The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1897-06-18

VI such as these? l make mn ranl,
Wv stalk over to the furthest corner
VI the cell and fling myself down m
one OF the inclined boards that arc
'anseo around the walls, and which,
with a filthy rug: constitute the sleen.
ing accommodations tor the prisoners.
L "alch them drag the insensible
NosSack TO another board and lave his
oro" with water from Il pitcher. AL
most immediately be revives and sits
up seeking me with his rowing ewes.
"heh they have found me, be rises
and staggers toward me.
Il am a hound and thou art a brave
man he says hoarsely. .,Forgive
me-; 1t was the devil prompted me to
use The knife. He had possession of
me and | knew not what | didn'
ne waits not for my reply, but sud-
denly leaves my side. picks up the
hnlle from the floor where had
hurled 1t, and returns to me.
Take it, he urges lit is thine, T
smuggled it in concealed in the folds
Of my sash. Stay me with it if thou
wilt. My life is thine"
AS he speaks thus his voice shakes
with emotion and his dark face works
strangely. | am touched with the
man 5 contrition in spite of myself.
keep thy dagger" l say. 1T may
be useful to thee, and give me rather
thy hand.
extend to him my right and ne en-
closes it in a f~ervent clasp.
"femember my words; my life is
thlne!' he reiterates. Thou hast
bought Yarack body and soul"
And without another word, without
giving me the chance of expressing
the regret that is on my lips, that l
should have taken his harmless, if
rude sport SO badly. he goes back to
MS BOARD and stretches himself on it.
HIS felloW-prlsOners crowd round him
with questions and remarks. but he
regards them not, and turning to the
wall. remains perfectly still.
| had wondered where | should get
my next meal. Little thought l that
1t would be supplied to me free of
charge by the Russian government.
After supper the warders lighted
two oil lamps that hung up high
against the wall. They illuminate
with a murky, yellow light the motley
scene. For a time the games are re-
neWed; coarse jests are banded, fol-
lowed by loud outlaws; songs with
rollicking choruses are sung to the
beating OF feet; hen gradually the
boards are filled. A few linger wran-
Cling over a game. until the disputed
point is decided by a majority. and
they. too, seek repose.
Nainly l toss from side to side. l
cannot sleep. My head is burning.
my nina distraught l think inces-
sanity Of the morrow. when | shall
be placed before a tribunal t O answer
for myself. What shall l plead?
That my papers are lost? | should
then be required to nswe questions
to enable the authorities to get them
renewed. If l give a false name, |
shall simply be detained in prison un-
til it is proven whether | have lied.
Look at it as l may see not a glimmer
OF hope. Then recur to me the words
of Andrea ~Piotrovitch. telling me that
my escape was known in Petersburg,
and that a price was set on my head.
Has he suspected me to be the escaped
criminal. and set the authorities on
me? In such case the fact of my hav-,
ing no papers to show will strengthen
suspicion and lead them direct to the
right channel for the information, aud
all will be brought to light.
My flesh creeps as | cOnjure up an
other scene on the scatfold, with my
self as the central figure. Again |
seem to feel the touch of the hideous
coil around my neck. but the sustain
ing courage Of the martyr lacks me in
the hour Of my utmost need. while |
am conscious only Of the degradation
Of my position. And Maruscha? Will
she be there to witness once more the
revolving spectacle? God in his mercy
forbid! This l know, that she will
follow me whittier l go. MI Maruscha
will force an entrance through the
grim portal by which her lover has
gone. My gloomy musings are inter-
rupted by the appearance of the Cos
sack. gliding toward me in the dim.
ycllo" lSul. nc sIualS himself
noiselessly on the floor at my head,
and gazes at me silently for some min
utes. | am the first to speak.
Il am sorry | hurt you. whisper,
Forgive me Yerack! | might have
taken year harmless jesting in better
part"
Name it not" he whispers back.
1t would have served me right hadst
thou dashed out nay brains..'