Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1893-05-26

her to tell him. Her heart was aching
for some one to advise her. Merely
telling our troubles sometimes Lighters
them.
az had n lover who was exiled. So
handsome and brave. But he was shot
near Tobolsk."
''Near Tobolsk2 How long ago2'
"SIx days"
"Was he dark, with eyes like a Tar
tar2'
eyes. His eyes were like midnight
skies, with twinkling stars shining
through" She seems paralyzcd from
cold and fatigue, and wonders vaguely
how he knows that Ivans's eyes were
dark. Is he sane2 What does he mean9
He is saying that he has seen Ivan 1t
was only three days agol Mother of God,
is it true? No. che must be dreaming |
"Your lover is living" he repeats. al
saw HIM at Berezov three days ago. He
was trying to reach the coast, expecting
to take n steamer for America"
1t is long before he 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 fcebleness. 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. "God speed you'll"
he said, but she thinks only of reaching
Ivan, and scarcely looks ut the pathetic
figure waving his tattered hat at her from
the shore. Her hands were casped in
her lap. Something like a smile how
cred round her mouth. Once when they
were very near the shore, some women
came down to the waters edge, with
some rcd-eyed children. They pccred at
her curiously, and one OF them
tossed piece of bread to her;
they thought she was u beggar, her
clothes were so ragged, and her golden
hair was so rough.
She dares not inquire for Ivan at Bere.
GOV, but silently searches for him. She
feels satisfied at last that he has left the
village, and finding boatman to take
her to Obdorsk, gives him more gold
than he has seen for many 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 Obdorsll lnn-she seeks the most
uupretentious one. They nurse her with
rough tenderness for days. She talks
necessarily of Ivan, but her language is
strange to them, and they do not under
stand. In her delirium she rises FROM
her bed and wanders along the coast,
calling fcebly for Ivan, sinking down in
the sand at last from weakness. When
she awakens, she finds Ivan's arms
around her.
"Alba, what are you doing herc?"
She tells him how she has searched
for him.
"And you did this for mel My dar-
lmgl How can love you enough! Of
there with the convicts l thought of
you many times, and longed for one love-
look from your blue eyes, but l never
expected 10 see them 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"
Then he told her how after the train
had left him he had revived, rs it would
seem by miracle, and had dragged
himself to hut, where he was nursed
until he was able to keep on. Even now
his wounds were not entirely healed.
Tho ships passing looked like great
white birds in the distance. One stopped
1t was only a freight ship going to
Alaska, but they kindly allowed the fugi-
tives TO board her, and as they steamed
away from the country that they feared
and hated, they felt load lifted from
their weary, burdened hearts.
1t was not until long afterward, in
their peaceful American home, that Alba
heard the full story of VANS terrible
sufferings in reaching Obdorsk. RIO.
nance.