Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1894-02-22

.,1,sessiOil OF the iuiai. men, WILL
barrihle Laughter, we tore the loaf In two
and ate with the ravenous fury OF starved
heasts For time we forgot everything
bnt the animal Joy of satisfying our cray
inc annette. Whether Ivan spoke to us or
NOT do not know. 1t was not until our
hunger had been appeased that We couid
think of him.
"Wbat right have you toput temptation
IN n moor DEVILS way!" he growled DO
Won know the value of the note you gave
mes"
Gordon shook his head, still eating.
"a thousand rubles-three years Iree-
doml Lifelong freedom, who knowsS lake
il back, or may be tempted yet to knock
you on the head.
He pushed the note into Gordons manu-
and turning away set his elbows on ms
knees, dropped his bristly red beard III ms
palms and rocked himself slowly backward
and forward, scowling into the fire.
Gordon looked at him and then at me IN
silent perpIexity; we both doubted whetner
the little man was in his right mlha- fIes.
entity glancing round and perceiving that
Gordon still held the note in his hand, ivan
Dontremember said angrily;
| IL away Il hCAA JcN AtN~
DON'T YOU know that the forest is alive
with desperate mens Any one of them
would murder the pair of you to get that.
| Why shouldn't they? Necessity knows no
law but self preservation. Do you know It
was in nv mind to brain you rs you sat
There in an ecstasy Of animal pleasurey Az
least YOU would have gone out of the world
bappy: il would have saved you-and the
goyernment-years of trouble, and me too.
Oh. there was CROUCH justification. Rea-
ION was on my side and opportunity as
we'll. You would have done it in my place.
There was murder in your eye when you
asked for bread Bread is only means TO
living: the end Of living is freedom. A
man will fight for life while there's a hope
of freedom; when that hope is gone. be Will
blow his brains out.
with your views" said Gordon, Il am
surprised that you did not At least make
off with the note
"perhaps / overlooked that alternative
in the greater temptation to kin you. The
probability was that you had other notes
In your case-money enough TO make escape
certain
III you felt yourself justified, why didn't
you kill me'"
For a fool Of reason-a sentimental
one. Something in your build, your face
not the murderous expression in It, you
may be sure-deterred me. / felt, just at
the critical moment, as If | were about to
kill my dearest friend. And can't shake
off this womanly feeling while | look at
you-that's the queer thing.
Some personal resemblance" Gordon
suggested.
Ivan Dontremember nodded gloomily
and turned his eyes again on the fire.
ITS an odd coincidence that my resem-
blance TO a Russian has not only saved my
life, but was the cause of my life being in
jeopardy"
"What Russian;" asked Ivan, turning
quickly.
'.Taras-Prince Borgensky."
"Tarass' cried Ivan, starting TO his feet
as he alivesn
"He was when we left him not two
months ago"
where was he thenp
"In London
"Thank the fatesm
"You know himg'
"What honest Russian who lived five
years ago does not know Tarasf"
Then he broke into Russian, apostro-
phizing Taras with poetical fervor in words
that ] failed TO follow. Suddenly he
checked himself, and turning to US he said,
vs. II to excuse himself;
II have been dead five years and buried
IN the fortress of Petropavlovsk. One hears
nothing there There was no political pris-
oner in our gang-all cutthroats and
scoundrels--they could tell me nothing
What should they know of Taras'"
And after pause he added, with pa
thetic tremor in his voice:
II thought be must be dead, too-my
friendn
He walked slowly round the fire to in
dulge his reflections, touching an ember
i here and there absently with his stick.
Coming close TO where we sat, silent i,
sympathy, he said;
did you know him-TarasW
ultimately"
as be wells What is he doings How
does he pass his daysi Tell me all about
him."
"You can answer these questions better
than ], - said Gordon. nodding to me.
spoke. telling of our everyday life and
OF the work Taras was doing.
"Ha, har' exclaimed Ivan gleefully when
l had described the groups of statuary.
HE still sticks to his guns, that good fight
er Taras. But do they leave him alone
the policet"
mo, worse luckr Gordon replied, and
| then he told Of the attempts made to kid
nap Taras and Of the happy chance by
which had saved him, though he attrib-
uted my success not to chance, but to cour-
age and devotion.
II beg your pardon" said Ivan, bowling
| IN ma at dfd Won mn iniusfice thinking
that you English women could do nothing
except talk. But who is at the bottom Of
this conspiracy-do you know thats"
II am ashamed to say he's countryman
of mine At least be speaks the same Ian
guage,n said Gordon.
"An Irishman" asked Ivan sharply.
"Yesu
"His nameP Quickr'
L Z q.