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

arrested by the grated window OF prs
sn.
In an instant I have sprung from my
s1w nallet where-God is pltifui.-1
Aaye been sleeping away the last few
hours of my mortal existence. L stand
here on my prison floor, in full posses
sion Of all my faculties, feeling the
warm, swift blood coursing in my veins.
fall to pacing the narrow limits Of
my cell with rapid strides A burning
mpatience of inaction is consuming me
"A pressing desire to be doing some
fhing to bridge over the minutes which
must clapse before the moment arrives
when / shall stride to the scaffod, with
aauntleSs MEN, to meet my doom. My
acute sense of hearing detects the chnk
of the trap i'll my door. A pair of eyes
are looking at me out of brown, beard
ell face | smile and nod affably.
Good morning, Vladimir Alexandra
Witch | am glad to see you in good
spirits" says my official.
And l thank you for your good
wishes. my friend" l reply. but my
Breakfast2 I tell you, l have fierce
hunger upon me. Remember it will be
She last time I shall have the pleasure
of gratifying my keen appetite, until /
take my first meal of nectar and ambro-
STA, and they might chance to keep me
Gong waiting for it on the other side"
My official laughs. Keep your mind
easy. your breakfast comes; and look
you" lowering his voice, 'just because
4 love brave spirit, little brother, |
will deprive myself Of some caviar |
aaye in reserve for my own relish. y
f,,.o nry-
reaching my hand toward him through
the trap. May you never die hungry.
One minute. Tell me, if you know-if
you have seen him-the lad-keeps he a
good hearth"
Ny voice shakes in my eagerness,
whilst | rifle my pockets for my last
five-rouble note. '"Take it, it is all |
have, or | would give you more. How
bears he himself? He is but nineteen"
II saw him even now," replies the
man, 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 go forth"
Listen | will take your message,
just because you are brave one, and l
like YOU"
II embrace thee, my brother" l muir
mur fervently; and he hurries away.
| am alone again, and continue my
walk; but now my mind is troubled with
a vision of the fair-faced boy stretched
On his pallet, and anon l seem to see his
writing body on the gallows l shud-
der and smother groan that rises to
my lips. and turn to seek comfort in the
reflection that it will soon be over for
him. He is sure to faint. God grant
itr'
Approaching steps in the corridor. My
door is unlocked, thrown open, and here
is my breakfast and the caviar. When
the official enters l wear a smiling face
again, for. l have a character to sus-
tain. No man should have it to say that
be saw cloud on the brow of Vladimir
Alexandrovitch Lubanoff on the morning
Of his execution. The official is watch
sng me curiously.
How long now before the play be-
gins, my friend?" 1 ask between the
bites.
1t gratifes me to note how he hushes
sed, and stares at me space, as If taken
aback, before he stammers, Twenty
minutes, EXcellency."
| laugh The motion of an official
fhrusting a title on prisoner amuses
me- After another prolonged stare he
seayes me.
Twenty minutes! Half an hour hence
I shall be a lump of cold senseless clay.
And that mysterious actuating essence
we call soul, what of it? What will be-
come OF it, forced from the tenement
wherein it has, for twenty-seven years,
ruled supreme? VIII it, too, be extin-
xuished like torch that Is stamped out
ander the foot of man? Away vain spec
Nations. Let me rather, in these my
sast moments, sum up the good that has
been mine. l have tasted as much hap
piness as this world can offer, and
geave it ere it begins to pail. l have
known the rare blessing Of true friend
ship.
My spirit flies out to meet thee, o
my friend, and clasp thee in a farewell
embrace" l have-I still rejoice i'll the
beauty and perfect excellence of wom-
aus pure and entire love.
"Ah, my Maruscha, thou art my only
regret Could l but take thee with me,
my dove. My better soul! For l know
That without me thy life henceforth will
be but a joyless cropping through val
Sey where there is no sin"
l am surprised by tear on my cheek,
and dash it hastily away. Boom! 1t is
kho Quarter hell sounding from tba fort
sess clock. l close my eyes, and grad
sally q feeling Of pedce descends on me.
Now | can pray. My hands meet and
Mttrlaee.
spirit of perfect Good, forgive me my
aims Fortify me and my comrades in
snr last agony. Let the evil we have
None perish with our bodies, and the good
return to dwell eternally with Thee
hear the tramp of soldiery approach
ing, and raise my head.
ATar,Scho fhou shalt NOT bIuSb for