The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-05-06
zeDiviine &the Human; or hree MoreDeaths

live In freedom, he sometimes thought.
They bound to let me out some day
or transport me to the mines. 1t is all
the same: everywhere one can live thus.
And I will live so 1t is possible and
necessary; not to live so is Madness"
During one OF such days. when he was
in a joyous. uplifted state, the governor
of the .nrison entered his cell at an
usual time and asked whether he felt
well and II he desired anything. Svetlo-
goub was astonished not understanding
for cigarettes. expecting refusal But
the governor promised TO send some i'm
medlately, and the warder did indeed
bring him packet and some matches.
Some one has probably intcrceded for
me unused Svetlogoub, and. having
lighted cigarette, he began pacing TO
meaning OF this change
Tho next day he was taken to. the
ready been several times. they did not
examine him. but OF the Judges.
without looking at him. got up from his
chair. as also did the others, ard. hold
ing In his hand a paper. began reading
with loud. unnatural and inexpensive
voice.
svetlogoub listened and looked at the
faces of tho Judges. They all avoided
looking at him and simply listened with
a solemn and gloomy air.
In the paper II was said that Anatoe
Syetlogoub. having been convicted OF
revolutionary activity with the object OF
upsetting, in the near or further future
the existing Government. is condemned
10 the loss OF all his rights and to capt
tai punishment through hanging. -
Svetlogoub listened and understood the
nounced by the officer, He remarked the
9bsnrdlty OF the W. words ef -,l I'm the near or
OF his rights who Is condemned to death.
but he did not at all grasp the actual
meaning OF that which had been read to
him.
Only after he was told to go. and went
together with a gendarme into the street
xI4l ha llon hoe y
announced
There is something amiss here. some
thing wrong senseless. 1t cannot
be''-he said to himself he was being
driven back to the prison
life that he could not imagine death. he
could not connect the consciousness OF
his. ego with death, with the absence of
goub sat down his bed and, closing
his eyes endeavorcd TO realize clearly
that which awaited him. and he could not
possibly do so. He was quite unable to
picture the absence of his own existence
the fact that men could desire to kill
him
Me. young, kind. happy. beloved by so
many thought he and recalled to mind
the love of his mother Natasha. his
VIII do it and why? And then what
VIII there be when 1 am no longer? 1t
cannot be-
The governor camo In. Svetlogoub did
''who Is it, What do you want?" said
Svctlogoub. not recognizing him. ''Oh.
yes. II is you, Well, then when Will it
be-" he asked
II do not know" said the governor and
having stood silent a few seconds ne sud-
denly said, with an insidious. tender
voice THE chaplain is here: he would
j like to prepare-he would like to you"
reed Is apybGs 9 aWaT eaed sye
goub.
Would you not like to write to some
IL . Il
Yes. yes; send me what is necessary. I
Will write"
The governor left.
''It Is evidently tomorrow morning
then" thought Svetlogoub. This Is the
usual thing. Tomorrow morning 1 shall
not be No, It can't be true. 1t
must be dream."
But the warder came. the real familiar
warder. and brought him two pens ink
and note paper and some blush envelopes
and placed the stool in front Of the table.
All this was quite real and no dream.
Il must not think not :hink thin s Yes, yes
He seated himself at the table and i'm
Ine1lately started to write.
My dearest own" he wrote and began
TO weep. Forgive me. forgive me for all
the grief 1 have caused you. Whether L
was mistaken or not, could not have
done otherwise, One thing l beg of you
But l have already said this thought
he Well, it doesn't mattor. there Is no
time to start the letter again
Don't greve about me?" he wrote on.
"a little sooner, little later-it is all the
same. is it not7 1 am not afraid and do
not act otherwise Only do you forgive
me and do not bear lll-feeing toward
them, toward those with whom [ worked.
could have done otherwise Forgive them;
they know not what they dol dare not
refer these words TO myself, but they are
I'm my soul and upift and console me.
Goodbye. 1 kiss your dear wrlnkled old
hands"
Two tears ono after the other fell on
the paper and blotted 1t.
II weep but not from grief or suffer
Ing but from contrition I'm the face OF the
most solemn moment OF my life and also
because / love you. Do not condemn
Prohorof for the very reason that he
was the cause OF my death II Is so
joyful to love him who is. will not say
to blame but whom one could condemn
or hate To love such man-one's enemy
lis such a Joy Tell Natasha that her
love has been my console tion. and 10y
did not fully realize this. but in the depth
| OF my soul I was conscious of IT It was
ca sier to live knowing that she existed
and loved me, Well, ] have said all.
He folded the letter. put it In an enve-
lopc and sat down on his bed. placing his
hands on his knees and swallowing his
| tears.
He stIl could not believe he had to die:
and again and again asking himself
whether he were not asleep. did he vainly
endeavor to wake.
This thought suggested to him another
|
dream. the awakening from which Will he
death. And II this be so. then may not
the consciousness of this worlds life be
| the awakening from the sleep Of pre-
| yIous life the details OF which one does
not remember. that life here is not the
! beginning. but only new form, / shall
! die and pass into a new state.
This idea pleased him. but whom hn
| wished to rest himself upon II he Teii
! that this thought indeed no thought OF
! nny kind can give feorlessness in the face
! of death At last he became weary, The
| brain no longer worked; he closed his
| eyes and for long sat without thinking,
! He reread the letter and noticing Pro-
| horoTs name. at the end. remembered
that the letter might be read. would Ger
! trinIy he read and that this would ruin
| Prohorof go
| my God what have I done?" he eN-
claimed and tearing the letter into long
strlns he carefully burnt them over thH
| hmm