The Mount Holly news., 1915-03-23
AFTER MANY YEARS
BY ALFRED WILLIAMS.
(cosyright.)

=. -
(Cosyright.)
"Ragorsk," sAnounced Ivan. pointing
to the villa = plainly visible over the
intervening rifles
Ragorsl! What world of bitter
sweet me mcries rose within mel
l longel, yet dreaded, to be there.
Was Kati ma still there? How would
she receive ne? And Paul-ah, yes,
Paul! | shu&dered at the thought of
him. But / must get to my destina-
ton; must know the facts the truth.
AS Ivan lashed up the horse it oc-
CURED to me that | had not known
peace of mind for quarter of a cen
tury. Often had / wished to make the
trip, but a fiourishing business had
required almost constant attention.
Settling back in the robes, thought.
The landscape had not altered; no
recent buildings marked progress,
though the line of telegraph poles
along the roadside was new. Just
round the bend the horse floundered
to his shoulders in a mudhole; the
tarantass keeled to one side and I
alighted to assist Ivan.
It was then / caught sight of the old
Cossack guardhouse, high up on the
hill. Again l shuddered.
Originally constructed from bricks
of baked clay and quartz sand, during
the Tatar invasion in GATHERINGS
! time, 1t had later been used as shell
ter in the troublesome military days
of two hundred years ago. Near by
were the ruins Of the officers quar-
ters, and beyond, those of the men.
But the old guardhouse, partially
built into the solid frowning rock, had
resisted the rayages of time. It was
within the grim walls that had seen
the last Of Paul previous to my depar-
ture for America.
Again I let Ivan talk. With much
crossing, he told me of it's history; of
the scenes, brutal and cruel, that had
taken place there! of the ghost that
made his home in the building, and
how everyone Stunned the very hill.
Even the priests were afraid of 1t, he
said. ! laughed to myself for had
been there many times, and Paul had
been there once-just once
On sudden impulse determined to
go there before going to the village.
Ivan paled at the thought; not for a
million rubles would he accompany
me. Tremblingly, he agreed to wait
for me, and ascended the steep hill.
Paul and ! had been boys of an age.
We had many quarrels and always
hated each other with an intensity
that almost amoGnted to affection.
Perhaps the expression sounds
strange; it Is not-that is, to my mind
Both sons Of comparatively rich
parents, we had been orphaned about
the same time. He did me many in
juries, petty meannesses of boyhood,
and retaliated In like manner. No,
not in like manner; for my brain was
quicker than his and more fertile in
devising subtle revenges, as you will
see.
But these are small things; little
nothings of no consequence compared
with the cause of my great hatred
Katrina, the starosta's daughter.
Katrina of the Golden Hair, / called
her; for all the other girls were dark,
and Katrina-ah! who can describe
Katrina?
That she could prefer Paul never
once entered my mind. was far
nInunro1s 20 M prr&
is no accounting for woman's choice.
Paul won; he and my Katrina were
engaged.
At first / set about for revenge, but
soon realized that nothing could do
in the way of retaliation could make
up for that. Katrina his, Paul could
afford to laugh at me- Finally, could
stand it no longer; l made up my
mind to leave for America, where I
had relatives.
Setting my affairs in order, sold
out my interests. houses, mill and
land.
Paul was away on trip at the time,
so / did not hurry, but sent my bag
gage ahead to Karnoul, where it would
await my arrival On the day of my
| departure, drove over to a neighbor-
ing village, Pulaski, transacted my
business, and in the afternoon drove
back along the road below the guard
house.
The trip that had taken Paul away
had been to remote district on the
Manchurian border, and as the way
lay across the foothills, the road being
rough, it had necessitated travel by
foot. Paul was not expected back for
at least ten days more; SO you may
Judge, then, of my astonishment at
meeting him on the road.
| / do not know what possessed me
| at the time-some devil or twist in
the skein of fate, perhaps. Anyway,
/ alighted, and at the sight of his
cynical smile my blood set itself on
fire. We were lone-absolutely alone
on the deserted road.
| OF course he struggled with all his
might. His strength was no match for
mine, and soon had him trussed up
like fowl.
Then / carried him up to the guard
house
Fastened to the walls were strong
chains, ending in rings for the hands
and feet, collars for the neck and
bands for the waist.
To one of these chains, the broad
iron band round his waist. secured
Paul. Withdrawing my handkerchief
| from his mouth. for there was no fear
of his cries being heard, and had no
object in causing him physical discom.
fort, unheeding his protestations,
threats and pleadings, / left him.
In the village all was commotion
over my departure.
1t was an hour or more before i sue
ceeded in getting rid OF my friends.
At last l entered my home for the
last time, made certain preparations
and emerged with parcel under my
arm. This l placed under the seat of
the vehicle in which l would drive to
Karnoul, arrangements having been
! made to send the conveyance back.
Farewells said, amid the cheers of my
friends-and every person in the vii
lage was my friend-I took my depar-
ture
Katrina, did not call upon, though
| she waved her handkerchief from the
window. This act | pretended not to
see. An hours fast driving and | was
in sight of the guardhouse.
Paul frightened as | entered
81 was afraid you meant to leave me
here all night for joke" he said, a
trifie nervously, thought.
81 am even now on my way to Kar-
noul. l called to bid you good-by." l
said simply.