The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1897-05-28

days are fine and still warm. yet not
too warm. The country air and the
freedom will %invigorate me-"
And when thou art hungry-what
then" There is a kind of dry
anguish in Maruscha's tone. and | am
glad that am still occupied with the
lacing of the boots so that / need not
look at her.
oh, there are plenty Of ways of
getting a meal | reply .carelessly.
Il a work for one--chop 1irewood.
or what not, for Il well->o-do peasant"
And he will not wonder that one
OF thy class-for thou canst not con-
ceal that thou art a gentleman, Vladi-
m~ir-should como to his door and
offer to labor Ikea moujik for a meal?
lie will suspect nothing?"
l hesitate. And if he should have
suspicious" I reply at length; every
Russian is not minded to set the
police on a doubtful character"
And if he should ask to see thy
papers," Maruscha stands over me,
wringing out my reluctant responses
"itll IL uUi1lCoSuCSS VI III 1uu ulSlLOI,
regardless of my mental writings.
And now | must straighten myself.
for the boots are fastened and she is
facing my perpleXed regard with
looks that search me through.
'Papers-ah, well. of course I have
no papers to show; but-oh, bother,
Maruscha" I take sudden refuge in
assumed Impotence. Nov is it
likely that every one I chance to
meet will ask for my papers? Not
II in a thousand would do it,"
Yet any n thou askest for a days
work has a right to demand an in
spection of them. What wouldst thou
do if it were to happen?' she persists.
''Hem-well. in such case l would
get out OF it the best way I could!"
Maruscha congresses her lips until
they are bloodless. Her delicate nos
trils dilate and culver. She takes out
her small purse and empties its con-
tents on the table. One by one she
smooths i the rouble notes and
counts them. There are eight Then
she counts the little hoard of silver.
Light roubles and seventy-five
copecs, hat is all l have with mel"
II sighs. That will not go far. YET
it is better than nothing" She puts
it back into her purse and holds it
toward me.
| draw back. mo, my beloved,
ask me not to take thy last CON-" I
say, feeling the blood rush to my face.
vladimir, thou surely wouidst not
hesitate at such a moment!" she en-
claims. in a grieved tone. ALIAS.
that it is so little!'
l see that l dare not insist. I try
to make a compromise.
Since it will make thee happy, let
US divide it."
If thou takest not all l will break
my word to thee and weep!" she cries.
with d fierce knitting of her brows, as
she thrust the purse into my hand and
closes my fingers over It
After this. what can | do but kiss
the dear little faded purse. which she
values as my first gift to her. and CON
sign it to my pocket! And what a
grateful, tender look is that with
which she rewards me! Thus will I
remember her!
'ln a moment I will be ready" she
says, as | rise and button my coat.
She is dashing about putting all sus-
picious signs out Of sight, sweeping
up the hair, and after selecting alock,
burning the rest in the mouth of the
stove. everything so swiftly and thor
oughly. When all is done she throws
on her outdoor garments and stands
prepared to accompany me.
She is perfectly calm. though there
is not a trace OF color in her face. It
wears a set look of determination and
IS lighted strangely by her steady,
shining eyes.