Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1893-12-12

him some shirts, replied the old peasant,
nervously twitching her long, loose lips.
An, All, Martha, this is sad business. He
did SO want to see you"
Peters sister turned away without
delgning to make any answer.
Meantime Anissia's grief had spent its
force and she went about the house like
person walking in her sleep, with
wide-opened eyes, but apparently seeing
nothing. Nikita did not make his ap-
pearance until the candles had been
lighted and the crucifix laid within
Peters long, knuckly fingers
1t seemed like death himself playing a
fantastic trick. so skeleton-like lay
farmer Peter there in the great wide
room. Not until Nikita was stupefied
| with LIQUOR did he dare look upon his
dead patrons face, and even then he
turned away with blanched cheeks like
child frightened in the dark
Peters widow was still fresh and
comely woman, and the villagers were
inclined to think it quite natural that
the handsome Nikita should want to
marry her. even though she was nearly
ten years older. Everyone knew that
Peter must have left a goodly roll of
bank notes. and money would buy so
many things which handsome fellow
like Nikita would naturally like to have.
Hence, the moment the priest would
consent to perform the ceremony Nikita
and Anissia were made man and wife.
For a month or so things went well
enough. but as long as Nikita held the
money lAnissia felt that she was her
young husbands slave and not the mis-
tress OF her first husbands house. She
resolved to demand the return of the
money. 1t was fatty and brutally re-
fused. and for the first time the wretch
ed woman began to realize that she stood
upon the broad and easy road that leads
to destruction.
Nikita was like beggar set on horse
back. He went from bad to worse, pass
ing his time riding about the country and
guzzling brandy at the taverns.
The peasants smiled and shrugged
their shoulders.
swell. when one has plenty Of money
why not have a good time?"
AYE, true, but Anissia?" cried one of
them.
"Was she good wife to Peter Ignat-
jevitch?" .chimed in q third.
And silence came upon the group of
chatterers.
One night while Anissia, shabby clad.
sat at her loom weaving, to make the
silence seem less apprehensive-fo
Nikita had not yet come in. although
the hour was late-there was a low tap
at the door.
1t was one of the neighbors
"All alone?" said the woman. "Where's
Akoolina?"
81 know" spoke up Aniutka; "father
took her along with him. He's going to
har vi
ing. mother, with my own eyes"
"Well, WELL" came from the woman.
Sand you suffer this, Anissia?"
"Ive no right to ask the Lord to be
merclful to me-" murmured Anissia.
"Nikita was good to me for while But
now all is changed. When he is in liquor
he flies at me in such a rage that fear
he Will trample me under his feet. Even
when he seized me by the hair it seemed
to me that he had the right to do SO.
God knows what. people deserve, and
now comes that serpent, Peters daugh-
ter, to sting me-"
"Fool that you are, Anssia" exc aim
ed the woman, "why don't you face the
wretch, beggar that he was before YOU
married him! Haven't you any cour
age?"
"Yes, yes" groaned Anissia, "plenty
OF it until l set eyes upon him, then it
fails me. Peter was strict with me, but
he never beat me. l could lead him my
way. And to think that impudent hussy
Akoolina should presume to put on airs
and graces in my presencc!"
at all comes from. having to do with
that old witch Matriona," whispered the
woman, crossing herself. "She's at the
bottom Of it, She it is who keeps YOU
from facing her drunken son But why
don't you marry off Peters daughter and
get her.out of the way?"
"Easier said than done," replied Anis-
STA, ais she comely? Has she any sense?
You know"
Goods blessing on this house." ex-
claimed loud voice. "Wheres my
son?"
1t was the pious old Akin.
81 know where he is, grandfather"
cried little Aniutka, starting up: she's
at the tavern and Akoolina is with him,
and father is tipsy-so tipsy that she
helped him to walk"
Upon hearing this Akin burst out
angrfly:
"Ah, the dread thing. the vile thing
the wine red in the cup-the snake that
bites and leaves his venom in mans
brain. Oh, the vine, the vinc-why did
the good God send us the vine: He
knows: God makes no mistakes, but we
what poor weak wretches-we reach
out Tor the bad. the vile, the poisonous:
we know it will. put us down on all
tours, but what do we care? 1t CHEERS
it makes us forget our troubles and our
sins too; ah, yes, our sins-that's it
our sins-but when the stupor is off the
sins are still there, bigger than ever!
All, the vine, the vine!"
"Here they come. Here they come,
mother" cried Aniutka,
"Who comes?" asked Akin, sternly.
"Father and Akoolna, grandfather"
replied the child. dancing about: snow we
shall see what he has bought her with
mothers money. Maybe he has bought