The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1910-09-16
Two Prisoners
By ANNA WOODBRIDGE
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.

/ Inere is FACTORY III Russia, or,
rather, in Siberia, where the govern
ment manufactures certain articles-it
is not known what they are-by a Sc
cret 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 prisoner and bids fare
well forever to the outside world.
Paula" said a young Russian one
day, II am going to enter the factory"
"Oh, Peter!' gasped the girl to whom
be spoke.
Eyes; We can never marry-we are
too poor. There is suffering enough
for us as peasants without bringing
children into the world to suffer- 1
can get no work elsewhere, and / am
starving. There time may obliterate
you from my memory, and. though l
shall be deprived of my liberty. l shall
suffer less than to be free and a 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 be found that ne had not
forgotten his sweetheart. Death alone
enables us 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 a 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 looked up. Their eyes met, and
she cast hers again down upon her
work. In 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. Ills beloved had come to
him and had come for him 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-
ton. had come there for a living and
that possibly she might occasionally
see him.
Months passed before these two
found an opportunity to speak to each
other without being noticed. An &C
cident happened in the factory by
which several workmen were pinion-
ed under heavy weight. The man.
lease those who had not been killed
outright and whose cries for relief
were pitiable The Office force rushed
into the factory. and workmen and
clerks mingled Unfortunately. Paula
and Peter met and withdrew to q cor
ner.
MY father" said Paula hurriedly,
became a soldier in the war with
Japan. He saved the life of a general.
The general took a diamond from his
shirt front and gave it to his preserver
My father, who loves me better than
all the world, gave it to me. turned
it into money, and it produced 10000
rubles. We planned to use it to trans
port US to America. but would not
go without you. My father and have
dug tunnel under the wall. The en-
trance is between the wall and wood
en- clubhouse. the house in the south
east angle. The opening is covered
with lumber. We must plan an escape
through it. You will hear from me-"
She darted away, leaving Peter with
a great JOY, 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 1t usual
ly read Tonight at 12'' or Tomorrow
night or sunday night at H." Five
or six Of these slips passed between
them before they found night when
they could meet and two or three more
before they met and could make the
attempt. They did not dare escape
separately, expecting that after the
first escape a search would be made
that would reveal the tunnel.
Finally they came together when the
night was dark and stormy. The SEN
tries were glad to keep in their boxes,
and there was no one lettering outside
the building. Going behind the out