Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-08-28
s. G, SATURDAY, AUGUST 28, 1897

and then to himself he added: Hes 6
fine fellow, with good stuff in him. We
might do something after all I'll have
to look into the matter.
Platoff was right. The next day Cap
tain Daroman returned, and the pre-
dicted change came with vengeance
The supply of daily food was shortened,
all conversation was strictly forbidden,
and the wretched toilers in the mines
were refused q moments rest, with the
exception of a scant ten minutes fol
| lunch.
For a time th,se hardships were
borne without complaint, but it soon
became evident that the commandant
had special hatred against the three
political prisoners, and he lost no op'
portunity Of displaying his feelings.
One bitterly cold morning the con-
victs were trudging in pairs over the
snow clad plains to their daily toll.
Maurice and Platoff marched in
front, and close behind them was Phil,
who had been transferred to their gang
some time before They had barely left
the settlement and were passing along
the base of a hill, part way up which
stood half dozen struggling cabins.
"Some of the free command live
there" whispered Platoff, and Maurice
looked with envy at the homes Of the
unfortunate people who were yet ten
times better off than himself.
Suddenly he saw, to his great surprise,
q girl standing by the roadside a few
yards ahead.
She was not more than 16, slender OF
figure and dressed in long fur CLOAK
and cap. Her gaze was fixed compass
sionately on the approaching convicts,
and Maurice's heart thrilled as he met
q plying glance from her dark eyes.
The sight Of this innocent young
maiden in such strange place remind
ed him irresistibly of home, and for a
moment q mist swan before his eyes,
and he staggered against his compan-
ion.
"Who is that, Platoff?" he asked in
an undertone. "What can such crea-
ture have to do with this miserable
placer?
"She must belong to the free com.
mand," replied the Russian, "a daugh-
ter probably of one of the exiles, and
yet she does not look it," he added aft
or a closer survey.
The convicts filed sullenly past, and
still the girl stood motionless as a
statue, her dark eyes looking unuttera-
BILE sympathy at the doleful procession.
Near the end Of the line came Gap
tain Daroman, mounted on Cossack
pony. He frequently accompanied the
working parties to the mines to see how
much gold was being washed out, and
this was one Of his inspection days.
Strange to say, he was in a passably
rood humor this morning, and his
flushed face showed that he had been
indulging rather heavily in vodka.
From under his fur cap he observed
the girl by the roadside, and as the po-
ny brought him opposite he slipped out
Of the saddle aud stepped up to her be-
fore she had time to move.
"Well, my pretty maiden, have you
kiss for me this morning?" he asked,
with q smile. As the startled girl re-
coiled he threw his arms around her.
She uttered one loud cry and strug-
gled fiercely to free herself.
xrboo1o5 ropr6 on6 fonH iy,
the situation at glance. There was no
help for the girl. The convicts never
even turned their heads, and the SOL
diers marched stolidly forward.
It was no business Of theirs. She was
only an exile's daughter.
One brief second Maurice stood thus,
his eyes flashing, his hands clinched.
Then, loose from Platoff's OBTAINING