The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-11-25

lass OF Is years stepped from one OF tn
houses, clad in . red ''sarafan"s an
. white waist. the sleeves pulled ant
drawn together over the elbow. and tn
neck encircled BY . string Of briRh
blue glass beads. Her head was GOV
cred BY Q red handkerchief tied at thu
back in a knot, leaving the well formed
ears free, and letting long braid o
dark brown hair hang down her tack-
| hair that was kept in ite perfect smooth
ness and bright lustsr by the free sppli-
cation OF fresh. unsalted butter.
Her broad shoulders carried wooden
yoke, from which on each side hung ar
empty bucket, and. deep 10 thought
Anita Beresin walked to the village
well, not noticing her only girl friend,
Luba Dushkin. who also approached the
same place for the same purpose.
"Anita !" called Lubs. What 10 the
matter can't you see your old friendf
any where? But. my; you have been
crying. What is up; has your sweet
cart been thrashing you, or is he going
back on your Sh-these meniolks
They are nuisances indeed. and L shall
keep clear of them. But OF course no
one would want me. anyway, with face
that the smallpox has turned into @
honeycomb !"
"Oh, Luba !" said Anita, and her tears
commenced to flow again. II am the
most unhappy lass in the world, and no
living soul can help me. | have Sc
cret to keep that will haunt me all my
life. gave three candles to the Virgin
Msry-may she have mercy upon me
and one each to st. Andres, st. Stephan
and st. Micanor, blessed be their names
can find no peace; have eaten moth
ing for three days to pleas Ivan the
Martyr, but he too fails to comfort me,
and don't know what to do unless 1t
be to Jump into the river!"
That looks bad" said Luba, .but
can't you tell me this secret? You
know load is carried easier by two
than it is BY one. We have been life-
long friends, and you know | never tell
on you"
"Ohl it is too horriblev' answered
Anita. II am afraid if tell you, you
will turn against me and l will lose
my only friend"
''Bosh come now, let's hear what is
breaking your heart. | am sure it ie
one of those-well, will not swear
but one of those men, who are a bad lot
anyhow"
"You sse," started Anita, hesita.
tingly, trying to put her words in such q
way as to make the leaet forcible inn
preston. Ivan Chertowsky is quite
rich. and while l really never loved
him, promised to marry him, as the
old man wanted me to do 30. He gave
me q month ago brooch and couple
of rings. They were really gold, he
esid, and had awful pretty little white
glass pieces in them. l put them on
and Jew days later came q peddling
Jew, from whom bought some needles,
and he wanted to buy the brooch and
the rings. First he offered 80 roublee,
then 100, and &c l refused he said
You better sell them to me- raising
the price at last to 1000 roubles. as they
are sure to be stolen goods and you will
get into trouble by wearing them.'"
81 took them off and have hidden
them in the pleat OF nv sarafan, and
as | knew Ivan was not rich enough to
buy me such valuable presents l got
suspicious and have been watching him
pretty close. He often gets up in the
night and does not return before or 4
O'Clock in the morning, just as We girls
90 to milk. Last night | followed him
in my brothers. clothes, and saw him
and another fellow, that l don't know
go to q hollow tree in the barina parh
and pull out o small sack. Then they
commenced to divide all kinds of golC
and silver things and some money; a
last they got to quarreling and the
stranger told Ivan that he would tel
the Upravnik+ that Ivan had murder
Cd those people three months ago, il ht
could not get what he wanted. IvaI
got mad and said the stranger was not q
bit better, as he had murdered as many.
if not more, people than he himself
Then | ran away feeling must scream.
so full was my beart."
The attention Of the girls was, az
Anita finished. attracted by a noise thai
was only too familiar to them-a regular
visitor once q month. 1t sounded like
the funeral ring Of cracked bell; il
was the farewell tune OF men torn from
humanity and the world; it was tn,
subdued rroans OF the seuls that had Il
die in the living flesh it was the clank-
ing OF the chains which held the weary
ankles of the convicts ON their way Il
Siberia. The little caravan had en-
tered the village and men, women ant
children stepped out to stare at the I'M
fortunate wretches, prompted by tina
INDISPENSABLE curiosity in men, which i
anything but sympathetic; that curl
osity that makes people stop on tn
street when funeral passes; tina
gathers q crowd around the man that i
hurt on thoroughfare or the curiosit
that becomes the prey of a merciles
oonhagration.
Thirty unfortunate beings, coupled il
pairs by their ankles and connected witt
the rest by light, but strong chain
running the full length of the caravan
were approaching the well to refres
their ieverish, burning lips. Some ha
faces that told of horrid crimes an
moral depravity; others OF martyrdor
and Indifference to their present state
brought about by long term OF crue
| am prisonment.
The Cossacks on their wild, small an
homely horses, with faces "a stern an
cruel as grim death, were the first I
take drink and water their animals
then the convicts approached the well
Anita and Luba had stepped back ant
their eyes rested on each of the unfor
Inmates as he eagerly grasped the cu]
with both hands.
All, there, there was face they bot
recognized. pair of eyes, that with or
indescribable expression, rested on tn
handsome form of Anita, and she knew
it WAS Michael Bikow. A moment late
Anita knelt before the leader of tn
transport. an officer of but low rank
and touching the ground with her fore
head, exclaimed with trembling voice
master, pray in the name of all this
is holy to you, listen to your humbl
servant and have mercy, yes mercy"