The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1905-09-29
A WIFE'S DEVOTlONE

desert stretches of Eastern Europe,
woman was wandering alone. some
times on foot, sometimes in peas
ants wagon, seldom resting by the
way, for Nadia Seliedof had not much
money, but she had certain object
which she kept unfinchingly in view
Ito join her husband, who was under
going long sentence in the Siberian
mines.
Karl Seliedofs crime was simple
one enough. He was Of a gentle ma
ture, and had written book-only
novel; but in it he had dared to
breathe the hateful word of liberty,
and for this heinous fault he had been
consigned to a felon's doom.
He was all Nadia had in the world;
but she was brave woman, and did
not allow herself to be utterly strick-
en- down by the blow when they took
him away from her No; she set about
at once devising ways and means to
obtain his freedom.
In their neighborhood there resided
part of the year great and powerful
lady named Princess Nariskine, who
was said to possess much influence
at court. She was popularity supposed
to be cold and proud to her equals.
naughty to her interiors: but Nadia
sought her, relying upon that univer-
sal and undefinable sympathy which
should exist between all women; nor
did she rely upon it altogether in
vain. Moreover, the princess had read
and admired Se1fedofs work. and for
its sake received the authors wife
kindly and graciously.
Nadia" she said, when the young
woman was about to leave, her eyes
bathed in grateful tears, Nadia, be-
lieve me, you have all my sympathy.
Whatever may lie in my power, will
do for you: but do not expect too
much; l cannot promise success"
Many weeks-long, lonely. miser-
able weeks of expectancy-passed
after this, and the wife of Karl Selie-
dof received no news. At last the
yearning to be near him again, and
to whisper in his ear that there
was hope for him, grew stronger and
stronger day by day, until she could
withstand it no longer; and then it
was that she conceived and under
took this terrible journey upon which
we find her, across the North Rus
sian plateau, over the Ural Mountains.
into the terrible land Of exile.
The winter was already far ad-
vanced when she reached the little
settlement on the banks of the river
Savda, to which her husband had
been consigned She had by some
means ascertained his number when
he was sentenced. and by this indica-
ton she traced him out.
little village. and the peasants whose
friendship she had hitherto sought to
help her on the way She would do
nothing that should attract observa-
ton, nothing that might interfere with
her purpose; so she made straight
for the mines. But, strangely enough,
now that she had almost reached her
destination, her heart began to sink
within her bosom. Suppose she could
not find him. And il she did, and he
were not pardoned, they would never
allow her to remain there. Then
how should she face that fearful jour
ney back again, away from him?
The wild thought now entered her
mind that she would defy the authori-
ties; she would commit some crime;
and then surely they would imprison
her too. All. yes; that would be some
thing. She would perhaps be made to
toll as he was to ling, be allowed to
remain somewhere near him who was
dearer to her thea her own life and
SOUL
Such were the thoughts that passed
through Nadia's fevered brain as she
stood by the mouth of an old, disused
pit. The gray twilight shadows were
darkened down, and snow was falling
softly.
She shivered with the intense
cold, for on the journey her clothes
had become ragged and torn, and ex-
posed her arms and feet to the wintry
blast. The place was quite deserted;
not ever military guard had been
posted there; but there was basket
attached to windlass which had
been used to descend the shaft. With
out hesitation she got in. knowing
that her weight would carry her
down; but the rope was rotten. and
she was instantly precipitated head
long into the black abyss.
The suddenness of the fall took
away her consciousness. but II was
only for a moment, and then she was
aroused by the shock of ice-cold
water. She had plunged In it up to
her neck. and was wildly struggling
for breath.
IN throwing out her hand. however
she struck against a rock. and cling
ing frantically. managed at last to
drag herself out of the subterranean
pool. She was now on dry ground
t,,,& o,d1aao dfdacu1tfac eth aurro,,nd