The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-04-12

ionged, yet dreaded. to he th.,.
was Katrina still there? How von,d
sne receive me! And Paul-ah. YES
raui! ! shuddered at the thought q;
MN. But I must get to nv destins
non; l must know the facts-tbe truth
As Ivan dashed up the horse - a.
CURED to me that l had not known
peace OF mind for a quarter a, . COW
fury. Often had wished to make tha
trip' but flourishing business had
required almost constant attention
Set.iing back in the robes, thought
Inc landscape had not altered. M
ecent buildings marked progress
tnough the line of telegram no,as
along the roadside was new. Inst
lound the bend the horse floundered
70 his shoulders in a mudhole: the
tarantass keeled to one side and 7
alighted to assist Ivan.
1t was then caught sight of the old
Cossack guardhouse, high up on the
hill. Again I shuddered.
Originally constructed from br;cts
OF baked clay and quartz sand, during
tne Tatar invasion in GATHERINGS
time, 1t had later been used as a shell.
! Ter IN the troublesome military DAVIS
OF two hundred years ago. Near bv
were the ruins of the officers GUAR.
tiers, and beyond, those of the men.
But the old guardhouse, partially
Quilt Into the solid, frowning rock. had
resisted the ravages of time. 1t was
within the grim walls that had seen
the last Of Paul previous to nv depar.
ture for America.
Again l let Ivan talk. With much
crossing. he told me of its history: of
the scenes. brutal and cruel, that had
taken place there! of the ghost that
made his home in the building. and
now everyone Stunned the very hill.
Even the priests were afraid of it, he
said. / laughed to myself for had
been there many times, and Paul had
been there once-iust 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 l 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 ! 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 starostas daughter
Katrina Of the Golden Hair, I 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 womans 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 made up my
mind to leave for America, where
had relatives.
Setting my affairs in order, ! sold
out my interests, houses, mill and
land.
| Paul was away on trip at the time
so l did not hurry but sent my bag
gage ahead to Karnoul, where 1t would
await my arrival On the day OF my
departure, drove over to neighpor'
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 a remote district on the
Manchurian border. and as the way
Law across the foothills, the road being
rough. it had necessitated travel by
foot. Paul was not expected BACK ioi
at least ten days more SO you may
Judge, then, of my astonishment az
meeting him on the road
| do not know what possessed me
Mt the time-some devil or twist III
the skein of fate. perhaps Anyway
In alighted, and at the sight OF MS
cynical smile my blood set itseii on
fire. We were alone-absoluteiy a'one
on the deserted road.
OF course he struggled with an us
might. His strength was no matcn 10y
mine. and soon | had him trussed up
like fowl. . .rd
Then carried him up to the guard
house. ,.,o,o
Fastened to the walls were strons
chains, ending in rings ior the manu- nd
and feet collars for the neck anu
bands for the waist, ,,,
To one of these chains, the uioau
iron band round his waist | sec on'a,
Paul. Withdrawing my hanaher' tn.,
from his mouth. for there was no ,e az
Of his cries being heard and ! i mao ~
object ~ in causing him physical diseom
fort unheeding his protes.a'ioH'
threats and pleadings, left MIN. I'M,
In the village all was
over my departure