Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-11-21
CHAPTER XVIII.
Thu Maefino


They had imprisoned many OF the
women in one of the stables behind
the great yard of the station. So
common cells had been full and over
flowing long ago. Zaniloff, charged
with the command to restore order in
the city at any cost. cared not straw
what the world without might say of
him. The rifle, the bayonet, the re-
volver, the whfp-here were fine tools
and proved. Let but a breath OF
suspicion frost the FURNISH of repu-
tation and he would have that man or
woman at the bar. though arrest might
cost hundred lives. Thus 1t came
about that those within the gates
we're a heterogeneous multitude to
which all classes had contributed. The
milliner's assistant crouched side by
side with the Countess, though she
| still feared to touch her robe. There
were professors daughters and dock
ers' wives, ladies from the avenue and
| ladies from the novels. And just as IN
the great arena beyond the walls, 40
here Pride was the staff OF the we'll
born, Prejudice Of the weak.
! Amid this trembling company, IN
the second Of the stables, the gloom
shrouding her from suspicious obser-
walton, none noticing so humble a
creature, Alban found Lois and made
himself known to her. The aTuiabls
civilian with his two or three hundred
words of English seemed as guileless
as child when he announced Master
Zaniloff's message an ddwelt upon his
honorable masters beneficence.
you are to see this lady, sir, and
to tell her that if she is honest with
us we shall do our best to clear her
l of the charge. She knows what that
will mean to name the others to us
and then for herself the liberty. That
is his excellency my masters deci-
sion"
much obliged to him." said Alban,
dryly, and perhaps it was we'll that
Herr Availability did not catch the
tone Of it,
1--WE have much prisoner" the good
man went on, much prisoner and not
much prison That is as you say 5,
perplexiy. But it will be better; later
in the time after. Here is the girl,
this is the place.
He bent his head to enter the stable
and Alban followed him, silently for
very fear of his own excitement. There
was so little light in the place that
he could scarcely distinguish anything
at first. nothing, indeed, but great
beds of straw and black figures hud
died upon them. By and by these
took shape and became figures Of
women of all ages and types. Many
he perceived, were Jewesses, dark as
night and as mysterious. Theil
clothes were poor, their attitude
/ courageous and quiet. A Circassian
whose hair was the very color Of tbs
{ straw with which it mingled, stool
out in contract with the others. Sht
, had lately been flogged and the
' clothes, torn from her bleedins
, shoulders, had not been replaced Nea
f by, the wife of professor at the Uni
1 versity, young and distinguished AMI
i but yesterday welcomed everywhere
: sat dumb in misery, her eyes wild
r open, her thoughts upon the child SIT,
i had left. Not among these did Albal
D find Lois, but in the second of thu
s great stalls still waiting its compile
i ment of prisoners He wondered the
a he found her at all, SO dark was thi
t place; but sure instinct led him t
d her and he stopped before he ha
: even seen her face.
# Lois dear, am sure it is LOIS
e She started up from the straw
d straining wild eyes in the shadow.
h Awakened from her sleep when the
If arrested her, she wore the dres
d which she had carried to her have
1t from the school, quite plain and pre-
o ty, with linen collars and cuffs In tn
e old-fashioned style. Her hair had bee
il loosely plated and was bound abor
1t her like cord She rested upon tn
y palms of her hands turned down to tn
'e pavement. There was but one othe
he woman near her, and she appeared
be asleep. When she heard Alban
y voice, she cried out almost as thong
a they had struck her with the whip.
d. why do you come here?" sh
e. asked him wildly. "Alban, dear. wha
Id ever made you Gomez"
is He stepped forward and kneelir
is down in the straw he pressed his co
a lips to hers and held them there Il
sd many minutes
cd did you not wish me to com
a Lois?"
ie She shivered, her big ewes we