The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1904-03-11
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( (ALEXANDROV|TCH-} !
2 By WILLIAM ii. OSBORNE {
> Copyright, 1903, by T. C. McClure....

Observation-Disclosures :.c>.scc-.o...tcs.S
AleXandrovitch was q man with q
memory-a memory of death. Alex
androvitch was still young, almost
boy, but he was younger then, when
lie had met death and walked part way
with her hand in hand. 1t was sum-
mer now, but then it had been winter.
Alexandrovitch, for the nonce cast out
Of good employment, had started in on
Shankowitch's mare to trudge from
one village to another.
He did not make fine appearance
altogether. His clothes were thin, and
he had tied his hands and feet in bur
laps-burlaps picked up in the gutter
and he had started off. Remember,
this had been some years ago. He had
started out bending his muscular body
to the gale, pressing on in the teeth of
the wind.
He had started out; that was ALL He
remembered but little else, for he was
but one-third of the way out of Nodo-
losk when the blizzard struck him. But
on he went, running brislly to keep
the blood warm in his limbs and fol-
lowing the road as best he could. And
then there had come time when he
felt his very soul freeze within him.
He cried aloud in agony. But he press
ed on.
Suddenly all this was changed. In
place Of the cold n drowsy warmth
spread over him. He thought that he
wus lying wrapped in furs before some
great log fire. Red flames danced be-
fore his eyes. Alcxandrovitch thought
that he danced and laughed aloud, he
felt so comfortable. But lie did not.
He was simply staggering. through the
deep snow, his head lolling from side
to side and his dark eyes staring at va
cancy. Finally he pitched headfore-
most
"Ah," muttcrcd Alexandrovitch to
bed of down! Now shall sleep and
sleep and Sleep"
And AleXandrovitch slept And the
blizzard roared about him. 1t was
strange thing that but twelve feet to
the right Of AleXandrovitch there was
a small cottage, almost covered with
the snow. Inside was young girl,
the daughter of Abram Saratovsky.
Saratovsky was Jew, Russian Jew.
There was but one window to this cot
tage, and In this window sat the young
girl, closely wrapped up in a rug, for
the cold entered and the snow drifted
in through the pane of glass. She was
peering out, watching the storm. Now
the snow dashed against the house
and blinded her. Then with sudden
rot an
wide vista outdoors. During one of
these swirls the girl caught glimpse
Of something dark that lay prone upon
q bed of snow. She shuddered. This
girl was alone. The family had gone
to market at nearby village. There
they would stay until the storm had
spent Its force. Anna Saratovslky peer
ed out ut the dark spot in the snow.
Obeying sudden impulse, she rose and
yentured to the door, Then she re-
turned.
at Is nothing" she assured herself
1T is not man. 1 am seeing sights.
It is the storm" Again she peered out
''It fs-it is man." she exclaimed to
herself-"a man who will surely freeze
to death"
She gathered her rug close about her.
Then with sudden energy she threw
open the little door and staggered, buff
feted by the storm, across the space
of twelve feet. 1t might just as well
have been twelve yards. The storm,
which had designs upon Alexandra
witch, prevented her from reaching
him. But only for time. Making an
extra effort, she cast off the rug that
hanpered her, and then, with sudden
leap, she plunged forward and fell
prone upon the dark object by the road.
side. The object stirred.
"He is alive" exclaimed Anna Sara
tovsky-"alive, and must save himw
The next few moments made wo.
man out OF mere girl. The work of
those few moments was the work Of q
lifetime. But she did it. Fifteen min
utcs later Anna Saratovsky was rub