The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1897-05-14

wouldst help me to l. AXE it worthy.
That other life was all wrong. I
made nothing of it."
"Iladimir!!" interrupts Maruscha.
and her eyes shine like stars. Thou
gavest thy life for the great cause"
And what has it availed? Is the
world the better for my sacrifice? The
tyrant still Expresses. Liberty still
turks in secret places. and will con-
tlnue to do so. And why? Because as
a nation we are 10 ripe for liberty.
One-half is asleep. the other is in the
thrall OF consuming passions. and
nothing attempted in the heat of pas
sion a have good results. Con-
viction must have matured into steady
AIN ere action is proceeded with.
We have not arrived at that yet, and
it is with the individual-with our
selves we must deal! Ourselves we
must ~emancipate from the bondage Of
passion before we can hope to see our
efforts crowned with success. 1t has
ever been a mad, blind rush at the
enemy"
VANS knock and signal interrupted
us. Maruscha is leaving me to open
the door. | detain her.
Thou art disappointed in me, sweet
loye":' | whisper, watching her face
in much anxiety.
Her eyes seek the ground. IL
understand thee not" she lalters.
Yet thou canst trust me-" I
breathe.
The blue bewildered eyes urn on
me and our glances meet. | see hers
clear and kindle u til nou hit shines
in them but pure, unmiNed love.
Then suddenly, as if by an uncon-
trollable impulse, she puts her two
hands on my shoulders and murmurs
Thou art my very soul and my con-
science, Vladimir! Thy thoughts, thy
aspirations. thy God are surely mine!'
She stoops and presses her lips to
my forehead and leaves me quickly to
admit Ivan.
he enters with a Goa over his arm,
n alter greeting us, produces from
his pocket q soft felt hat which he
throws on a chair. Now he comes
and stands before me, regarding me
critically.
How long hast thou been up to-
day?' he inquiries at length.
Only about an hour I have
~husbanded my forces for this evening""
That is well. Canst thou walk the
length Of the Arcade?"
If put to it | could walk twice the
distance"
because I think it would be wiser
to take q droski from there. We
cannot be too cautious. | like not
the way that ~furrier below stares at
me when l come and go. He is thy
landlord, Maruscha:"
YES. | like him not. He is an
impudent, prying fellow. Not that it
matters what he thinks of me-" Maru-
scha says. Yet she is a woman and
a blush overspreads her face as she
speaks.
1t is we'll that l am going. The
frequent visits of Ivan at all hours is
placing my innocent dove in a false
light. This. too. she bears for me.
Maruscha makes us some tea, and
whilst we take it Ivan tells us the
latest news. Fifty men and women
have been arrested on suspicion of
being implicated with the nihilists.
Three a~ssassinations Of tyrants have
occurred in different parts of the
country, and everybody is talking of
the daring LEADER in to-day's issue
of the Voice of the People. Ivan
produces the newspaper and reads it
to US.
Maruscha scarcely speaks a word.
She stitches away at the shirt and
when she has finished it. busies her
self packing some things for me in a
bag: AS the shadows deepen Ivan
also becomes silent. He goes over to
the window and stands with his back
to us. blowing a tune through his lips.
Maruscha come to me. | fold her
silently in my arms and thus we re-
main. heart to heart, cheek to check.
At length Ivan says. bat without
looking around. I'VE had better not
let it get too late. Vladimir"
One long, silent kiss l press on
Maruscha's lips ere l release her.
whenever thou wilt, Ivan.' l reply,
clearing my voice, for it sounds
strangely husky.
Hearing Maruscha begin to Stir
about the Don Ivan judges he may
turn.
Noble, generous brother. 1T IS not
in thee to envy. Thy single heart
has no place for it. Yet wei l know
that thou couldst love Maruscha with
a lovers passion were she not mine.
He wears a look of gentle apology