The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1904-12-22
CHAPTER l.

Ot1sAPIEh i.
1t Ia patch of sunlight tiny
patch, no larger than the palm Of my
hand. l dreamily follow the bar Of glis
tening notes upward, until my eyes are
arrested by the grated window Of a pris
on,
In an instant have sprung from my
low pallet, where-God is pitiful!--I
have been sleeping away the last few
hours Of my mortal existence. I stand
here ON my prison fooR In full posses
Eon OF all my faculties, feeling the
warm, swift blood coursing In nay veins.
/ fall to pacing the narrow limits Of
my cell with rapid strides. A burning
impotence of inaction Is consuming me
IA pressing desire to be doing some
thing to bridge over the minutes which
must olapss before the moment arrives
whan shall stride to the scaffold, with
dauntless mien. to meet my doom. My
acute sense OF hearing detects the clink
Of the trap In my door. A pair Of eyes
are looking at me out of a brown. beard
Cd face. I smile and nod affably.
Good morning, Vladimir Alexandra
witch. am glad to see you In good
spirits." says my Official.
"And I thank you for your good
wishes. my friend" I reply. "But my
breakfast I tell you, have a fierce
hunger upon me. Remember It will be
the last time shall have the pleasure
Of gratifying my keen appetite, until /
take my first meal Of nectar and ambro-
sia, and they might chance to keep me
long waiting for 1t on the other side"
80 81 L. ,tvId
easy, your breakfast comes; and look
you." lowering his voice, "just because
love a brave spirit, little brother. I
will deprive myself Of some caviar I
have in reserve for my OWL relish"
Thanks, my Christian friendP' 1 cry,
reaching my hand toward him through
the trap. MAY you never die hungry.
One minute. Tell me, IL you know-if
you have seen him---the lad-keeps he a
good hearth
My voice shakes In my eagerness,
whilst l rife my pockets for my last
6ve-rouble note. Take it, it Is all
have, or I would give you more. How
bears he himself? He is but nineteenv'
II saw him even now" replies the
sian, as he seizes the note. He does
badly. He eats not. and his strength has
left him. He lies on his bed and moves
not"
At these words the sweat starts to my
brow, and the water to my eyes.
Friend, good friend" l whisper
hoarsely, "see him again! Tell him that
Vladimir Alexandrovitch bids him be
brave! Tell him to eat-he must eat
ere he 60 FORTH
'Listen- 1 Will take your message,
Just because you are a brave one. and I
Ike you"
~ embrace thee, my brother!w l MUIR
muir fervently: and he hurries away.
I am alone again, and continue my
walk; but now my mind is troubled with
. vision Of the fair-faced boy stretched
On his pallet, and anon seem to see his
writhing body on the gallows. shud-
der and smother q groan that rises to
my lips, and turn to seek comfort In the
reflection that 1t will soon be over for
him. HE II sure to faint. God grant
lti"
Approaching steps In the corridor. My
door Is unlocked, thrown open, and here
b my breakfast and the caviar. When
the Official enters I wear a smiling face
again, for l have character to sus-
tain. No man should have it to say that
he saw a cloud OF the brow of Vladimir
Alex androvitch Lubanoff on the morning
Of his execution. The oficial 10 watch
ing me curiously.
How long now before the play be-
gins, my friendT ask between the
bites.
1t gratifies ne to note how he Pushes
red, and stares at me space, as II taken
s1ack. before he stammes. Twenty
minutes, Fxcellency."
/ laugh. The notion Of an official
thrusting a title on a prisoner amuses
me. After smother prolonged stare he
leaves me.
Twenty minutesI Half an hour hence
I shall be lump Of cold, senseless clay.
And that mysterious actrating essence
we call soul, what OF It? What will be-
come Of II, forced from the tenement
wherein It has, for twenty-seven years,
ruled supreme? Will 1t, too, be extin-
guished like torch that Is stamped out
under the foot Of man? Away vain spec
ulations. Let me rather, in these my
last moments sum up the good that has
been mine have tasted as much hap
piness as this world can offer, and /
leave 1t ere 1t begins TO pail. l have
known the rare blessing of true friend
uhip.
MY spirit hies out to meet thee. o
my friend. and clasp thee in a farewell
embrace heve-I still rejoice in the
beauty and perfect excellence Of wom-
ans pure and entire love!
"Ah, my Maruscha. thou art my only
regret. Could I bat take thee with me.
my dove! Ny better soul! For know
that without me thy life henceforth will
be but joyless cropping through a val
ley where there IL no SIM"
am surprised by tear on my cheek.
and dash it hastily away Boom! It is
the quarter bell sounding from the fort
ress clock I close my eyes, and grad
ually a feeling OF peace descends on me-
Now can pray. Ny hands meet and
into rlace
spirit OF perfect Good. forgive me my
sins. Tortify me and my comrades In
our last agony. Let the evil we have
done perish with our bodies, and the good
return to dwell eternslly with Thee!"
hear the tramp OF soldiery approach
hg. and raise my head.
"Maruscha, thou Shalt not blush for
mep' 1 whisper. and 1 feel that it is
radiant face show them as they enter.
advance to meet my executioner. place
my arms in position and silently submit
to be pinioncd Not word is spoken,
and in a minute we are ready. and pass
Ing in file along the corridor to join the
others in the hall OF the prison.
cast a swift glance from face to face
Of my fellow martyrs. which is answer
ed by fash Of recognition and greeting
from all save ore, and that Il poor yasil.
he is a sorry spectacle; his blue eyes roll
vaguely. without speculation: his ashen