The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1897-05-14
WITHIN AN ACE,
CHAPTER II-CONT1NrED.

n worm, and that there are anxious
lines about her sweet mouth, and vio-
let marks under her eyes.
Before me instantly, blottinp her
out from me. rises a vision from some
where in my past l lie painting,
bruised, half-naked. voiceless with a
CHASTITY mark about my neck-an OBJ
Ject to turn from with shuddering hor-
ror-on her threshold. And after?
Her brave heart conquered the dread!
She took me in, put me in her own
white bed. nursed me-"
A great sob lifts my breast and
breaks the stiffness.
Shelooks up startled. and the needle
work falls from her fingers. I try to
stretch my hand toward her-see her
cannot for tears-but it falls power
less on the counterpart.
'Maruscha," l falter, let me-let
me kiss thy handr'
She flies to me. My hand, nv Inns,
What thou wilt; but weep not. Vladi-
mir"
She kisses me wildly. not thinking
what she does, but only Of pacifying
me.
Tho hast been ill-very i'll; thou
must not excite thyself-it is bad
for thee. Think not of the past
it is overall over; and thou
art with me! Think how l have
striven to nurse thee we'll, and thou
wouidst undo all! Fie on thee! Thou
hast no pity for mel"
Talking thus. she takes her hand
kerchief and dries my eyes, sweeps
the hair from my brow. and lets her
fingers rest on it caressingly. Angel?
n angel, direct from the seat of
Mercy, but would pale beside nv
Maruscha! What language of any
sphere could convey the extent of nv
love for her? Do my looks tell her
this? Her own fall beneath them, and
she busies herself with the arrange
ment OF my pillow and the smoothing
OF my counterpart. Now shut thv
eyes, thou must indeed! And think
not at all, but sleep. l stay by thee"
And she seats herself on the side of
the bed. l possess myself Of her
hand and holding it against my lips,
my spirit slips away into the sweet
oblivion of dreamiess sleep.
CHAPTER III.
How I Happened.
Like a burst Of pure sunlight and
serene blue between fierce storms it
seems to me. Already the threaten
ing clouds are lying on the horizon,
ready to roll up and darken the sky,
and now lack the strength to battle
with the tempest. l am not the man
was, nor ever sh all be! 1 caught a
glimpse OF my face the other day in
Maruscha's little mirror; and it
startled me. My checks are sunk,
my eyes holIow-I look like the ghost
Of my former self, and 1 feel like it
the shrinking, spiritless ghost If that
other one who boldly met his death
On the scatfold. 1 rise from the easy
chair: and take a few turns in the
room TO test my ability to use my
legs.
'.Maruscha I am as helpless as a
child learning to walk" | observe
bitterly.
THAT is what 7 say, Vladimir; but
thou wilt not listen to reason" re-
spends Maruscha, throwing down her
sewing and coming quickly to my
side. She takes my arm and places it
round her shoulder. thus making Of
herself a support to me. 1T is too
soon. They are not yet fit Why go
tonight? Stay whore thou art a few
days longer. until thou hast gathered
strength. What is all this foolish
talk of being a burden-endangering
me by thy presence here. Burden!
As if aught could be a burden between
thee and me! 1t is an insult to my
love to talk thus, as if my love for
thee were a poor half-hearted thing!
And danger! Who dares to come
here and disturb us? Has there been
any danger hitherto? Thou knowest
| have friends to seek me, and the
few, ave Olga, think me out of
town."
Maruscha clasps the hand of mine
that hangs over her shoulder. and lays
her warm cheek against it.
SAY thou wilt stay. my Vladimir!''
she pleads, 'rnly a few days longer.
and | will see thee go with half the
grief"
But this is'no parting, Maruscha.
/ go but TO Ivan, and whilst / am
there we shall see each other daily.
Let us not meet trouble half way. it
the parting comes. as come it must,
there will still be the prospect Of u
reunion. The world is wide, and surely