Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-10-11
Observation-Disclosures
! A WIFE'S DEVOTION

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Right across the wintry plains and
desert stretches of Eastern Europe, a
woman was wandering alone, some
times on foot, some ines in a peas
ants wagon, seldom resting by the
way, for Nadia Seliedof had not much
money, but she had certain object
which she kept unfl .nch'ngly 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 gentle ma
ture, and had written book-only a
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 fe,on'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 1t altogether in
vain. Moreover, the princess had read
and admired Seiielof's wofk. 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-
Whatever may lie in my power, l 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 Seize
}.
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-
tion she traced him out.
This time she avoided the inn the
little village, and the peasants whose
friendship she had hitberto- 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 coult
not find him. And if she did, and he
were not pardoned, they would nevel
allow her to remain there. TheI
how should she face that fearful jour
ney back again, away from him?
The wild thought now entered he
mind that she would defy the authorl
ties; she would commit some crime
and then surely they would imprisol
her too. All, yes: that would be some
thing. She would perhaps be made t.
toll as he was toiling, be allowed t
remain somewhere near him who wa
dearer to her than her own life an
soul.
Such were the thoughts that passe
through Nadia's feyerel brain as sh
stood by the mouth of an old, disuse
pit. The gray twilight shadows wer
darkened down, and snow was fallin
softly.
Sl:e shivered with the intens
cold for on the journey her clothe
had become ragged and torn, and e,
posed her arms and feet to the wintr
blast. The place was quite deserted
not ever military guard had bee
posted there; but there was baske
attached to windlass which ha
been used to descend the shaft Will
out hesitation she got in, KNOWN
tina her weight would carry he
down; hut the rope was rotten, an
she was instantly precipitated heat
long into the black abyss.
The suddenness of the fall too
away her consciousness, but it wa
only for moment, and then she wa
aroused by the shock of : ice-col
water. She had plunged in it up t
for breath.
In throwing cut her hand, however
she struck against a rock, and clinf
ing frantically, marNged at last t
drag herself out of the subterranea
pool. She was now on dry grount
ed her.
1t was pitch dark. Whittier mus
she turn? She could not so back. &c
there was the water. The only thin
to be done was to go blindly on, fee
ing her way by the walls of the pit
But it was terrible journey. Sh
had lost her shoes in the pool, and
every stop her naked feet were CT
and torn by sharp stones. She wa
drenched to the skin and the W.
skirts clingins TO her legs impede
her progress; so she took off her II
per garments, and found that 81
could walk more freely. A little flu
ther on, her feet touched somethin
soft and clammy. She stopped dow
but drew away her hand again in no
ror as she felt the face Of ma
covered with a grizzly beard, cold ar
dead!
Evidently some unhappy prison'