Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1901-07-14

20 the disposal OF four weary. wret-hed
human creatures chained together nv
their ankles. osborne turned sick at IN,
sight. and hardly dared 10 look al thsm.
but the FIRST direct glance he threw n
their direction showed him that Their
were all men.
He could not ask any questions. but
produced his papers automatically. re-
sponded to the officers compliments
and offers OF hospitality as best no
could. and then cauEht his breath with
gasp that almost betrayed him when
one Of the remarked:
1--WE must be grateful for the delay
sir. which gives us the pleasure of hay
ing been ovcrtaken by you. A woman,
one of the gang. fell sick three days
ago, We waited a little for her, but
she could not 80 on. and We left her
! behind
Left her, Where"
AT the third settlement from here.
VI" thV hAbu lpAu' lpH must AhNo
passed It. These conviets are annoy
Ing beasts. II she is alive when we rc-
turn we shall be forced to make all the
Journey again on her account. But
COME Ia. Come to tho stove. You
looF ,rogen."
No man may follow tho impulse Of
his nature In Russia. Therefore oe-
borne. who would have given pounds TO
turn his horses heads at once. was fore
ed to remain, to play cards. to drink
with these M,Iscovttas. 20 listen to their
beartleas references 60 their gang" and
II wsn act tn tho following morning
whom he had waved last farewell to
che ehoorful offlcers and taken one lsst
shudderlng glance at the poor chained
wretehcs whom they surrounded. that
he felt himself a free agent once more.
where to. Exceleney2" asked his
moujik. DO you shoot to-day?"
No. mo- Osborne retorted Back
along the higA road, Nichol. hear that
By chaning our route | have missed
something wanted TO sec. Get me to
.hs third settlement from here tonight.
and will give you Ave roubles for
yourself."
With n slight shrug OF the shoulders
start, and In half an-hour they were
again en- route over the snow, with tho
sleigh bells iangllng in their ears. Those
5el's No merry and mirthful as he had
heard tl.w at home. carrying eugges-
sions of expeditions begun In hope. and
enhed l.. fres.de comfort, seemed to o.
borne utterly weary and discordant
iangitng out for mile on mile, and dying
away echoless over the unbroken plains
OF SNOW. TO think was impossible ex-
cent 20 che pad OF the horses hoofs and
tho ciseb of the bells on the arch above
their nsobs. They seemed to him to
beat upon his brain till his very heart
strove 10 araalpamate with them, and
throb ais pulses to their tune.
"yoir high nobility
Osborne started and looked down at
the man sitting below him with his feet
dangling over the edge of the slelgh,
and those wonderful boots. at once Q
mystery and torment to him. very
near the ground.
There rs smoke over the edge. Away
there to your high nobillty's right
THE third police settlement. do you
think"
What else7 rs not this the high
rosd. and where there is smoke on The
high road there % always the police
Osborne drew his breath hard. Tha
snow made his eyes burn and ache,
more than they mad ever ached for It's
brightest sunshine at home. but he
could dimly discern something that was
not ~ white as the snow. nor AZ heavy
ard dun as the clouds, curling upwards
aeaIrst tho Eorizos 10 his right.
~ Kept mis- eye VI IN 1t. and presently
tho ohiinneys, and then the roof slate