The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1897-05-07
not check rush to my eyes-a perfect

large drop Of rain on my face arouse
me. | sit up and think what is to be
done. I have no time to lose. In a
short time the dawn will break and
reveal my terrible aspect. If am seen
in my present plight, shoeless, hatless.
alf-clad, l shall be at once seized
and put under restraint as a mailman.
l scramble to my feet. That drink
has wonderfully revived me. And in
a moment | pause TO lave my temples
in the water before starting on ny
hazardous venture.
10 get out from among the trees
and ascertain my Whereabouts must
be my first step; so | commenced to
feel my way along the wall until |
turn the corner Of my recent prison.
where | find more trees and bushes to
wind through, and at length emerge
under the open sky ON what appears
to be a gravel drive.
When | am able to open my eyes |
at once recognize the locality, for |
AN us familiar with Petersburg IS the
schoolboy with the interior OF his
trousers pockets. am in the very
heart of the city. This is the Nevski
Prospect, and | stand outside the ey-
tensive grounds OF Professor Schlee.
mann, one Of the first surgeons we
have. and second 10 lew IN the world.
And SO you have purchased the
body Of your old pupil for dissection.
little father" | smiled grimly. And
| am a thief. Tor l am stealing it from
you"
| put a hand to my raging temples
and pass in review the different mem
bers of our section. In the urgency
of tie case l may not indulge prefer
ence. The nearest must be my des-
tination. 1t is none other than Maru-
scha! Yes. to gain her lodging is my
only chance. for | can gain it in twen-
ty minutes if | am fortunate, and fate
is propitious. 1t is the utmost |. ca
do. My love lives at the end of tn;
''Ba ar" over a %furrier's shop, /
think now with anguish OF the last
time | took tea with her I and Ivan,
in the little silting-room. with its
many pretty feminine toys. so TASTE
fully arranged and redolent of the
flowers. we had brought her. Stink
ing along. a wretched outcast, with
u a spot on earth undei he heavens
where | have u right to be, | recall
that picture now Of Maruscha sitting
behind her ''Samovar' and pouring
out the tea for US big, awkward fel-
lows, where we sit together on the
sofa watching all her dainty ways in
happy wonderment How sweet and
fresh she looks in her blue gown, with
the snowy bands %clasping her neck
and slender waist! There is color on
her fair checks and her blue eyes are
shining very brightly, for she is half
shy at playing hostess. But after tea
we are very merry. Ivan has brought
his violin and VIC have music. l still
h9ur Marischa's mellow voice as it
blends with our harsher ones. And
now? How shall | get her to believe
that am indeed her Vladimir. and
not his spirit or a creature Of her
fevered imagination? And yet think
my Maruscha would welcome me, even
if she knew that l came direct from
hades to visit her:
With such memories and thoughts
thronging my brain | pass DR.. Schlee-
mann's gates and along the Nevski.
shrinking under the occasional glare
OF a street lamp and gasping with re-
lief each time I leave one behind me,
and can proceed for a space under
the black, rolling clouds, which have
been sending down single heavy
drops, begin to discharge themselves
while the thunder growls and muttcrs
after the Pickering flash. Long may
the storm last, for ii it should clear
before | have reached my place of
refuge faint indeed would be my
chance. If the moon should shine
and illumine my still wandering
feet, | am lost.
Soaked through, with my shirt
clinging to my body-coat l have
nono-the water running In rivulets
from my hair, staggering from side
to side. almost dead, and with q sick
ening dread OF falling in a faint fit. |
at length reach the narrow doorway
which: leads by a flight Of stairs TO
Maruscha's lodging. Luckily the
narrow passage has no door to the
street, so l stagger in somehow.
The mounting Of those steps is like
an interminable nightmare. l drag
myself up with long, agonized pauses
between. step by step. There is but
one hope left me now, that OF looking
again on Maruscha's face ere | die.
At last the topmost step is gained,
and see q bar of lirht streaming