The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-03-25
ALBA.

| A swirl of snow from the mountain
side blinded the eyes of the convicts,
and they YEARLY begged to be allowed
to rest, but were told roughly to push
on. Ragged and worn, the poor wom-
en-, who had left home and country to
follow their exiled husbands, Rugged
puny, crying babes to their chilled bos-
oms and dragged on resolutely. A pit
iful sight, tru1yl 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 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 YEARLY on the ''var-
max" on his left, to whom he was chained.
The chain depending from his right hand
and attached to his foot seemed unusu-
ally heavy, for he was weak from loss of
blood, but a kick from the guard nearest
him forced him to make desperate eff
fort to push on. 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 IA
vor, for he was more warmly clad than
his fellow conyicts, and his head hadnot
been shaven. His face CLEANED pale in
the suns rays, br it aroused no pity IN
the hearts of the il imam guards.
Ivan Smoloff, the youngest convict in
this detachment, was descendant OF a
royal family of Poland, now under the
stern despotism of Russia. He had at
tempted with a small band of followers
to defend his country against the Rus.
sian forces, but the courage of his coun-
trymen soon weakened, and after the
burning of Warsaw they gave up all
hope. The emperor, fearing another out
break from this fiery young nobleman,
ordered his arrest and his exile to ST.
IBERIA. Hearing of this, young Smolof
escaped to Germany, wandering over the
continent for eight weary weeks, only ITO
be captured at last and exiled. No fare
well word with mother, sisters or sweet
heart; no last look at his old home.
Hurried off like a common criminal
for defending his country!
81 cannot go farther"
These words force themselves to his
lips, and he sinks down, dragging his
comrade with him. The guards swear
at him, kick him, and finally order him
to be stripped and beaten. The women
shrek with terror and cover their eyes,
but the sounds Of the lash ring in their
ears, and long after the tortured youths
lips cease to move they can hear his
piteous cries. At last the quivering
flesh is hastily covered with the coarse
clothing, and he is chained again and
told to move on.
sYou have knife on your watch
chain; sever the veins in your wrist and
put an end to your sufferings," whispers
the convict on his right.
ST cannot" he answers feebly. 81
cannot take my own life"
"Better to be dead than suffer this liv-
ing death! Give me the knife; | will soon
put an end to my misery"
Smoloff detaches the tiny knife and
gives it to the half maddened creature,
who surreptitiously sewers an artery in
his wrist and bravely bears up until
forced to fall from exhaustion. The Or
der is given to fire, and all is over. An
other convict is chained to Smoloff, and
they move on.
Ivan Smoloff envied the dead ''varnak'
and silently prayed for death. 1t was
well nigh impossible to add eff it be
thy will" There was no escape but by
death. He had thought of many ways.
Even if he could elude the vigilance OF
the guards he dared not hope to get out
of the country, for the natives were pald
rubles head for every 1'varnak."
AT Tiumen the convicts were crowded
into barge and carried across the OBJ
AS they neared Tomolsk, S1noloH wa
suffering excruciating pain, and IN =
frenzied moment twisted the chain which
bound him to the next ''varnak' ano
ran few PAGES. The cold air blew his
hair from his forehead and sent the
Young blood coursing through his body
He was free, if only for one moment
Running with all the strength he coulo
command, he strained his ear to catcE
the order to fire.
"One, two, three-frew Six shots rams
out on the wintry air. Then three more
we're dispatched at the PROSTATE body
One guard went up and kicked the stiff
fleming form outlined on the snow
Fright about! March, And they were
gone.