The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1895-03-28
STRANGER.
BY jackson SturEes.

1t was not uncommon in our little
MOTEL in Geneva, to meet mysterious
characters. French. ROyaliSts. Rus
sian Nihisists and German Socialists
were all to be found there, and we
were never surprised at the eccentric
appearance Of anybody.
However, we had seldom encounter
ed so sadlooking Il man as one day
when we were going to enjoy a. ball
in the evening, and a number of strang-
ers had come to the hotel for supper.
Among them was Il TALL blonde fellow
with Polish features, and the most
despairing expression that I ever be-
held. His face was pale as death.
He seemed Indifferent to every thing
that passed before him, and ate what
was served to him in mechanical,
absent-minded way, which revealed
clearly that his thoughts We're far
away.
After the meal was over. most Of us
sought the piazzas. 1t was, perhaps,
nine O'Clock when, glancing into the
ballroom which had been evolved from
the dining-hall, l saw our hostess,
Madame NJ. an excellent woman, talk
ing earnestly with the pale-faced
stranger. She caught my eye and adj
vancinS rapidly toward me with her
companion introduced him to me most
cordially as NJ. Ivan Petroyitch, from
Warsaw.
After we had been chatting for 4
while on the sofa he asked me to go
out on the veranda with him, where
we could be more by ourselves. There
we sat down and he lighted cigar
cite. At first he was silent. At last he
murmured:
MY God, how is it possible that all
those people can be so gay and happy
while l.
He stopped, pulled the smoke of his
cigarette into the air, and drummed
nervously with his hand in the rail Of
the veranda. At last he drew out a
photograph from his pocket, looked in
tently at it, heaved sigh. and then
handed it silently to me. I looked at
it attentively. 1t was the picture of a
very beautiful young woman with Il
babe in her arms.
"A very charming picture" I said.
May ask VINO tneE are
II believe can confide in you. am
sorely in need of friend to whom l
cannot only pour out my overburden-
cd heart, but who in case Of need will
stand by ne and protect those I love.
Can you, Will you do all this?'
On my warm assurance. he went on.
Then listen. l was studying medi-
cine at Warsaw, and though not af-
fluent l possessed enough of worldly
goods to finish my studies and to live
comfortably.
AFTER l had studied two years. I
made the acquaintance of fellow
student, Sophie S., daughter Of 4 Pol
ish nobleman. who had lost the great
er part of his fortune during the late
rebellion. 1t would be flute TO des-
cribe her; you saw her picture. but
what you could not see there is that
she has the loveliest, sweetest character
of any woman ever met. loved her.
HOY could l help it? She confessed
that she loved me, and We We're mar-
ried.
why should attempt to give you
an idea Of my happiness? Such hIppi-
ness cannot be pictured; it is simply
perfect. In the morning we went to
ing we came home she flied our little
abode with sunshine.
we lived for our studies, and did
not minsle with the world. With the
exception of a few devoted friends, We
rarely saw anybody. Sometimes. when
some Of those friends called, the suffer
ings Of our poor, abused fatherland
were discussed, but though we felt
keenly its abasement, we were not
deeply interested in politics.
"Alas! why could not our innocent
happiness last forever?
Zone evening returning late from a
party which one of our friends had
given in celcbrat on of his graduation.
we saw issuing from the prison gate
@ gang of convictS bound to Siberia.
There were about forty of these
wretches, men and women, chained to-
eether, and surrounded, by a guard Of
grim, cruel COsSacks who with their
long lances pushed the Stragglers for
ward, as if they were driving so many
cattle. We two stood breathlcssly still,
close against the houses. until the drea Il
midnight procession should have pass
ed. You must know that the govern
ment fearing an outbreak of indigna-
tion and REBELLION, does its devHsh
work in the dark. Among the prs
oners was Il young woman. who, with
disheveled hair, a picture Of intense
agony. held a babe in her arms. One
ha,td chained, and she was pushed for
ward by the relentless Cossack. She
fell Oh her knees, and besought the Of
ficer to UNchain her, lest she should
have to drop the babe The officer
uttering a c'7rse. tod 4ler to get up
and as she did not Immediately obey
Cossack pulled her up BY the hair
with such a dicholical force that the
poor woman uttered a piercing Shrek
and her babe fell from her arm to the
hard pavement. Its skull yas broken
A moment afteTward it wa 4 corpse
A Cossack rushed back with it to the
prison. but the procession moved on
the mother tearing her hair in a frenzy
of despair. I
Another victim of the satanic tyr
amy Of the Czar.' whispered, horror
struck; but Sophie chung to my arm
and. pale as ghost, whispered
Hush!
At that moment Nihilism had gained
hxuo