful Throughout
the Cars domains. No one who was not
Jew laused to ask himself whethe
there was II ground for the suspicion
harbored against the unfortunate prison
ers. To be a Jew was in itsel q crime, ao
cording to the doctrine of the Russian
Christians.
When the news reached the village 9
Tsarskoe sslo Rachel threw up her hand:
to the floor. Aaron at once decided to re
turn with his family to st. Petersburg, and
use every influence he could brlna to beal
in order to effect the release of Moshka
When he sought for information, he found
that the charge formulated against the
prisoners was that of Conspiracy against
the peace and happiness ofthe Gar and
his realm" and it was stated that
in the houses ofsume ofthe party revolu.
%tionary documents had been found.
Arama knew that, it this were true,
Moshka, though as innocent as a new
born babe, would suffer from the mere
spirators. however unconscious he might
have been of their doings. Nevertheless,
Arama put forth every effort, but his hopes
tank and his heart grew cold as it was i'm
pressed upon hint that Peter Alexieff-"the
Jew hater, as he was called was gloating
over 1.-The haul he had made"
There was mourning and wailing in the
house of Arama during the dread weeks OF
that followed the arrest. Rachel
lover was out OF the question, and it was
Impossible even to ascertain where he was
lncarcerated. AS in the days of the old
Bastille in France, when a person was ar
lie suddenly disappeared from the
world, perhaps never to be heard of again.
30 in Russia at the present day
A suspected person disappears; if there
is strong proof against him, he will in due
suited or banished to Siberia; but in the
absence o fsuch proof he will still be de-
Gained until hope deferred has crushed his
spirit, and his chains have eaten into his
flesh and cnnkered his bones.
AS the time wore OF Aaron lost hope,
although he did not tell his daughter so.
But such information as came to him LETT
no doubt i'll his mind that Moshka would
be banished, however guiltless he might
q semblance Of a public trial, for the Gov
eminent did not want it to be said that
they had dealt with their Jewish prisoners
in q secret Manner. And when the morn
ing of the trial came he said to Rachel:
"Daughter, arise and come with me.
And let your tongue be as silent as a rock
though your heart bursts with speech. On
the carrying out ofthis injunction much
depends"
Then Rachel arose and went to her
father. The beauty of her face was
with ineffable sadness. and
her eyes were red with the tears that
for many days had flowed there. He
clothed her in a cloak that concealed her
dark tresses and her face SO that no mar
could look upon her, and taking her hand,
he led her forth TO the court where the
trial OF her lover was to take place. Pres
emily she saw him brought in and ranged
gard. and there were chains upon his hands
andhis feet. She could have cried out with
a great cry of passionate sorrow, for her
heart was truly bursting with emotion, but
her tongue remained dumb ever as her
father commanded that it should be.
The indictment was a long one. It
harged the pr isoner with having consort :
ed with other wicked and malignant per-
sons with a view to %"intiict bodily harm
endanger the peace ofthe Cars realm.
When the reading of this document was
ended, Moshka was asked how he pleaded;
and i'll a voice that was weakened by the
suffering he had endured, and yet withal
clearly and distinctly, he said
Il plead utterly .guiltless; and in the
name OF the God Of Isaac, and the God Of
Jacob, l vow that ! haye ever been a loyal.
loving, and dutiiul subject ofthe all-wise
and intelligent greatness, the Car ofthis
mighty realm"
cutor as impious, and he demanded that
the trial should proceed. Then came an
army OF witnesses, who swore by their con-
science and their faith that they knew the
prisoner for a dangerous conspirator. and
that he and his people were leagued to.
the Little Father. the Gar.
When this perjury was uttered a murmul
of anger and indignation ran through the
crowded court and some of the spectators
cried OUT
Down with the Jews!"
Rachel, still entirely concealed by hel
cloak, moved uneasily in her seat, and Q
sob had we'll nigh burst rom her lips. But
Aaron sat m%otionless as If he had been
made of marble, though his fine eyes and
noble face bor re testimony 10 the storm o.
indignation that was working within him.
And SO the trial proceeded until it was
past high noon. and ever and anon the
spectators muttered threats against the
Hebrew population, and cried out, Down
with the accused Jews!" and no one con.
nected with the our made any attempt te
feeling.
Still hidden in her cloak, Rachel sal
dumb, though her heart shivered with it
passion of sorrow, and her eyes were hard
ly ever removed from the sad, pale facl
of her husband elect. And she saw hin
look round often, Us though he sough
someone who would bid him hope. anl
she yearned to cry out to him.
"Moshka, my beloved be of good cheer
for God is good, and mans wickednes
endureth not for ever"
But her father had babe her to be dumb
and she spoke not; for she was q Jewish
maiden, and her tatiier's commands wert
law.
AT last came the point in the trial wheI
the presiding judge was to deliver sentence
Then up rose Aaron Arama, looking like
patriarchal prophet, as his white beard flow
ed over his breast and his long white lock
fell upon his shoulders, and raising hi
thin white hand as if to claim attention
and command silence, he exclaimed in
voice that sounded rich and mellow as
flute
"Oh, wise judge. hear me. 1 AM .Aaro,
Arama an humble and loyal citizen of tn,
all powerful Car. And I would SPEAK il
iavor of the prisoner, even as the law Q
this land permits"
I'VE knowyouA Aaron Arama," said tn
Judge. "and we wi hear you. Say on
For the law is just and the Car mighty.
THUS, then, do l say" continued Ar
ANA; these who have testified against tn,
prisoner have borne false witness"
shame on you, Jew; down with tn
jews," shouted the mob, as these word
were uttered. But Aaron hinched moi