The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1916-02-17
Peter and
Marya
A Story Of a Russian In.
ventor.
BY MARTHA v. MONROE

The harvest was ended. and the
peasantry In farming region In the
province of Tula, Russia, were gathered
In barn to celebrate the event with
n 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 evi.
IDENTITY searching for some one among
them. Presently young girl with the
fair hair and soft complexion OF the
north sailed by laughing ut 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.
"Oh. Peter" she said. what Is the
matterT'
II have seen your father. He says
II cannot be; he has no dowry for
you. | can earn on the farm barely
enough to keep myself alive. Ii would
be a sin for two persons as poor as We
to marry and bring forth children 70
suffer. lie 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. 4 full
moon was looking down on them with
its peaceful but cold light Within We're
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, Peter
asked Maya.
There was brief silence. ut 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 10y Il deadly
/ bolt.
/ The factory was n government insti
/ tuition where something was being
made the nature of which no one
knew when Il workman entered it,
/ portals he dill 50 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 mn opportunity to reveal it.
/ Peter Mlrinon, born and brought ~
among the farm class in Russia, wa,
much out Of place His ancestors had
I been mobiles who I'm one of the up
/ heavals that country has suffered wcr,
Impoverished. But IN him was IN In
| herltance Of genius that had lain dor
mant through several generations. II
1 had not yet been suspected either by
him or any one else.
Under the cold moonlight Peter an,
/ Marya parted 80 ray OF hope found
/ its way into the breast Of either. "l
| cannot be yours IN the flesh. Peter
she walled but | will he yours IN
heaven. No one shall ever come be
/ tween us" "ln the factory there /
no marriage. Maya. shall join you
/ Ia the hereafter" Then Peter pulleI
himself away from the girl who clunl
to him pitlfully.
The next morning he walked severa
/ leagues Ia the factory and presented
/ himself for admission. There was al
ways room for workmen there for few
cared TO enter service from which
there was no retreat Nor was II nee
essary that he should have any prep
| arltion for the work done there. Wher
a man is 10 spend his whole life In
certain employment his employer car
afford 10 educate him for his duties
Peters only pleasure In life wal
when the moon was ut the full ON 4
clear night-to stand In the factory
yard. look at the orb moving like tn,
hand of great clock IN a circle Of tn,
heavens and think Of Maya. lie wat
reminded OF their parting, and AS ones
remembrance OF face Is that Of tn,
last t.me Il has been seen so he Away
saw Marya's with the moonlight
streaming down upon II and wearins