Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1893-11-10

cultural voice CIrSInE rs he stumbled.
As SOMA, dared Slipped from my hid
ing place and ran up the stair, like a cat
When ! reached the top, saw their figures
standing NJ sharp and black against the
light farther up the allcy-Tar;ls, square
and erect Drigo, with his head buried in
his shoulders. They stopped at the side
door of the Joy and raped lightly The
light from within fell upon Taras' fair
beard rs the door opened. A few words
were interchanged i'll a low tone, the door
closed, and the two men went on, turning
the corner under the gas lamp into Sweet
Apple lane | did not attempt to follow
them, dreading TO pass the door where
( Putty ru.-ht still be standing, but stood
there with Il feeling like the craving for
food in my breast until the impulse to
ovcrtake Taras and speak to him, even
though Driyo We're still with him, over
came my fear. Then l ran swiftly up the
alley and along the lane, straining my eyes
with mad desire To see him again.
They were gone; the lane was empty.
When reached High street and stopped
there, painting for breath, not soul was to
be seen To the right or left; not a sound
broke the dead silence. ] gave up the pur-
suit in despair and returned slowly in de-
| lection. The light was out In the Joy
| when l passed. / crept into the cellar, felt
my way through the sturcrooms to my cor
ner i'll the loft and lay down to sleep, COM
forting myself with the reflection that
should certainly see Taras again the next
! night.
| When looked out in the morning, l saw
Drigo and Putty on the balcony, giving di-
rections to carpenter who was patching
up the window shutters. When that Job
was done, the man put some screws In the
bolt Of the passage door, Drigo and Putty
looking ON all the while. Taras was not
with them, nor did see anything of him
all day, though only left the spot once to
buy some food with the money had earned
the day before, creeping under the stairs
and behind the barge and SO round by
Johnson's yard into Sweet Apple lane that
might not be seen from the Joy. When
the carpenter had done his work, they all
went In by the passage. boiling the door
after, and ! saw no more of them.
AS soon as 1t was dark went to my hid
ing place under the stairs but was less
patient than had been the night before,
and could not control my agitation as the
time drew near for Taras to come again.
My teeth chartered, my body and limbs
trembled and shook with feverish excite
ment. yet knew not why. AS the clock
struck the police boat passed by. About
five minutes later another boat came out
Of the murky distance and&drew toward
the stairs. As 1t pulled into the stairs l
counted five men packed In the stern, and
KNEW by the number that Taras had found
his friends. My heart sank In bitter disap-
pointment, for had made up my mind to
speak to him il he came alone with Drigo.
Now, there was no pretext for speaking to
him-he was not in danger. With his
three friends he was more than a match
for Drigo and Putty, supposing they had
evil intentions toward him.
They landed, and having discharged the
waterman CROPPED their way up the dark
stairs to the landing above, where they
stopped, talking together in low voice
and in their own tongue. Eventually Drigo
left them and went up to the Joy to see
that the road was clear. Meanwhile, made
reckless by my unsatisfied yearnir.ys, had
left my place, and following them noise
lessly up the steps stood now almost with
In arms reach of Taras. l distinguished
the profile of his face quite clearly against
the faint light beyond as he turned to speak
u few cheering words to one Of his friends
the bold, handsome outline of his aquiline
nose, the curve of his mustache and his
short. pointed beard. Almost fancied
could see in his face the expression of hap
piness in having rescued his friends. Twas
envious Of that kindly regard bestowed up
on another, and drawing a step nearer, by
an instructive impulse, raised my hand and
laid it timidly on his arm. The act was not
Intentional Icould not help doingit.
The movement was seen by his compan-
ion. who started with stifled cry of alarm.
Taras, seeing me, spoke few low words Of
remonstrance to his friend that seemed to
say: What are you afraid OFF It's only q
poor, miserable wait" Then, recognizing
me at a second glance. he exclaimed softly
in English:
| "Ah, it isyour'
Eyes. me-the kipper." I tried to say, but
my voice was thick with feverish agitation
and my words unintelligible.
You have come to tell us that it is all
right" he said. adding. after he had given
this explanation to his friends. Its very
good of you," and he nodded at me again
with that kind smile that had wrought
such a mysterious effect upon my nature.
Just then Drigo whistled softly from the
side door of the Joy, and Taras hurried his
friends forward. leaving me there with
more happiness in my heart than had felt
in the whole of my life.
Iwaited on the landing until they had
all filed into the Joy. Then l slipped
past the closed door and ran across to the
l'archway in Sweet Apple lane opposite
the house. knew that there was no &C.
commodation for the party In the Joy,
and that as soon as the escaped men had
changed their clothes they would come
away. As there was no other way but
through Sweet Apple lane they must pass
me, and should see Taras once more.
/ had stood there not many minutes
when heard a glass crash in the Joy.
and the next moment there Was deep
thud as II some one had thrown himself
against the door; then there followed a
stided cry, the shutting of feet and the
sound Of heavy blows. These sounds left
me in no doubt as to what was going on in
the bar of the Joy. In Shadwell one
hears the noise Of fighting every night.
But I could hardly believe that Drigo and
Putty were the attacking party. The lat
ter / knew to be q coward and feeble as
we'll. being sodden with drink. Tsras,
felt sure, could defend himself against half
. dozen such men as he, and timid as his
friends might be 1t was not likely that
they would stand aside and make no
effort to aid him. ! had no fear for him.
but rather q savage exultation in the be-
lief that he would thrash his enemies and
punish them according to their deserts. 1t
occurred to me that he had discovered
Drigo's treachery and was now giving him
. lesson not to be forgotten. and with a
burning desire to hear him bowling for
mercy l ran across the road and put my
| ear tn thu dO0p