Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-01-03
"a YALE OF '54. So

knew that ! loved her enough 10 uIe
for her-and you. Believe me, was
as happy in the thought as I now am
in hoping to live for her."
There was suspicious moisture In
the old soldiers eyes. He turned ST.
len,ly to his companion and held out
his hand. and the young man pressed
it with a look that was more eloquent
than many words. Then. as became
men who live out their emotions and
do not fritter them in idle talk. they
returned to ordinary everyday topics
But Desmond's heart glowed within
him. and upon his face was glory.
They Joined the other two, and as
the dark of the pine woods began 10
tighten before them Hilmar and Des-
mond slipped unostentatiously behind
shortly the hustle Of departure would
be in full swing. Romance bade them
linger few minutes in the shadow of
the forest where their love had had
its awakening and which they could
never hope to see again.
A few hundred yards ahead the
others stepped .out into the growing
dawn light and strobe across the waste
| of powders between the woods and
the shore. Above the rocks of the bay
showed the masts of the yacht, the
little II. y. s. burgee still fiuttering
at the main. A sigh of relief went up
from 80 British throats as they recog-
nlzed the familiar emblem. They
mounted the great stones beamingly
and looked down upon their floating
home Beside the taffrail sat an old
man, motlonless and unresponsive to
their gladstone shout. His hand lean
ed upon the bulwarks. At his feet
lay broken pipe. His whole attitude
betOkened one tired to the limits Of
exhaustion.
They ran up to the boat that swurc G
Idly from the stern, mounted to the
deck and went toward him. Overcome
with the weariness Of long vigil, old
Stefan slept the sleep of the just,
faithful to his post. They reused him,
clapping him heartily upon the shoul-
der, and he stared at them drowsily.
Then his eyes dwelt upon the colonel's
face, and he bowed his head before
him In proud humility.
~ have promised, and l have done"
said he and led the way TO the saloon.
Ranged round the floor six sleeping
Russians lay and snored their lustiest,
still deep in the influence Of the lau-
danum with which the old man had
dosed their vodki. $50
"rhe pigs" quoth he. "Hear them
grunt!. Al, the cunning little pigeons!
They thought they had a prize. ]
made pretense Of hiding smuggled
spirits for the I.apps,. one of noble
birth, taking care to be In sight of
their watch Flo, hol How they
laughed when they cadght the poor
old man. And, within ten minutes
they slept like tho dead VIII the ex-
cellency throw them overheard? They
are but soldiers, scum of Cossacks."
The excellency declined these drastic
measures with thanks. However
righteously they might appeal to a
Finn, Englishmen. could not bring
themselves to murder sleeping foes.
This was explained with difficulty to
Stefan and Lars while the unconscious
prisoners were being lugged ashore.
They freely expressed their disappoint-
ment aud the opinion that vermin
should be destroyed wherever met.
The hard won spoil was taken
aboard, and boat set out for the sea
opening, carrying tow rope. The
yachts bow was set westward, and
she glided slowly between the rocks
and waited In deep water for the
others on the sand, where the fate of
the prisoners was still to be decided.
Desmond and Hllmar were wandering
toward the strand as they unwillingly
left the forest Of mingled sorrow and
delight.
II feel 1t my duty to shoot the dog"
said the colonel, looking to where Paul
Preobeslas stood between two sailors.
Hes the relentless foe Of Poland
aye, and Finland too"
1--WE could hardly have him murder
ed In cold blood" urged Barr, "how-
ever much he deserves it."
"Murderedw shouted the colonel.
"If ever there was righteous execu-
ton due, 1t is his. Do you know how
many innocent lives call aloud for his
bloodT'
"Tbat may be-" answered Barr ear
nestly, "but we are not appointed his
Judges. Let be this time. The venge-
ance of God must overtake"-
"a wild yell came from the yacht, and
the men upon her decks gesticulated to
them frantically. The returning boat
shot from her sides and spun across
the little lagoon toward them, impelled
by desperate strokes. They leaped up
on the powders that overshadowed
them to see what this might mean.
Out of the forest swung squadron
of cavalry at the gallop. the men bend
ing forward In their saddles, the silt of
the shore rising in n cloud beneath their
horses dying feet, the naked blades
twinkling In their hands. At their
head rode like storm the lieutenant
and roared them on to slaughter. Half
way between the charging line and the
shore Desmond and Hilmar were
wheeling round in hopeless desperation
to fee.
A cry peeled from between the colo
nel's lips, scream kin to the agony
of the dam DER whose young the eagle
hovers, and. springing to the ground,
he rushed toward them. Two hundred
wards were still to run, and the horses