The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-06-14
after MANY YEARS

AZ
"Ragorsk,'' announced Ivan, pointing
to the village plainly visible over the
intervening miles.
Ragorsk! What a world Of bitter
sweet memories rose within me!
/ longed, yet dreaded. to be there.
Was Katrina still there? How would
| che receive me? And Paul-ah. yes.
Paul! shuddered at the thought OF
him. But I must get to my destina'
ton; must know the facts-the truth.
As Ivan dashed up the horse it &C.
CURED to me that l had not known
peace of mind for a quarter Of CEN
fury. Often had l wished to make the
trip. but a fourishing 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 - telegraph poles
along the roadside was new. Just
round the bend the horse fioundered
to his shoulders in a nu6hole; the
tarantass keeled to one side and l
alighted to assist Ivan.
1t was then l caught sight o; the old
Cossack guardhouse, high up on the
hill. Again shuddered.
Originally constructed from bricks
Of baked clay and quartz sand. during
the Tatar invasion in GATHERINGS
time, it 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 ravages Of time. 1t was
within the grim walls that l 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 its 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 it, he
said. I laughed to myself, for l had
been there many times, and Paul had
been there once-just once.
On sudden impulse determined to
60 there before going to the village
Ivan paled at the thought; not for q
million rubles would he accompany
me. Tremblingly, he agreed to wait
for me, and I 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
str.nge; 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 IL
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. I called
her; for all the other girls were dark
and Katrina-ah! who can describe
, Katrina?
That she could prefer Paul nevel
once entered my mind. I was fal
cleverer. far better set-up. But there
=. is no accounting for woman's choice
Paul won; he and my Katrina wer'
engaged.
At first set about for revenge, bu
soon realized that nothing I could d.
, in the way Of retaliation could maxi
up for that. Katrina his, Paul coult
afford to laugh at me. Finally, coult
stand 1t no longer; l made up m!
: mind to leave for America, where
: had relatives.
, Setting my affairs in order, I sol,
out my interests, houses. mill an,
land
Paul was away on trip at the time
SO did not hurry, but sent my bag
. gage ahead to Karnoul, where it woul'
, await my arrival. On the day Of m!
departure. I drove over to q neighbor
: ing village. Pulaski, transacted m.
business, and In the afternoon drov
t back along the road below the guard
!. house.
The trip that had taken Paul ava.
had been to a remote district on tn
Manchurian border, and as the va,
; lay across the foothills, the road bein
+ rough. 1t had necessitated travel b,
foot. Paul was not expected back TO
at least ten days more; 80 you ma
: Judge. then, of my establishment q
! meeting him on the road.
I do not know what possessed m
ut the time-some devil or q twist 4
!, the skein Of fate. perhaps Anyway
l I alighted. and at the sight of hi
b cynical smile my blood set itself o.
> fire. We were alone-absolutely alon
on the deserted road.
OF course he struggled with all hi
|. might. His strength was no match 70
. mine, and soon had him trussed u
: like fowl.
Then carried him up to the guart
house.
Fastened to the walls were stron
, ! chains, ending in rings for the hand
and feet, collars for the neck an
bands for the waist.
!. To one Of these chains, the broa
iron band round his waist, I secure
Paul. Withdrawing my handkerchie
from his mouth, for there was no fea