Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-04-11
S o N l A..
IOriginal.]

Russia, and i don't wish to go there
again. The people are determined to
be free, and the government is de-
termined to nip freedom in the bud.
was warned at st. Petersburg not
to get entangled with conspirators,
but having come to Russia to make
translation of a rare Russian book I
was obliged to mingle with the people.
! went every day, by permission, to
the library, where received the book,
and under the eye of an assistant Ii
brarian did my translating. My watch
err was young girl with fair north
ern complexion and eyes of heavens
own blue. Though she did not distrust
me she conscientiously kept an eye OF
me- Her name was Sonia. l fire.
Quently called on her for the meaning
Of words and such like assistance,
which she cheerfully gave in sweet
childlike voice. became attached
to her and asked her to room with me.
My principal reason for doing so was
this: While she was too young and deli
cate to take any part In the prevailing
attitude of the people toward the gov
eminent she knew something of what
warned me against a friendship with
one Of my own sex, which / discon-
tinued, and fortunately, for my friend
was suddenly arrested, and that was
the last or any of her family saw or
heard Of her.
Sonia while my roommate conceived
the idea of going with me to America.
In this l encouraged her. She was SO
gently disposed that Russia in it's pres
emit state was no place for her. She
had enough money to pay her way to
the United States, and agreed to take
her into my service while preparing
my manuscript for publication, after
which l hoped to find something else
for her to do. AS neared the close Of
my work we made our preparations for
departure, Sonia apparently anxious to
get away.
We had applied for our passports,
and mine had come In from the Ameri-
can embassy. Sonia met with much
delay in getting hers. Indeed, she
feared that would have to go without
her. The evening that my passport ar
rived we were reading my personal de-
scription in it when 1t occurred to me
that, while we were not at all alike,
our height, hair eyes and complexion
might all be designated by the same
words.
inJ ~ I cail IN hnr
III necessary, l can go Oh and when
across the border can send you my
passport. l might wait for you at 10
nigsberg."
She put her arms around me and
kissed me; then we went to bed.
The next morning when ] awoke
was surprised to see Sonia's bed emp
ty, and her clothes were not where she
had laid them the night before. Aston
ished, got up and made thorough
search of the room. My best costume
was missing.
1.-The little thief" / exclaimed. ITO
think that should have been so taken
in by her, And / shed tear not for
the loss Of my suit. but that the girl ]
had intended to befriend should have
treated me thus. Then ! noticed that
my passport was missing. Sonia must
have taken II. This somewhat changed
my views. l remembered our CONVEX.
sation of the night before. and 1t occur.
red to me that she might have gone on
under my passport and would send II
after passing the border But why do
this without my consent? Why, to
avoid duplicating me, of course.
When / went TO breakfast i saw by
the faces of those about me that some
thing unusual had happened, and l was
informed that the same morning before
daylight the chief Of police had been
stabbed in his bed. If the assassin
was known the government kept the
knowledge to themselves.
After having lived year among such
murders my nerves were completely
unstrung, and / was more than ever
anxious to get away. But l could not
move without my passport. / could
not but blame Sonia for having taken
II.
Two days later on going to my room
in the evening there lay my passport
on the table, but without a scrap OF
explanation. l was delighted, for my
theory was confirmed. i set out the
next morning, expecting to see Sonia
at Konigsberg, but was doomed to
disappointment. saw nothing of her,
though l remained there several days.
! went to Bremen and took the steamer
on which i had engaged passage for
Sonia and myself.
! was lying In my berth the FIRST
night out thinking Of her whom had
expected to be my roommate on the
voyage when the stateroom door opened
and some one entered. / turned up
the light, and there stood Sonia. But,
oh, how changed. Her face, from the
soft innocent face Of girl, had become
hard as stone. She sank down on her
knees beside me and put her arms
about me. Neither spoke word
Presently she arose, took on her dress
and got into the other berth.
When arose the next morning moth
ing would have induced me to share
Sonia's secret. She did not ask me to.
Not word Of explanation did she give
a