The Miller sun. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 190?-19??, 1906-08-08
Prisoners and Captives
Goo
BY n. s. MERRIMAN

'"HthNu 40 SIN was III luIS, IL Was
difficult to distinguish that this was q
woman at all, and yet to a close observer
her movements, the manner in which she
set her feet upon the ground, the sugges-
ton OF graceful curves in limb and form,
betrayed that she was indeed a young
girl. Her face confirmed it-gay blue
eyes and a rosebud mouth, round cheeks
delicately tinted despite the wild wind,
and little wisps of golden hair struggling
out beneath the ~ear-faps, and cleaning
against the dusky face.
H." said this little m will stay
with her. Sergius, | will try and take
her back. We will give ourselves up. 1t
does not matter. Now that Hans is dead.
l nave nothing to live for. / have no
husband"
The little doctor WINGED. He was not
a nihilist at all, and never had been but
IN personal appearance he had rpsembled
one. There was something horribly real
IN the words that came from the girls
rosy lips. Sergius PavIoski shook his
mead and moved a step or two toward
the group half hidden by a fine driving
snow.
NO" he answered. "We arranged it
before leaving London. There is only
one thing to be DONE
The doctor and the girl exchanged a
look OF horror, and hesitated to follow
him.
1T was agreed" he continued. me-
chanically, that the lives of all were
never to be endangered for the sake of
one. Tyars said that
Slowly the two followed him. As they
approached the group some of these step
pea silently back, some walked away A
lew PAGES and STOOD apart with ayerted
faces.
Can you tell me-" said the woman
looking up suddenly and leaving the
DaDys race and throat fully exposed to
the cruel wind, whether can find a
near here?"
She addressed Pavloski. Who was stand.
ing in front of her. He made no answer
put presently turned away with n con-
Nulslve movement of lips and throat. as IL
le were swallowing with an effort. Then
ne raised his voice and, addressing his
companions generally, he said. with the
OF a man placed in a position
to exact obedience: ,
viii you all go on? Keen the sama
Erection, north-by-west according 70 tbo
shall catch you up before
evening"
lie stood quite still, like a man heWn
'ut OF stone-upright, emotionless and
Iul<e determined-awaiting the fulfill
nent OF his commands. All around him
us companions waited. 1t almost seem
q as II they expected the Almighty to
Even to those who have tasted
ne bitterest cup that life has ever brew
u, TINS seemed t2o cruel 10 be true-too
iorrid. And the wind blew all around
hem, tearing, raging on.
AT last one man had the co1rage m do
{. 1t was he who had spoken to Paw
oskl' the man whom they called doctor.
lie went toward one of the sledges and
to disentangle the traces thrown
down when a halt had been
aiIed. The men stepped silently forward
nd drew the cords across their shoulders
The women moved away first. steppine
oltly on the silent snow, and like phan-
omS vanishing in the mist and windy tur-
loil. The men followed, dragging their
useless sledges. The doctor STAYED be.
and for a moment. When the others
out of earshot he went toward Paw.
and laid his mittened hand upon bis
rm.
"Sergius," he said, with painful hest.
ltlon, let me do it am a doctor-it
ill be easier"
Pavloski turned and looked at the
'eaker in a stupid, bewildered way. as
the language used were unknown to
I'm. Then he smiled suddenly, in a sick
ing way it was like a cynical smile
pom the face of the dead.
Co. he said, pointing to wipdword .
here their companions had disappeared. I
10 with them. Let each one of us do !
$ duty. 1t win be a consolation. what Z
er the end may be- =
The doctor was bound in honor to obey o
is man in all and through all. He !
now, and left Sergius Payloski :
one with his mad wife and his helpless :
be. As he moved away he heard the
oman prattling of the sun and the birds v
d the flowers. Q
he turned his face resolutely north v
ird and pressed forward into the icv b
nd, but a mnffied, gurgling shrek broke
wn his strong resolution. Without
'pping, he glanced back over his shout !,
: with a gasp of horror. Sergius Paw !
Xxi was kneeling with his back TO the :
nth but he was not kneeling on the .
ow, for the doctor saw two fur-clad u
waving convulsiyely, and between u
} soles of Pavloski's great SNOW boots a
caught sight Of two other feet drawn d
in agony. n
on. Cod" exclaimed the man, aloud.
him 7"
And with bloodshot eyes and haggard n,
, ne stumbled on, not needing where -
set his feet. He fell. and rose again. -
rec knowing what he did. Despite the ~
wind, the perspiration ran down an
face, binding him. It froze and hung III
re in little icicles ON his mustache and th
-.