The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1894-09-19
A SENTRY'S LOVE.

Said the President of the military
court to Trofim Stoyan, "You have been
found guilty of the crime of aiding the
escape of prisoner No. 279 from the
mine of Gorkaya-Balka. Before SEN
tence is passed the court desires to hear
from you your version of the circum-
stances of the prisoners escape, and the
motives which induced you to be false
to the trust imposed on you. We un-
derstand that you dispute the correct
ness of some of the witnesses state
ments. We warn you to speak the
strict truth. Stand at attention.
AS the President finished, a slim young
fellow, standing between two glittering
bayonets, drew himself up to "atten-
tion," glanced at the spectators and
faced the court.
@Go on" said the President.
"Your Excellency," began the soldier,
Il don't want mercy, and don't expect
| it; but you have asked me to tell the
truth, and / tell it. It was on Satur-
day night, showing hard and bitterly
cold Sergeant Petroff marched me up
to the entrance of GorkayaBalka mine
and l relieved the sentry on duty there.
l was to remain until midnight and
received the usual orders to stop any
| one who tried to enter or leave the gal
| lery, and to shoot them if they persist
ed. I was shivering with cold, and
kept tramping about in front of the en-
trance to keep warm. After the bar
racks clock had struck TO- / noticed
some one crouching in the shadow of
the old tool-house-a woman, l thought.
1t seemed darker there than out in the
open. The snow was driving in my
face l felt queer and timid that night.
Turning sharply round at the end of
my beat fartherest from the house, /
saw approaching me the figure of wo-
man in black. 1 got opposite the entry
into the gallery, and stood silent. l
don't know why l felt scared. There
was no one else about or nearer than
the overseer's house. She came swiftly
over the snow, and her face was cover
with veil. couldn't speak; it was as
if my tongue was frozen. She put her
hands on my shoulders, and looked up
into my face"
"What was she like?" demanded the
President.
Your Excellency, can not describe
her. l only saw her eyes, then, and
they were on fire and went right
through me. She told me much that l
can not recall for / was looking, not
listening. But at last | understood her
to be talking of her brother in the mine.
She said she had come all the way from
Russia to see him, and that he was dy-
ing.
"She said that if 1 would let her into
always pray Aor me, and devote her
| x,ho1o 1ifo tO lyiOor mo honnu
"Her great black eyes bewitched me,
and I believed her. l said nothing, but
y pointed to the mine, and in moment
She had fled into the dark opening tC
the gallery. I never thought of what
l was doing. / was dazed, and stood
stock still, and the snow kept falling al
the time, and the night was growing
darker. I had my eyes fixed on the
entrance, and saw the figure emerge ant
run toward me.
"'Soldier, she said you have made
N me happy for life. Make yourself hap
py and fly with us. Let my brother
pass. / will lead you and him to
place where we will be happy together
Be good to me, soldier, and 1 will Civ
you all you ask from me. l will b.
yours; will live for you and die fol
you.'
Don't smile, Excellency. was in
toxicated with her words. I believed
her. Her arms were around my neck
and her face was lovely as the Madon
mas. I seized my rifle and flung
S with all my strength out into the snow
She put file into my hands and fol
lowed her to the gallery. There tn
darkness was thicker still, but W
groped our way to where a manStoo
chained to a thick wooden stanchion
l knew what l had to do. The ma
said nothing, but the woman kissed m
kissed me, Excellency. So I worke
like a mailman. He was soon free
v We reached the entrance as the barrac
Y clock was striking IL. There was
\ whole hour yet before the guard woul
y be changed. We ran through the ittl
wood and crossed the frozen river. an
away beyond wide, open space, whel
the snow was very deep, we entere
~ the pine woods.
:" "The woman knew where she ws
leading u.s. for we came to hut whe1
we found clothes and food. I burie
nv uniform in the snow. All that nigf
: we moved rapidly through the wood
\ hardly speaking to one another at frs
J But the man and woman went on
front, walking arm in arm, and ofte
they kissed one another. laughing an