Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1915-11-26
Peter and
Marya
A Story of a Russian In
VentOr.
By MARTHA v. MONROE

|
The harvest was ended, and the
peasantry in a farming region in the
province of lula, Russia, were gathered
In a barn to celebrate the event with
a dance. A young man entered, his Sc
rious face contrasting with the joyous
ness on that of the others, and stood
looking at the dancers, his eyes evil
IDENTIFY searching for some one among
them. Presently young girl with the
fair hair and soft complexion Of the
north sailed by laughing at something
her partner was saying to her.
AS she passed the place where the
young man was standing she caught
sight of him. Her laughter ceased, and
the merry look on her face vanished,
giving place to one equally troubled.
She made the circle with the dancers,
then, coming again opposite the young
man mentioned, stopped, excused her.
self to her partner and FASTENED to-
ward the former.
ooh, Peter" she said, what is the
matterY
Il have seen your father. He says
1t cannot be; he has no dowry for
you. | can earn on the farm barely
enough to keep myself alive. 1t would
be sin for two persons as poor as we
to marry and bring forth children to
suffer. He is right We must with
draw from each other, Marya. There
is no help for it."
The girl put her arm through his,
and together they went outside. A full
moon was looking down on them with
its peaceful but cold light. Within were
the sounds of mirth and music. For
these young lovers their surroundings
were in bitter contrast with the agony
both felt.
what are you going to do, PeterY'
asked Maya.
There was brief silence, at the end
of which he said with almost wall, 81
am going into the factory"
The girl, who still held his arm,
shuddered as if stricken by a deadly
bolt
The factory was government insti-
tuition where something was being
made the nature of which no one
knew. When a workman entered its
portals he did so with the understand
ing that he would never come out
Once in possession of the secret con-
tanned within those gloomy walls, the
government took care that he should
not have an opportunity to reveal it.
Peter Marinoff, born and brought up
among the farm class in Russia, was
much out of place. His ancestors had
been mobiles who in one of the up
heavals that country has suffered were
impoverished But in him was an in
heritance Of genius that had lain dor
mant through several generations. 1t
had not yet been suspected either by
him or any one else.
Under the cold moonlight Peter and
Marya parted, No ray of hope found
its way into the breast of either 81
cannot be yours in the flesh, Peter"
she walled, but l will be yours in
heaven. No one shall ever come be-
tween u.s." "In the factory there is
no marriage, Marya. l shall join you
in the hereafter" Then Peter pulled
himself away from the girl, who clung
to him pitifully.
The next morning he walked several
leagues to the factory and presented
himself for admission. There was al
ways room for workmen there, for few
cared to enter a service from which
there was no retreat. Nor was 1t nee
essary that he should have any prep
aration for the work done there. When
a man is to spend his whole life in a
certain employment his employer can
afford to educate him for his duties.
Peters only pleasure In life was
when the moon was at the full on a
clear night-to stand in the factory
yard, look at the orb moving like the
hand of great clock in circle of the
heavens and think of Maya. He was
remindedsOf their parting, and as ones
remembrance of a face is that of the
last time it has been seen so he always
saw Marya's with the moonlight
streaming down upon it and wearing
look of despair.
The factory was a place where ex-
plosives were manufactured. The only
protection for the secret processes in
use there was to make life prisoners of
those engaged in compromising the
chemicals which constituted the ex.
plosive substance. Most of the men
employed were kept from knowing
these secrets by being confined to only
q portion Of the work. Many were not
sufficiently intelligent. But there were
persons who understood the whole of
one or more processes.
Peter was born scientist. He soon
showed that he was capable of being
made one of the principal compound.
ers, and, since there were books in the
factory suited to the work being done,
he studied, though rather from a desire
to escape his memories of the outside
world than any desire to benefit him.
self. When absorbed in the fairy tales
Of chemical science, for the time being
he forgot all else.
Peter was so serviceable that after
awhile he was put in charge Of the
manufacture of certain explosive. II
was not only expensive, but unrelia-
! Bile. Peter, being natural investiga-
tor, set himself to work to find some
other combination that would not cost
so much to manufacture, but would
give better satisfaction.
One day an order came to the fac.
tory to turn out as much work as pos.
bible. New hands were introduced, and
large quantities Of stock from which
the product was evolved were brought