South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-11-03
BY MARY BOYLE O'REILLY.
Copyrighted, 1913, by the Newspaper
Enterprise AssO ciatiOn.)
OLSHANKA, XOLkYNIA,

Copyrighted, 1913, by the Newspaper
Enterprise AssociatiOn.)
OLSHANKA, VOLKYNIA,
THE PALE, SOUTHERN RUSSIA
Something was wrong with Caterina
Petroffskova. Patient, Industrious and
tireless at IS. she had not worked
steadily since dawn. And this was the
third day of such unwonted idleness!
Now. for the hundredth time, she
stood in the low doorway shading her
wide, grave eyes with a crumpled
hand.
Ivan Ivanovitch, visitor from
neighboring town. watched her curl
ously.
What is it, little mother?" he ask
ed, for her face showed the look CT
one who scans a far horizon.
Nothing" she said, quietly. moth
ing" and stared unSeeing down a lane
dilapidated log huts straw matched
and squat as giant fungi. Every IL
bas seemed deserted, its rude plank
door closed against the cold, its max
ed, shutterlesS windows unlighJed.
Beneath each deep caves hung
bucket. a ladder. or a coal OF rope
sole implement for protection in case
Of a deyasting fire. Across the gable
OF the farthest cabin a row of un-
readable Russian figures announced
the number of souls in the haml
meaning, Of course, the male inhabi-
tahts!
Women have yet TO lay claim to
possessing souls-in Russiai
Squalid. poverty appar-
emily hopeless the village was one of
the unnumbered thousands which go
TO support the might of empire, which
serve as breeding places for soldiers
OF the car. Poor to the verge OF
perjury. such are not held too poor to
taX-its souls are free only TO die
Of sickness or starvation!
Nothing makes no sense" grumb-
led Ivan Ivanovitch. Art lonely. lit
tie mother"
NO" she said gently. mot lonely.
Only thinking" and glanced toward
the shining icon" in the corner.
And waiting" he probed.
She did not answer, but the light in
the doorway showed how her soft old
face grew tremulous.
From the west a golden radiance
overwhelmed meager crops of rye and
slushy cabbage fields. penetrated each
narrow winding between the hoveis,
found a bright spot on almost every
house.
"Pavlo should not have left YOU
blundered the man, slow-witted but
well meaning.
The keen. haggard face turned to-
ward him.
John. son of John" protested the
brave old voice. think not Pavlo left
me! Il sent him. All the others were
going. what is there in Russia that
poor man should stay? Look YOU"
Burlap-clad. with coarse. wide
trousers tucked into rude, high boots
he stood beside her. Beyond
levels Of brown. unsown earth. lonely
as the sea-ice-edged, wind-tossed
stunted frs and gaunt black road
posts showed where the worst snow
drifts would soon lie. over the life
less land echoed the wierd howl Of q
wandering wolf and the scream Of
quiet brooded from horizon TO hOri-
steppe eagles. Otherwise a deadly
zon.
Look you" repeated Caterina Pet
rOffskova. and showed him where
three burdened resin-tappers SLOUGH
ed past in ragged sheepskins. His
glance followed them 10 their poor
homes.
But what is II. little mother?" he
insisted. and pointed 10 how solitary
| figures stood shivering in every door
way, the swarthy, eager-eyed faces
| turned toward the western light. Her
sudden smile seemed a benedictiOn.
BOG DAL f BOG VIAL" God
Gave and God Took she quoted soft
| ~.
But afterwards comes reward. At
| last il is here-for sonnet"
Unsteadily her wOrk-worn hand
pointed into the sunset where dark
spot. growing slowly. moved toward
| the hamlet.
Silent and tense. scores Of men and
women watched and waited. old Ivan
had come out in his bare feet Blind
Vans palsied hand curved about his
ear 10 catch some half-heard sound.
lame Ellen was grooming TO herself
IN happy Impotence.
Obviously they too were waiting