The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1894-09-20

Said the President of the military
court to Trotim 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
bayouetS, drew himself up to "atten-
ton glanced at the spectators and
fac 'd the court.
GO on said the President.
Your EXce!lency," 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. 1t was on a Satur-
day night showing hard and bitterly
cold. Sergeant PetroH marched me up
to the entrance of Gorkaya-Balka mine
and | relieved the sentry on duty there.
| was TO remain until midnight, and |
received the usual orders to stop any
one who tried 10 enter OF leave the gal
lery, and to shoot Them if they persist
ed. | was shiyCring with cold, and
kept tTamping about in front OF the en-
trance to keep warm. After the bar
racks clock had struck 10, | noticed
some one crouching in the shadow of
the old tOol-hOuse-a woman thought.
Il aan,,,nI ,I..,, fl,a,.. fhap II, tho
open The snow was driving in my
face. 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. got opposite the entry
into the gallery, and stood silent. |
don't know why | felt scared. There
was no one else about or nearer than
the ovcr,ecr's house She came swiftly
over the snow, and her face was cover
with a veil. | couldn't speak; it was rs
| ifmv tongue was frozen. She put her
hands on my shoulders, and looked up
into my face.
What was She Iike?" demanded the
/ President.
Your ENcrllcncy. | can not describe
i her only saw her eyes, then, and
/ they were on fire and went right
/ through me She told me much that
/ can not recall fer | was looking. not
/ listening. Bui ii last | understood her
4 to be taINiu of her brother in the mine.
4 She said She lad come all the way from
/ Russia to see him. and that he was dy-
! ing.
"She said that if ! would let her into
/ the mine for few minutes She would
always pray for me, and devote her
whole life to making me happy.
| Her great black eyes bewitched me-
! and ! believed her. said nothing, but
| pointed to the mine and in a moment
She had He'd into the dark opening to
! the gallery. ] never thought of what
| was doing. | was dazed. and stood
stock Sill. and the snow kept falling all
the time and the night was growing
darker. l had my eyes fixed on the
entrance, and saw the figure emerge and
run toward me.
Soldier, she said. YOU have made
me happy for life Make yourself hap
py and fly with Us. Let my brother
pass. | will lead YOU and him to a
place where we will be happy together
BE good to me, soldier and | will give
you all YOU ask from me. | will be
yours; | will live for you and die for
you
Don't smile, Excellency. | was in
toNicated with her words. | believed
her. Her arms were around my neck,
and her face was lovely aS the Madon-