The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-11

Look in when you are going back, II
we be alive"
Outside a heavy autumn fog yelled every
thing, but Korney knew the way well,
knew every turn Of the road, every shrub.
all the willows along the way to the right
and to the left, though during the seven
teen years some had been cut down and
become young from being old, and others
had grown old from being young.
The village Gaya was still the same,
though on the outskirts new houses had
been built, and some houses which had
beer Of wood were now OF brick.
His brick house was unchanged, only it
had got older. The iron roof had not been
painted for a long time and at the corner
bricks had been knocked out and the porch
leaned awry.
AS he drew near his old house there came
out of the breaking gate a mare with her
foal, an old roam horse and a t~hree-year-
old. The old roam was exactly like the
old mare Korney had brought home from a
fair a year before he left.
1T is probably the one she was then
bearing. The same low hind legs and same
broad chest and hairy legs" thought he.
The horses were being driven to drink
by a black eyed little boy in new bast shoes.
Probably my grandson, Fedkin's son;
like him, black eyed, thought Korney.
The boy looked at the old stranger and
ran after the foal which had begun to romp
in the mire. A dog ran after the boy as
black as the old time Volchok.
Can it really be Volchok," he thought.
Then he recalled that Volchok by this time
would have beer 20 years DID.
He approached the porch and with diff
feulty assembled the steps and opened the
door into the lobby.
why do you burst in without asking"
called out a female voice from the room.
He recognized her voice; and here she
was herself.
A dry, sinewy, wrinkled old woman looked
out of the door. Korney had been expect
ing to see the young handsome Martha,
who had outraged him. He hated and
meant to rebuke her. and now instead Of
her there was before him an old woman.
IF it's aims. then beg under the window
she cried with a sharp croaking voice.
1T is not aims, said Korney.
Then what do you want? What more?"
She suddenly stopped. He saw by her
face that she had recognized him.
There are too many of you knocking
about. Go. go in peace!" she said.
Korney leaned back against the wall
and resting on his staff looked at her fixedly
and felt with establishment that he no
longer bore in his soul that bitterness
which he had so many years cherished, but
instead a kind of peculiar weakness sud
denly took possession of him.
Martha, we shall all have to die"
Go, go in peace, she said quickly and
spitefully.
will you say nothing more?'
Il nave nothing to say" she said.
go in peace. Co! Co! There are too
many of you devils, good for nothings,
knocking about"
She returned with quick step into the
room and banged the door.
why abuse him." a mans voice was
heard to say and out Of the door, with a
Ratchet hanging from his belt, came a dark
peasant such as Korney himself had been
forty years before, somewhat smaller and
thinner perhaps, but with the same black,
bright eyes.
1t was the same Fedka to whom seven
teen years before he had made a gift of a
picture book. 1t was he who rebuked his
mother for not plying a beggar. o..
Together with him came out the dun
nephew, also with a Ratchet in his belt.
He had now become a grown up man with
a sparse beard, wrinkled and sinewy, with
a long neck and a ~resolute and penetrating
look. Both peasants had had their break
fast and we're going to the wood.
Directly, grandfather said Feodor,
pointing first at the old stranger, then at
the room, and making signs to the dumb
man with his hands as if cutting bread.
Feodor went on out and the dumb man
turned back into the room. Korney still
stood with bowed head, leaning against the
wall and resting on his staff. He felt a
great weakness, and with difficulty re-
strained himself from sobbing.
The dumb man came out OF the room
with a big fragrant slice Of fresh black
bread and gave 1t to Korney. When Kor-
ney, having crossed himself, took the bread,
the dumb man turned toward the door Of
the room. passed his two hands over his
face and pretended to spit, thus expressing
his disapproval Of his aunt.
Suddenly he stood stock still and with
gaping mouth fixed his eyes or Korney as
If recognizing him.. Korney could nc longer
restrain his tears. and wipihg hiseyes, nose
and gray beard with the lap OF his coat
turned away from the dumb man and went
out into the porch. He experienced a
peculiar pathetic and rapturous feeling Of
meekness and humiliation before men,
before her, his son, every one, and this feel
ing rent his soul with both joy and pain.
Martha was looking out of the window
and gave a quiet sigh Of relief when she saw
that the old man had disappeared around
the corner of the house.
When Martha was assured that the old
man had gone, she sat down to her loom
and began to weave. She hit the shuttle a
dozen times but her hands would not work.
She stopped and began to think and to call
to mind Korney as she had Just seen him.
She knew il vas he, the same who had
beaten her and who had formerly loved her,
and what she had just done made her afraid.
She had not done what she should have
done; but how should she have behaved
toward him? He had not said that he was
Korney and that he had come home.
Again she took the shuttle and went on
weavin & until nightfall.