Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1913-06-28

A great city. There is a noise in the
streets. over the streets. under the
streets. 4 whlrlIng mass Of human be
ings IN the morning rolls down from
the north Ike the ebbing tide and flows
M again In the evening. Aud all night
the whlrl goes on. but different whrl.
There is a glow Of electric lights the
streets are fun now not of workers, but
Of pleasure seekers They pour into
the thcatcrs, into the hotels, into the
restaurant Aud then they pour out
again
Captlves III the cage Of the city jail,
men moved about Ike bees IN some
mammoth hive. and not unlike the
buz2lng Of bees came the continual
hum ~ their low voiced conversation.
Here rough faced men passed the anx-
ious hours. engaged boisterously IN
game Of cnrtls. while over there Others
sat lost in deep hrooding detection
One figure alone se"fncd 10 stand
apart. different from them all This
difference might have been accounted
for hy the Iaunty suit aud cap and
the high white collar which the young
man wore. but. after all. il was n Ger
tain infectious Hight ~ good humor
in the boylsh blue eyes, an irrespon
sibla air OF happiness. which distin'
g,iished Peter Olaf from his eompan'
ions in crime once again he walked
the length Of the long room. keeping
time 10 his step by subdued though
merry whistle; then be paused socially
az the side u prisoner who glowered
up az him. Peter spoke with a soft
foreign accent
"That makes twelve times around"
he said The man addressed lumber
cd to his feet. joining the youth In bis
walk.
What chu here for;' he growled.
The boyish blue eyes widened, while
dun red crcpt to the blond hair on
Peters forehead. "Blgamy," he an.
nounced briefly. The elder man stood
still with muitered exclamation.
"Bigamy." he repeated, and exclaim-
ed again "bigamy. a kid like You:
What chu do II forf"
Peter Olaf shook his head. II didn't
mean to-" he said slowly. IL don't
know.
1T Just happened Far away in Rus
STA was Mari Before | came 10 this
new country Mari and | We're mar
ricd
"Some day would send her money;
then she must come 70 me So told
her we would bc rich here and happy
And Mari was glad AZ first wrote
10 her long letters, and then Peter
stopped abruptly. When he spoke
again his tone was harder. more con
strained,
"Well. In the house where board
el lived Blanca was lonely here In
the strange country-oh. very. very
lonely.
"Blanca was most kind and beautiful.
Together we went TO many places
out upon the ferryboats in the moon
light. down 20 the sands Of the sea.
And Mari seemed 10 fade away so far
| could scarce remember her face II
grew dim like n dream one has almost
forgot
And so | did not send TO Mari
the money. May not one have a new
wife In new country when one shall
never return 10 the old? Blanca also
had lover who would have married
her
This she told me" The hoy pass
ed his hand across his forehead. $50
what could | do" he asked. Gould
| lose Biancaf" And then that very
day when we were married Mari
comes along to this country, Alone
she had worked and saved. and now
she Is here.
And Mari asks them TO find mo
for her-the officials ana when they
find me | am married again. So you
see II Is hlgamy That Is what they
tell me. aud must be held for trial"
The hoy clutchcd the prisoners sleeve
fearfully What will they do with
mef" he cried
The hardened man. whose own crime
had brought suffering to many. stared
dlsgustedly into the frightened face.
do with you" he answered iicrcely
do with you: don't know. but |
hope they viii lock you up. hope
they make you work as she never
thought ~ working tina, little Russian
thing you deserted Chances are they
Won't 30 #. though That innocent
baby face of Yours viii carry you
through You'll only be dcported.
"DefortcdT' questioned the boy ga
gerly. The man turned on his heel.
"Ycs." be answered grufily-"seni
back whore your kind belong"
Peter Olaf stood considering He
seemed to see again the little VILLAGE
that Ind been bis home the tiny school
house where he and Mari had gone 50
many years together Then across his
memory flashed q picture ~ Blanca
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