Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1904-10-07
CHAPTER TX.

Inc aspect OF tne country mas cndHS
ed since / set out from Little Kolga one
early morning nearly n month ago. And
i, too, am changed. Like a forest tree
my frame has hardened and strength
ened, and with it my mind has east out
nervous fear and become calm and
strong. Since I got Maruscha's letter
at Luga telling me that she is at home
and safe, | am imbued with hope and
confidence, and have journeyed on, asso-
ciating myself with all sorts and condi-
lions of men without meeting with q
single misadventure
And now | ana actually in the govern
nent of Kovno, getting very near the
frontier, and my first difficulty is staring
me in the face. [ have noted it's ap-
Droach every time l have occasion to
take out Maruscha's little purse to pay
Tor frugal meal, and, calmly, philo-
sophical, l have thought:
''When the time comes I will find a
way"
It has come The landlord of the I'M
before whose door l sit has just received
on his dirty palm my last ten-copek
piece. l have avoided towns as much as
possible, but to 4 town am [ now bound,
having told Maruscha in Ty last letter
to write to Kovno. The landlord has
5ust informed me that it lies twelve
versts from here; / shall therefore be i'll
possession of my letter i'll a few hours.
l. rise and stretching myself take up
stout alder stick that l cut at the
beginning of my journey, and start at Il
steady pace up the street Soon the last
wooden hut is passed; the ianumerabe
patches of reclaimed land, and again the
Grackless wastes Of bog and moor stretch
away to right and left, over which the
sparrow hawks culver eternally.
"Hallo, brother! Be mercifulw ex-
claims a voice from the ground. I alb
ruptly stop, and looking down perceive
chat my stick, which l have been sway
kng from side to side, has narrowly es-
capped striking the head of young man
svho reclines ON the side of the ditch.
He blinks up at ME with a foolish maud
Hin smirk, and | at once perceive that
The is not sober.
II beg your pardon" 1 say, lifting my
That and continuing my walk.
"Hallo, stop! Wait for a fellow, little
sbrother" cries the man, as he scram-
&bles out of the ditch.
The request affects me disagreeably;
q want to get on, and prefer my own
company to that of a drunken--what?
IL
tpeasant farmer. What then?
He is dressed in light summer suit
of no provincial cut, though soiled and
spotted with grease. His hands show
white through the dirt on them, and on
the little finger OF the left is costly
ring. a thick gold snake with a diamond
I'm it's head.
He has struggled to his legs and stands
H. 2I,S
with his sIoping shoulders, his thin,
blotched face. from which protruded a
sharp, mean nose looking as if the point
had been dipped in red ink.
you might have put out my eye there,
my friend" he observes, shutting up the
left and cooking the other at me.
Il might, indeed" 1 respond, 'for I'M
I'll you spoke l saw you not Again I
beg your pardon
II accept your apology, brother" he
says condescendingly, and planting his
feet very far apart "And now lay
II ask your destination? Kovno, eh?"
Eyes, go to Kovno."
T. @'Ah, that is luck; l go there also, SO
we can proceed together. What think
YOU to see Il gentleman like me going on
foot the distance Of twelve versts2 l
have been cheated, robbed, my friend. of
all the money l had in my purse--tive
hundred roubleS. that is what had
when | left st. Petersburg. Well, let it
go! Help me along, brother, and l will
apay you for it. when we get to kovno.
My uncle is Governor of the Province
L am going on a visit to him. He IS
rrich."
He swaggers along, stretching his
snort legs to their utmost capabilities in
order to keep step with me; yet l attempt
not to adapt my walk to his, and pre-
serve a glum silence in my vexatien.
whilst I curb my longing to shake him
off my arm.
"What is your business?" he asks pres
emily.
Il am student" l reply shortly.
S'What faculty"
Medicine"
|'Studied in Moscow"
EST. Petersburg"
''What, st. Petersburg! /, too, am q
St Petersburg STUDENT
[ at once regret having spoken the
truth. He stops short at stares at me.
'sLet mc look at you, brother" Then
shaking his head-''No, may l be hung
IL ever | saw you before"
He still stares and his jaw drops until
his open mouth takes the form Of the
letter v And yet. l have seen some,
one like you-sOmewhere."
Suddenly he slaps his leg. "By all the
saintsr' he eXclaims. Il know now.
went to see some fellows hung once, and
one OF them. the ringleader, had the look
of you! Perhaps you remember the
case? Everybody talked Of it at the
time. They called the fellow L speak OF
VLADIMIR Alexandroyitch Lubanoff."
thrill to hear my name thus men
toned; nevertheless I ain sufficiently
master Of myself to reply with perfect
scomposure:
Eyes, l remcmber-all the particu
lars"
HE was a fine fellow, that Vladimir