The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-01-31

am an old woman, and 1t Is strange
% look back and consider what was
when ! was young and how absolutely
passed away is that world In which !
then lived. A stranger matter is that
l passed out of 1t when 1t still existed.
/ was considered dead.
am Russian by birth and when
! was growing up to womanhood i'm
bibed the ideas Of q band that were
then called nihilists. They have since
become revolutionists In Russia, but in
other countries the most desperate
wing of the sect are anarchists. was
then too young to discriminate between
the different beliefs; but, having always
been very poor, / readily fell In with
those who believed the poor suffer q
great injustice on the part of the rich
and that the wealth Of the world
should be divided up among the poor
With this object in view governments
which protect the rich should be de-
strOyed.
1 had not been nihilist long before
| was ordered to assasslnate the min
lister of the interior A member OF the
circle to which belonged WIS friend
of and trusted by the minister This
friend was to secure me position as
nurse In the victims family and was
to poison him.
A few days after received the order
letter came from America, where
an uncle of mine had gone when boy,
stating that he had died and left me q
large fortune. What wonderful
change the announcement made In me!
Far from thinking that should divide
with the poor, thought that my for
| tune should be my own.
How left Russia secretly, how
reached America and was put in pos
session Of my fortune l will not give
here. No one but myself knew Of my
inheritance till after It had been paid
me. But | was sure that It would
serve to identify me and that some
one would be sent to nfict upon me
a sentence Of death for not having car
ried out the edlct Of the society.
converted my fortune-it amounted
to $100,O00-into gold. could get no
interest on gold, but did not dare to
purchase securities, for my name must
appear on them. Even II put my
money in a savings bank, taking a
book In lieu OF receipt. ! could not
get it back without signing my name.
And now began the most dreadful
period Of my life. dreadful in this
must spend money to live besides
money to go from place to place. for
dared not remain In one location.
was therefore obliged to draw on my
capital. Besides this, must take care
of and move my gold, which was very
heavy. | was In constant dread moi
only Of robbery, but that while trav
cling my gold would be lost. had q
very strong ironbound trunk made
padded inside, and In this ! put my
gold In little bags. each bag containing
a thousand dollars. This trunk new
er lost sight OF and was continually
troubled about II. Sometimes the
strangeness Of my position would oc
cur to me. ! had believed that the
poor should take away the possessions
OF the rich, and here was /. rich, con
tinually on the rack abort my posses
slons. Miserable as l had been In pow
erty, sometimes envied my former
lot. This money that had seemed 81
desirable TO me, what comfort was
getting out Of It? Carting around {
trunk that I was constantly afraid
would lose or would betrey me wal
certainly no pleasure.
Ten years Of this kind Of life passed
during which on several occasions
met my own countrymen who | knew
were nlhllists. Finally | met Rus
sian friend who had no utilization witt
the nihillsts. She agreed to write L
those i had left behind that she hat
seen me In hospital where / wat
lying at the point OF death. and tina
had died there. She afterward tolt
me that her story was believed and
would soon be forgotten both by thos'
who loved me and those who had con
demned me-
| saw now a new life before me-
took another name and invested m,
money. OF which | had $4,000 left
But lived an exile's life and did no
make friends. My money could no
give me happiness. tried to interes
myself In banks. but had not beei
educated. and took no interest Il
them Time hung heavy on my hands
One day went past factory
Working girls were coming ont AM
none OF them had the unhappy fac
that had | thought OF the da,
when !. too, was n working girl AM
realized that. after all. was happle
then than was now. II could onl
be occupied the days would not seer
so long to me.
The next day went 20 the factor
where ! had seen the girls and aske
for a position without pay ill l coul
learn the work TO be done. My ole
was accepted. aud went 10 work th
next morning.
worked for eve years. then mai
Z rlcd fellow laborer. Since my mai
l.. rage my occupation has been carin