The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1916-07-10
MYSTERY OF A
STOLEN PASSPORT
Experience of an American
Woman In Russia.

Sla, where | went to make Il transla- |
don Of rare Russian book
l went every day, by permission, to |
the library, where received the book.
and under the eye of an assistant libra |
rlan did my translating My watcher
was a young girl with fair northern |
complexion ana eyes Of heavens OWE
blue. Though she did not distrust me,
she conscientiously kept an eye on me
Her name was Sonia. | frequently
called on her for the meaning of words
and such like assistance, which she
cheerfully gave In sweet, childlike
voice. | became attached to her and
asked her to room with me. My prin
cipal reason for doing so was this.
While she was too young and delicate
to take any part in the prevailing atti
tqde of the people toward the govern
ment she knew something of what
| they were doing and on one occasion
warned me against friendship with
one Of my own sex, which / discontin-
| ued, and fortunately. for my friend
was suddenly arrested.
Sonia while my roommate conceived
the idea Of going with me to America
In this | encouraged her. She WAS so
| gently disposed that Russia in its pres
ent state was no place for her. she
had enough money TO pay her way to
| the United States. ANA agreed to take
her into my service while preparing my
manuscript for publication, after which
hoped to find something else for her
| 10 do. As ! nelrcd the close OF my
work We made our preparations for de-
parturc, Sonia apparently anxious TO
| get away from a country where the
leople were continually trying TO blow
each other up.
We had applied for our passports.
and mine had come In from the Ameri-
can embassy Sonia met with much d..
lay In getting hers. Indeed she feared
that ! would have to 20 without Der
The evening that my passport arrl;cd
we were reading my personal descrip
ton in it when it occurred TO me that,
while we were not at all alike. our
height. hair, eyes and complexion might
all be designated by the same words.
"Neyer mind. Sonia" ! said to her
IF necessary can go on and when
across the border can send you my
passport. 7 might wait for you at 10.
nigsberg
She put her arms around me ana
kissed me; then we went to bed.
The next morning when | awoke |
was surprised to see Sonia's bed
empty, and her clothes were not where
she had laid them the night before.
Astonished got up and made thor
ough search OF the room. My best cos
tune was missing.
THE little thief | exclaimed "rO
think that should have been 50 taken
In by her. And | shed tear not for
, the loss of my suit, but that the girl |
had intended TO hefiiend should have
J treated me thus Then | noticed that
! my passport was missing. Sonia must
have taken it, This somewhat chancod
s my views. | remembered our CONVEX
, sGti0n of the night before. ana It oc
CURED to ne that she might have gonC
n on under my passport and would send
4 1t after passing the border. But VIII!
j do this without my consent? why. t.
| avoid duplicating me. of course.
+ When | went 10 breakfast | saw Is
| the faces of those about me that son .
i thing unusual had happened. and was
!. informed that the same morning befol,
daylight the chief Of police had beer
stabbed IN his bed. If the assassin wa,
known the government kept the knowl
edge to themselves.
After having lived Il year among sucl
D murders my nerves were completed
g unstrung, and | was more than eve
+ anxious to get away. But | could no
q move without my passport. could no
t but blame Sonia for having taken it.
s Two days later on going to my room
G in the evening there lay my passpor
e on the table, but without scrap o
e explanation. ! was delighted. for IN
X theory was confirmed. | set out TN
$ next morning, excepting to see Soni
t. at Konigsberg, but was doomed {
;, disappointment. saw nothing of hcl
!. though | remained there several days
II went TO Bremen and took the steame
II on which | had engaged passage 70
Sonia and myself.
was lying in my berth the frs
night ont thinking OF her whom | ha
IL expected to be my roommate ON tn
Il voyage when the stateroom door opeI
IS cd snd some one entered. | turned Il
ii the light and there stood Sonia. Blu
is oh. how changed Ter face from IN
n soft innocent face of girl had becom
hard ms stone. She sank down on he
Ia knees beside me and put her arm
;, about me. Neither spoke wor,
', Presently she arose, took of her drcs
" and got into the other berth.
&c When arose the next morning notl
y ing would have induced me TO shai
II Sonia's secret She did not ask me {
W Not word of explanation did she civ
u, me except that the person who rctur,
III ed my passport did 80 Mt the risk of h
life.
Sonia was never again the chldlil
girl she had been. ON the contrar
or she looked old and careworn. OftC
ut in the night during our voyage 81
4 81 r..