Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1893-03-28

ALBA.
A swirl Of snow from the mountain
side blinded the cycI Of the convicts,
and they wearily begged to I've allowed
to rest, but were told roughly to push
ON. Ragged ani worn. the poor won.
en-, who had left home and country tc
follow their exilel husbands. Rugged
puny. crying babes to their chilled bos-
oms and dragged on resolutely. A pit
iful sight. truly! Men and women, many
Of them reared In luxury. were now
forced TO march day after day In the
most inclement weather. with scant
clothing and only the poorest foods-a
black bread made from the sweepings OF
mills. Even pebbles and other refuse
formed the greater part OF the ingredi-
ents. With this bread they were al.
lowed o cupful Of water. That was all!
One Of the convicts, a lad Of II. whose
handsome face was smirched with blood
from wound on his broad forehead,
caused by blow from the fist Of one OF
the guards, leaned wearily on the "var-
max" on his left, to whom he was chained.
Tho chain depending from his right hand
and attached to his foot seemed unusu-
ally heavy. for he was weak from loss OF
blood, but kick from the guard nearest
him forced him to make u desperate eff
fort to push OH. His glossy black hair
fell In matted locks over his brow.
Doubtless his rank had induced the au.
thorities to show him some marks OF fa
vor. for he was more warmly clad than
his fellow convicts. and his head had not
been shaven. His face cleaned pale In
tho suns rays. but II aroused no pity In
the hearts of the inhunan guards.
Ivan SmOloff. tho youngest convict In
this detachment, was u descendant OF
royal family Of Poland. now under the
stern despotisn. o. Russia. He had at
tempted with small band Of followers
to defend his country against the Rus
sian forces. but the courage Of his cOun-
trymen soon weakened. md after the
burning Of Warsaw they gnye up all
hope. The emperor. fearing another out
break from this fiery young noblenlan,
ordered his arrest AMI his eSilc tn 81.
IBERIA. Hearing Of this. young Smoloff
escaped to Germany. wandering over the
continent for eight weary wecls, only to
be captured Mt last and esiled. No fare
we'll word with mother. sisters or sweet.
heart; no last look Mt his old home.
Hurried of like common criminal
for defending his country!
ii cannot go farther"
These words force themselves to his
lips, and hc sinks down. dragging his
comrade with him. The gaar'l' swear
mt him. kick him. and finally orler him
to be stripped AMI beaten. Th, women
shrek with terror AMI cover their eyes.
but the sounds Of the lash ring In their
ears. and long after tho tortured youths
lips cease to move t'lry can hear his
piteous cries. At LIS, the luivering
flesh is hastily covered With the coarse
clothing. and he IL chiincl aS lin and
told to move on.
"You have knife on your watch
chain: sever the veins IN yOar wrist and
put an end to your suf.criags.' whispers
the convict on his right.
IL cannot" he answers fcebly. 81
cannot take my own life."
Better to be dead than sSii.r this liv-
ing death! Give me tls knife: will soon
put an end 10 my misery"
Smoloff detaches tho tiny knife ana
gives II to the half madlened creature.
who surreptitiously sewers an artery In
his wrist and bravely bears np until
forced TO fall from exhaustion. The Or
der liz given To fire. and all IL over. An.
other convict In chained to S,no!0f. and
they move on.
Ivan Smoloif envie.l the dead "yarnak
and silently prayed for death. 1t was
well nigh impossible TO add III 1t lie
thy will" There was no escape but by
death. He had thought Of many ways.
Even II he could elude the vigilance OF
the guards he dared not hope Ia get out
Of the country. for the natives were paid
. rubles head for every 'varnak. =.
At Tiumen the convicts werc crowded
Into q barge and carried across the Obj.
Az they nearet. Tomolsk. Smoloif was
suffering excruciating pain. and In q
frenxied moment twisted the chain which
bound him to the next "varnak and
ran q few PAGES. The cold air blew his
hair from his forehead and ssnt tho
Young blood coursing through bis body.
Hs was free. II only for one n'otnent!
Running with all tho strength hs could
command, he strained his Ear to catch
the order to FIRE.
zone, two, thres-frer' Six shots rang
out ON the wintry air. Then thres inorv
were dispatched ct the prostitute body.
One guard went up and kicked the stif
fening form outlined ON the snow.
Fright sbouti Marchr And tscy wsrs
gone.
By one and blinked at the prostrate he
ure lying 70 still and cold. with the LIE
blood crimsoning the snow. and ther
beckoned tho moon TO SEQ the p'ifu
sight.
Alba senref. princess Of Ansk. va
considered proud and cold by Stranger.
but they little knew the Tenderness o.
the young princess heart. Pledged fem
childhood 10 Ivan AnoloR. only son Of
the royal house Of Poland, abe had Law
ished all her young love on her futur.
lord. When the news Of his banishmen'
reached her. she did not faint q hi,
mother did. They were at brilliant
ball. The order was immediately given
| to drive home. Then with pale hps and
white, drawn face Alba sat down beside
her Ore and tried 10 devise some meanI
II escape for her lover.
All night long she paced her room
! thinking thinking. thiadrs' snAmnc