Rural Retreat times. [volume] (Rural Retreat, Va.) 1892-1918, 1893-04-14
"Did you ever see any of the political

tueTS euey ~ w eii0 AAehS -h3th'e OlS-
trict."
CHOW long were you there2" She
searched his face with her restless eyes
to see if she could read there any sign Of
his having seen her lover.
s'Five years. He wondered that she
expressed no sorrow. It was long
time to spend IN that Collaboration
country. But she was saying to her
self: 81 might have known he had never
seen Ivan" Still, something prompted
her to tell him. Her heart was acning
for some one to advise her. Merely
telling our troubles sometimes lightens
them.
~ had lover who was exiled. So
handsome and brave. But he was shot
near Tobolsk."
tNear Tobolsk2 How long agos"
sSlx days"
"Was he dark, with eyes like Tar
tar?''
'sYes. His eyes were like midnight
skies, with twinkling stars shining
through" She seems paralyzed from
cold and fatigue, and wonders vaguely
how he knows that Ivans's eyes were
dark. Is he sane2 WHAT does he meant
He is saying taat he has seen Ivan! 1t
was only three days agol Mother of God,
is it true2 No, she must be dreamings
"Your lover is living" he repeats. 81
saw HIM at Berezov three days ago, He
was trying to reaca the coast, expecting
to take steamer for America.
1t is long before ne can make her un-
derstand, but he tells her again and
again. She starts hastily to her feet.
~ will go to him." she whispers. and
although he insists that she must wait
until morning, she shakes her head He
gives her some advice as to the route,
and goes many versts with her, in spite
of his feebeness. He can scarcely KEEP
up with her. She seems to have acquired
new energy. and almost runs. At day
break they find boatman, who rows her
some distance, the old man leaving her
at the river bank. tt4od speed youl'
he said, but she thinks only of reaching
ivan, and scarcely LOOKS at the pathetic
figure waving his tattere1 nat at Der IRON
the Store. Her haaas were clasped in
DER lap. Something like smile hoy
cred round her mouth. Once waen they
were very near the shore, some women
came down to the waters edge. with
some red-eyed children. They peered at
her curiously, and one OF them
tossed piece of bread to her;
they thought she was a beggar, ner
clothes were so ragged, and her golden
hair was so ronga.
She dares not inquire for lvaa at Bere-
GOV, but silently searches for min sac
feels satisfied at last that be has left tas
village, and finding a boasman to take
ner to Obiorsk, gives hin more gold
than he has seen for many a day. How
her head throbs, and the trees seem to
be dancing before her eyes. Strange to
say, they are very kind to her at the
quiet Obdorsk 1nn-sne seeks the m ,st
uupretentlous one. They nurse her with
rough tenderness for days. She talks
necessarily of Iyau, but her language IS
strange to them, and they do not under
stand. In her delirium she rises fro "a
her bed and wanders along the coast,
calling leebly for ivan, sinking down ia
the sand at last fro weakness. Wnea
she awakens, she hnds lvan's arn'
around her.
ssAlba, what are You doing heres'
She tells him how she has searcaei
for him.
"And you did this for me! NY dar-
ling! How can love you enoagal OF
there with the convIcts thought OF
you many times, and longed for one love-
look from your blue eyes, but never
expected to see then again. And lying
In the snow, when they left me for dead,
l, too, thought for time that death was
very near, and should never again feel
your kiss on my lips.