El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-02-25
The HeraId's
Daily Shert Story

/ life had been one of continuous drudg-
cry, yet she had been happy. she
thought of Nicolka. She wanted to
close his eyes herself, to put him in his
little coffin. to carry him to his grave.
and bury him under the beautiful birch
trees. to sigh and cry and then go on,
God only knew whittier.
At dawn the camp awoke to new
captivity and at noon the whole river
bank was lined with people All eyes
were turned towards the spot where
the steamer was lying. Everybody was
looking on narrow gangway between
the shore and the boats to inspect the
passengers. There was one official
whom the people called the emigrator,
a student in a worn uniform, and two
sailors.
Come on" cried the official. and
one sailor shouted, THE people OF Vo-
ronkovo!"
The crowd roared and began to move
A shout went up and the Vorontkovzis
forced their way to the bank. carrying
or leading their children and loaded
down with their belongings.
Have you chosen your staroSt?"
''Yesl Here he isI'
A peasant presented himself to the
emigrator and said: IT am the starost,
your excellency!"
Every family was asked about their
health and their number was recorded
and when the children passed by the
student opened their mouths and ex-
amined their throats at first very care
fully but they kept on filing by more
and more carelessly. stopping NOW and
then to wipe away the perspiration
from his face.
stop" he suddenly cried, that girl
has diphtheria."
Your excellency," cried the peasant
terrified at the sudden discovery do
let US pass. We have been here for
three weeks and have nothing to eat
now"
Go back, I say"
do not ruin us, your excellency."
Go back" shouted the sailors, no
talking back here q
Your excellency-"
The PEASANTS voice broke. There HzAs
a short struggle and the whole family
was forced ashore again, crying and
sobbing. The father of the sick4girl
bit his lips and raised his fist asSif he
were going to kill her with a4blow.
Then he tore his hair and began{to cry
and curse
The people of Gilino! Come for
ward shouted the sailors. Fresh con-
fusion, new struggles and the peasant,
his family and sick child were forgot
ten. Everybody was thinking of him
self only
The excitement grew and the people
began to be afraid that the officials
would declare that there was no more
room on the barge.
The people of Sosnovaia" shouted
the sailor. The earth seemed to trem-
bic under MatvePs feet He threw
hasty glance at his wife, his family
and his baggage. Then he cried with
the rest: Here"
The crowd was surging around him.
he was buffeted from all sides. He
must hurry, the beast arose within him.
he no longer heard the sobs Of his
wife behind him. Staring straight
ahead, his forehead covered with cold
sweat. with teeth set, he forced his
way through the crowd and across the
gangway. followed by his family.
Towards evening the steamer got
underway and Matvei, the words 1T is
Gods will" running through his grief
stricken mind, bowed his head and
started on his voyage.
Towards the middle of October the
camp was empty. The people had scat
tered. The field was silent and the
waters rose and covered it. But near
the forest in the overseers cabin a
number of orphans forgotten by their
parents, were left to the mercies of
tate. They cried and called for the
father and mother who never came
Among these children was Nicolka