Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1904-09-16

we are not ripe for liberty: Onc-half
is asleep. the other is i'll the thrall OF
consuming passions, and nothing at
tempted in the heat of passion can nave
good results. Conviction must have ma
tured into steady calm ere action is pro-
ceeded to. 1t has ever been mad. biind
rush at the enemy"
'F'ilIed with a noble enthusiasm puts
in Maruscha. "Oh, Vladimir, thou art
indeed changed The cause, then. is moth
ING to thee now" She looks mournfu!lF
up at me.
Not so, Maruscha. 1t is as ever. cE-
erything to me. love liberty more than
life; only my opinion as to how to attain
it is changed Hitherto | was at the
wrong end. Mistake thou not the Iurid
flare of passion for the pure flame OF en-
thusiasm? / fear it is So
VANS knock and signal interrupts US.
Maruscha is leaving me to open The
door / detain her.
Thou art disappointed in me- sweet
love?" / whispered, watching heG face
with anxiety.
Her eyes seek the ground. i-.--ull-
derstand thee not" she falters.
"Yet thou canst trust me!' l breathe.
The blue, bewildered eyes turn Oh me,
and our Clances meet. | sec hers clear
,, and kindle until naught shines in them
but pure, uEmiyed love. Then suddenly,
as if by an unaccountable impulse. she
puts her two hands on ms shoulders and
mu,murs, Thou art my very soul and
my conscience, Vladimir! Thy thoughts,
| thy aspirations, thy God are surely
minen
She stoops and presses her lips to my
| forehead, and leaves ME quickly to ad-
nit Ivan.
lie enters with coat over his arm,
and after greeting us, produces from his
pocket n soft felt hat, which lie throws
| on a chair Now he comes and stands
| before me, regarding me critically.
"How long hast thou been up to-day!
he inquiries 1T length
"Only about an hour. l have hus-
banded nv forces for this evening"
Maruscha makes us some tea, and
whilst we take it Ivan tells us the latest
news, Fifty men and women have been
arrested On suspicion Of being implicated
| with the Nihilsts Three assassinations
Of tyrants have occurred in different
parts Of the country, and everybody is
talking of the daring header in to-day's
issue Of the "Eoice Of the People Ivan
produced the newspaper and read it to
| lis.
And all this falls Fat on me- No long
| er can l rejoice at these things, they
only make me sad. The day has gone
by when the walls OF a city could be
made to fall at the blast OF trumpets. My
heart is full Of the approaching leave
taking, and gloomily l watch the twilight
| shadows creep mp and close around us.
! seem to sec the relentless angel Of fate
pointing to the gates of my Paradise,
and bidding me depart into the dark
unknown region without, and alas.
| may not even take with me my Eve.
| Maruscha scarcely speaks q word. She
stitches away at the shirt, and when
she has finished it, busies herself pack
ing some things for me in n bag. AS
the shades deepen, Ivan also becomes
silent. He goes over to the window and
| stands with his back to us, blowing
tune through his lips.
Maruscha comes to- me. l fold her 81
lently in my arms, and thus we remain,
heart to heart, cheek to cheek. At length
Ivan says, but without looking around,
| "We had better not let it get too late,
Vladimir
One long, silent kiss press on Maru-
scha's lips ere l release her. "When-
ever thou wilt, Ivan," I reply, clearing
my voice, for it sounds strangely husky.
Hearing Maruscha stir about the
room, Ivan judges that he may return.
begin to get into the coat he has
brought forward for me, while Maruscha
stands and straightens the hat. He
takes it from her hand, and puts it on
/ my head, slouching it down in front to
almost conceal my face. Maruscha puts
up her face and we solemnly kiss each
other. Ivan draws my hand through his
arm, and Maruscha precedes us to the
door.
"Adieu. Maruscha." Ivan extends
his hand toward her.
She takes it and swiftly, ere he is
aware Of her intention, she lifts it to
her lips.
'Adieu, and God bless thee my broth
err she murmurs, with eyes trimming
with gratitude.
I, holding his arm. feel the shock that
thrills his body, but his voice is clear and
calm as he replies, God bless thee also,
my sister"
Maruscha stands watching us as we
slowly descend the stairs. At the foot
l pause to wave my hand toward her,
though her form is swallowed up by The
darkness, and we issue forth into the still
| evening.
To be continued)
|