The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-11-21

soldier. wagglng his head as one who
| knew God rest his soul.'
Ivan, take his place" said the lieuten-
ant. ''Isphim must have his window to
| himself" 49,
| LET Ivan stay where ne is." said Var
| vara Petrovna, coming quietly forward
| and loosening the dying mans grip OF
! his rife. II will take the corporals
| place."
She walked TO the window. opening the
breech win the air OF an expert 10 see
| Ii the magazine was full The dying cor
poral lay grooming on the floor but we
could not stop 10 attend 20 him. Sonia
knelt down, took his head I'm her lap. and
soothed inm as one might soothe sick
| child: her tears rained on his face as she
kissed him and caressed him and MUIR
INJURED words OF comfort
Water water!" groaned the corporal.
"Akulina! Mashaw cried Sonia 10 the
servant beyond the doorway: bring wa
ter quicklyi"
There is none, Baryshnia." answered
the frightened Masha; ''ihe corporal
threw the last drop out OF the window
Sonia slipped "a cushion under the
wounded mans head, and went TO seek In
the empty cans; with all her zeal she
could collect no more than thimbleful,
which she administered 20 her patient
Narvsra Petrovna stood at her post in
the window, tall and terrible leveling her
gun and firing as If IL were the most
natural thing i'm the world.
LAY da Varvara Petrovna," said the
soldiers approvingly: 'moledetz! she's a
heroine"'
The dying man soon renewed his piteods
cries for water.
"Varvara, uncle, lieutenant. for Heav-
ems sake get some water!" cried Sonia,
going frantically from one TO another.
Hush, ssfd fsffaFa1- without turning
round. you disturb our aim"
There is no water but in the spring
said the colonel.
Sonia disappeared from the room A
minute later we were Etupefied with hor-
ror. A little slender figure I'm pink darted
out upon the lawn from behind the cor
ner of the house and sped toward the.
spring; IL was Sonia with a bucket In
her hand, running as fast as her legs
could carry her. A bullet from the
enemy ploughed up the grass at her feet
but she ran on unheeding. We held our
breath and waited Fhe che
chenians had ceased firing. a tall form
arose and stood upon the garden wall-a
handsome young hillman. dressed in a
fez-shaped lambskin cap and long Che
chenian robe, with a belt full of silver
hilted knives.
1T is Arak himself, the son of FeraZ,'
said the lieutenant.
varvara Petrovna slowly raised her gun
and covered him.
Down with your gun. Varvarav cried
stopped firing" She lowered her weapon.
Inc young chief jumped down and
walked toward Sonia salutlng graceful
~ They exchanged few words: Arak
took the bucket from her and filled II al
the spring. As she put out her hand To |
receive IL from him he perceived the |
bandage on her finger. He paused and |
questioned her; question and answer were
lost TO us. Instead OF handing her the |
bucket he advanced side by side with |
her up to the house. She took the water |
I'M Fn md 10 fh. hts
which she had made her exit. Arak came |
close under the windows and asked who |
Was In command: the lieutenant stood !
forward IN the open window.
congratulate you, sir, upon the yalor /
or the women OF your garrison" said |
Arak, with a polite little smile but |
Chechens do not fight with women. We /
are disarmed by the courage and devo- |
1lnn-nf-l -lhil-ladX,- house which |
shelters her Is sacred. and we have no |
more heart for the attack. /. There |
are plenty OF foes for US beyond the pass; |
We 90 TO meet them. FAREWELL
lie bowed and returned 10 his men. In |
Few minutes there were no Chochens |
TO be seen on the hillside.
Some hours later a detachment of the |
neutenants regiment brought us news OF |
an engagement I'm the valley. Arak and |
M ms father had both been wounded and |
hillmen was so complete that the upris- |
Ing was practically at an end
sonia attended the corporal till the end, |
X.
rose from her place beside the couch |
where he had been laid, she fell fainting |
on the floor: the excitement OF action |
ended, she had nothing to sustain her |
she was put 10 bed I'm state OF high |
fever. After thanksgiving service, |
winch Varvara Petrovna held in the |
drawing room, the lieutenant and / left |
the house pursued by the hospitable in |
functions OF the colonel 10 be his guests |
as soon as our fortunes should bring us |
again to the neighborhood OF the Okoya. !
met the lieutenant year later at a
dance at Government House, Tinis We
talked OF the eventful day we had spent
In the colonels house
shall always be grateful for that
adventure | said 1t supplied me with
subject for picture"
IL did more for me-" said the lieuten-
ant, smiling. II spent a month there i'm
the autumn and found myself wife 4
Then the cards"---
Were true prophets"
congratulate you, my dear fellow;
Narvara Petrovna seemed To me wom-
an whom any man might be proud to-
Then go I'm and win her-she is still
iree. Here comes my wife
Sonia, you haven't forgotten our old COM
rade in arms?'-Cornhill Magazine