The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-04-28
AFTER MANY YEARS

eoA, onAouuCcu ivan, pOlntlng
to the village plainly visible over the
intervening miles.
hagorsk! What world Of bitter.
sweet memories rose within me!
l longed. yet dreaded, to be there.
Was Katrina still there? How would
she receive me? And Paul-ah, yes,
Paul! l shuddered at the thought of
him. But l must get to my destina-
ton; must know the facts-the truth.
As Ivan dashed up the horse 1t oc.
CURED to me that I had not known
peace Of mind for a quarter of a CEN
fury. Often had I wished to make the
trip, but flourishing business had
required almost constant attention.
Settling back in the robes, l 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 foundered
to his shoulders in a mudhole; the
tarantass keeled to one side and l
alighted to assist Ivan.
1t was then caught sight Of the old
Cossack (guardhouse, high up on the
hill. Again shuddered.
Originally constructed from bficks
of baked clay and quartz sand, during
the Tatar invasion in GATHERINGS
time, it had later been used as a shell.
ter in the troublesome military days
OF two hundred years ago. Near by
were the ruins of the officers quar-
tiers. and beyond, those of the men.
But the old guardhouse, partially
built into the solid, frowning rock. had
resisted the ravages of time. 1t was
within the grim walls that I had seen
the last Of Paul previous to my depar-
ture for America.
Again l 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 hoEe in the building. and
how everyone Stunned the very hill.
Even the priests were afraid of it. he
said. I laughed to myself. for | had
been there many times, and Paul had
been there Cnce-iust once.
On a sudden impulse l determined to
60 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 assembled 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 amounted to affection.
Perhaps the expression sounds
strange; 1t 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 l 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, l 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
cleverer, far better set-up. But there
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 dc
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
had relatives.
Setting my affairs In order, I sold
out my interests, houses, mill and
land.
Paul was away on a trip at the time
so l did not hurry, but sent my bag
gage ahead to Karnoul, where It woult
await my arrival. On the day Of my
| departure. l drove over to q 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 ava!
had been to a remote district on thu
| Manchurian border, and as the wa,
lay across the foothills, the road beini
rough, it had necessitated travel b!
| foot. Paul was not expected back fol
at least ten days more; 50 you MAJ
Judge. then, of my establishment .
meeting him on the road.
do not know what possessed MI
| at the time-some devil or a twist II
| the skein of fate. perhaps. Anyway
/ alighted. and at the sight of hi
cynical smile my blood set itself oil
fire. We were Enthusiastically alon'
on the deserted road.
OF course he struggled with all hi
might. His strength was no match 10
mine, and soon had him trussed VI
like a fowl.
Then l carried him up to the guard
house.
| Fastened to the walls were stroni
chains. ending in rings for the hand
and feet. collars for the neck Ant
bands for the waist.
To one OF these chains, the broa'
iron band round his waist, secures
Paul. Withdrawing my handkerchie
from his mouth. for there was no fea
of his cries being heard. and had NJ
object in causing him physical discom
fort. unheeding his protestationa
i >-A ploaAin1a left him