Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-06-07

or this wind, that a party of men ana
women made their way in the late sum-
mer several years ago. By late summer
one means the first fortnight in July in
these high ATTITUDES. These travellers
were twenty-One in number-sixteen men
and five women. One woman carried a
baby-a Jail biri-born in prison-un-
baptized. 1t did not count, not even as
half person, to any one except Its
mother. Men and women were dressed
alike in good fur clothing, baggy trousers
tucked into felt boots, long blouse-like fur
coats, and caps with earfaps tied down.
Boots, trousers, coats and even caps bore
signs of damage by water. When north
ern Siberia is not frozen up it is in a
state of food, and travelling, except by
water, is almost impossible. These peo-
pie had come many miles by this compar-
atively easy method at imminent risk,
for they had Travelled north on the bosom
of the food. Since then they have liter
ally burned their vessels in order to cut
off pursuit.
The men dragged light sledges, three
to sledge, and four rasting. The wom-
en- carried various more precious burdens
delicate instruments, such as COM
caps throbbed some singular brains, from
under the draggled brims looked out some
strange faces. There was a doctor among
them, two army officers, Judge and 9th
ers who had not been allowed time to be-
come anything, for they were exiled while
students.
The whole party pressed forward in 81
lence with tight-locked lips and half-clos-
ed eyes, for the rushing wind carried
fine binding snow before it. Only one
person spoke at times. Ii was the woman
who carried the baby, and she interlard
ed her inconsequent remarks with
snatches of song and bursts of peculiar
cackling laughter. Suddenly she sat
down on a boulder.
Il will sit here" she said, Sin the
warm SUM-"
The whole party stopped, and one of
the women answered;
Come, Anna" she said I'VE cannot
wait here" Still speaking, she took her
arm and urged her to rise.
But" protested she who had been ad
dressed as Anna, where is the picnic to
be?"
THE picnic, Anna Pavloski," said
small, squarefy built man, coming for
ward and speaking in a wonderfully deep
and harmonious tone of voice, SIS to be
held further on. You must come at
once"
Il think" she said gently, that l will
wait here for my husband. I expect him
home from the Office. He will bring the
newspaper"
They were all grouped round the wom-
an now except one man, and he stood
apart with his back turned toward them.
He had been dragging the foremost sledge,
| and the broad band of the trace was still
| across his shoulders. He had been lead
| ing the way, and seemed in some subtle
manner to be recognized as chief and
| pioneer.
Again the woman who had first spoken
persuaded: again the broad-shouldered
man spoke in his commanding gentleness
| 1t was, however, of no avail. Then after
A few moments of painful hesitation, he
| eft the group and went to where the
| leader stood alone.
"Pavloski," he said.
Eyes, doctor" He never turned his
head. but stood rigid and stern, looking
straight before him, scowling with eyes
from which the horror now would never
tade, into the gray, hopeless distance. No
marble statue could reproduce the strong
cold despair that breathed in every limb
and feature.
Something" said the doctor, must be
lone We are behind our time already"
81 suppose it is my duty TO stay with
you?" said PavloSki. Il cannot leave
| he party? l cannot stay behind?"
The little man made no answer. His
/ al
words could have been. A dramatic
painter could scarcely have found a sad
der picture than these two friends who
| dared not to meet each others eyes. And
| ret, in a moment, it was rendered inf
| aitely sadder by the advent of a third
| person.
Swathed as she was in furs, it was
! difficult to distinguish that this was
| woman at all, and yet to 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
! ielicately tinted despite the wild wind
and little wisps of golden hair struggling
| out beneath the ear-faps, and cleaning
| against the dusky face.
II" said this little woman, will stay
with her. Sergius, 1 will try and take
her back. We will give ourselves up. 1t
does not matter. Now that Hans is dead
| have nothing to live for. l have no
husband"
The little doctor WINGED. He was not
a nihilist at all, and never had been but
in personal appearance he had resembled
one. There was something horribly real
| in the words that came from the girls
rosy lips. Sergius Pavloski shook his
| head and moved a step or two toward
| the group half hidden by a fine driving
| snow.
No" be answered. I'VE arranged it
before leaving London. There is only
one thing to be done"
| The doctor and the girl exchanged d
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
ped silently back, some walled away a
few PAGES and stood apart with averted
| faces.
'Can you tell me- said the woman,
looking up suddenly and leaving the
baby's face and throat fully exposed to
| the cruel wind, whether l can find a
lodging near here?''
4 ba DE- -.