Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1910-08-17

rather, In Siberia, where the govern
ment manufactures certain articfes-it
is not known what they are-by Sc
eret process. The method of keeping
this secret is to receive only workmen
who must remain there all their lives.
Once having entered the Enclosure.
around which Is wall so high that no
one has ever escaped over it, the work
man becomes a prisoner and bids fare
well forever to the outside world.
Paula" said a young Russian one
day. 81 am going to enter the factory"
"oh, Petet." gasped the girl to whom
he spoke.
Yes; We can never .naTry-we are
too poor. There is suffering enough
for us as peasants without bringing
children into the world to suffer.
can get no work elsewhere. and / All
starving. There time may obliterat,'
you from my memory, and, though /
shall be deprived of my liberty, / shall
suffer less than to be free and prey
to hapless love"
The girl begged him to take differ
ent view of the matter With stream
ing eyes she chung to him, beseeching
him to wait in the hope that some good
fortune would come to them. But he
refused TO be encouraged. Tearing
himself away from her he went to the
factory, its gates closed upon him, and
he knew that they would never open
to him.
At the end of the first year of his
Imprisonment he found that he had not
forgotten his sweetheart. Death alone
enables as to sever such bonds. While
there is life there is hope, and it is this
hope that keeps warm the embers in
the heart. Two, three years passed,
and still he could not forget his Paula.
Then he wept bitter tears at the de-
cision he had made when he entered
the factory. He had taken on life
long Imprisonment without having
been cured Of his passion.
One day he entered the Office of the
factory, and what was his surprise to
see Paula sitting at a desk writing
He was about to rush toward her when
she locked up Their eyes met, and
she cast hers again down upon her
work. In y moment he understood
She had come for a purpose that
would be defeated were their knowl-
edge OF each other betrayed
When Peter left the office it was as
new man. His beloved had come to
him and had come for hun or she
would not have come at all. True,
they were now both prisoners for life.
Had she not some plan in view for
their mutual good she would not have
given up her liberty Then he was
tortured with the fear that she, too,
having been on the brink Of starva-
fion. had come there for living and
that possibly she might occasionally
see MIN.
Months passed before these two
found an opportunity to speak to each
other without being noticed. An ac-
cident happened in the factory by
which several workmen were plnion-
ed under a heavy weight. The man
ayers were all busy endeavoring to re-
| lease those who had not been killed
1
were pltiable The Office force rushed
into the factory, and workmen and
clerks mingled indiscrimin"tely. Paula
! and Peter met and Withdrew to cor
ner.
MY father" said Paula hurriedly,
''became soldier in the war with
| japan. He saved the life Of a general.
The general took a diamond from his
| shirt front and gave 1t to his preserver.
My father, who loves me better than
all the world, gave it to me. l turned
It into money, and it produced 10000
rubles. We planned to use it to trans
port us TO America, but l would not
go without you My father and I have
| dug a tunnel under the wall. The en-
trance is between the wall and a wood
en- clubhouse, the house in the south
east angle The opening is covered
with lumber. We must plan an escape
through II. You win hear from me-"
She darted away. leaving Peter with
a great Joy, a great hope, swelling with
in him.
After that whenever Paula found an
opportunity to pass Peter she slipped
bit Of paper into his hand on which
was written an appointment. Ii usual
| ly read Tonight at u" or Tomorrow
night or sunday night ut IL" Five
or six of these slips passed between
them before they found a night when
they could meet and two or three more
before they met and could make the
4 attempt. They did not dare escape
separately, expecting that after the
first escape search would be made
/ that would reveal the tunnel
Finally they came together when the
night was dark and stosmy. The sen
tries were glad to keep In their boxes,
and there was nc one lettering outside
the building Going behind the out,
house, Peter remo7ed the lumber,
Paula got down into the tunnel and
Peter got down after her, pulling the
lumber back in its place.
They were obliged to crawl for some
distance. but as they proceeded and the
tunnel drew away from the proximity
Of the wall it had been dug larger
They passed through safely. Peter
pushed aside some boards covered with
earth, and they found themselves in
the midst Of low brush,
Paula knew very well which way to
60 The winds blew. the rain fell upon
them and soaked their clothing, but
never had either experienced such hap