Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-04-20

tdUl6.
But what ought one to do-giv'
away ones fortune to the poor as Chris
commanded?" the girl asked earnestly
Zone can certainly do that If ont
cares to, answered Vladimir. "That il
not so hard to do Only that is moi
enough, and that is not the main thing.
"Then what is the main thing?" she
asked, looking at him with astonisheo
eyes.
Vladimir looked steadily at her, and
mis- gray eyes began to burn and glow.
1.-THE main thing is to renounce your
own SELF" he said 1T is to have nc
other care day or night than how to help
these your humber brothers. 1t is to
give up your soul to them. That is love
and help indeed. "
He began to talk to her about the
people-their want aud misery, their
rights and their possible future He
was a fine and animated speaker and
possessed the gift of carrying the hearer
along with him The girl had never
heard such words before Her brother
had expressed the same ideas to her, but
somehow bis discourses had always
seemed to her dry and authoritative,
possibly because she had been accus-
toned to think of him as teacher,
This strange visitor, who had, as 1t
were, suddenly dropped from the clouds.
opened for her door into new, un.
known magic world. Yet his talk trou.
bled but did not satisfy her 1t seemed
to her that there was III 1t something
unfinished, something left unsald. and
she tried to control the agitation into
which 1t had thrown her, hut could not
The embroidery fell from her hands, and
her cheeks flushed deeply She held her
breath as she listened.
"You see, Vladimir concluded
quietly, 1.-The way is plain. We shall
not see the promised land. We are going
toward it. Gird up your loins. Do you
remember what the gospel says? Leave
home and friends and come to US, to
your brother.
"No, will not 60 to you. don't
want bloodshed, she answered after a
silence.
1--WE call people to self sacrifice, not
to bloodshed." he answered. 1T is not
our fault that nothing in the world is
ever accomplished without pain
"No, no, that is not it. 1 will never
join you," the girl repeated. "You
spoke of the gospel. l believe that the
whole truth is in it. What is wanted is
that people should live as Christ taught,
and then every one in the world will be
happy and people will all live like
brothers, and there will be no need to
fight and kill each other You see, we
shall never agree" she added, bending
over her work again.
At this point they were called to sup
per, and the conversation broke off.
Vladimir renewed it several times
during the following days, but met
with a degree Of obstinate resistance
which he had in no way expected.
Katia was even no longer troubled by
his talk. 1t seemed as if his words had
lost for her their original charm. Her
criticisms grew more and more decisive
She was not particularly gifted by ma
ture, and with her the process of think
ing was slow and difficult, but she
thought seriously and conscientiously
following out train of reasoning to its
logical conclusion and then holding
fast to that conclusion 1t was evident
that she had been thinking deeply over
what her guest had said. She had even
caught up his terminology, and the re-
suit was that she stuck to her own
point more firmly than ever.
1--WE disagree as to the means, she
would say. She no longer added, And
will never agree upon that, but now
Vladimir himself was inclined to think
so. To meet with such obstinacy where
he had expected an easy victory at first
irritated the impatient young revolu'
Zionist and made him feel disappointed
in this girl who had produced on him
so strong and sudden all impression.
But afterward he was forced to give
way, and this still further increased her
fascination. Vladimir, nervous and i'm
pulsive, perceived in this young girl
calm and steady strength of character
which he himself did not possess, and
his quickly fired enthusiasm awoke in
d new form Their relative positions
underwent great change. Now when
Katia sat with her visitor it was not
he, but she, who started political con-
versations He, indeed, avoided them.
What was the use of arguing? He had
lost all hope of converting her His self
assurance was quite gone, and he be-
came depressed and gloomy Sometimes
they would sit together without speak
ing a word
What is the matter with you?" ask
ed Katia one day, observing the change
in him. "You are not we'll.
mo, l am quite well. Why?" he ask.
ed in his turn.
why, You are so'-
So what? Sulky?" suggested
Vladimir.
"M-m-yes, sulky."
Il don't know l feel that way some
times" he answered.
Their long discussions and the pecul-
lar mental atmosphere in which they
had passed these days had made init
mate friends of them
Several minutes passed in silence.
Katia moved the lamp nearer and care
fully examined the pattern traced on
her work.
"What are you making?" vladimir
asked.
"a present for nurse, " she answered,
and then went OIL i'll another tone. as
though thinking aloud, ~ thought that