Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-04-28
I HE CITIZEN 81 g

"wife, we are going away from here. -
where are we going. Ivan?" she
asked
'Where do you think, Anna?" he said.
looking down at her as she stood by
his side.
ITO Bobruisk," she murmured.
NO"
FAY, long way farther"
Fear sprang into her soft eyes. Bob
ruisk was eighty-nine versts away, yet
Ivan said they were going farther.
We've are not going to Minsk?'
she cried.
"Ay, and beyond Minsk"
ivan; tell me" she gasped. Tell me
where we are going?"
we are going to America"
ITO American.
YES. to America"
Big Ivan of the Bridge lifted up his
voice when he cried out the words, ITO
American and then a sudden fear
sprang upon him as those words dashed
through the little window out into the
darkness of the village street. Was he
mad? America was 5000 versts away!
1t was far across the ocean, place that
was only a name to him, place where
he knew no one. He wondered, in the
strange little silence that followed his
words, if the crippled son of Podorino.
the smith, had heard him. The cripple
would jeer at him if the night wind had
carried the words to his ear.
Anna remained staring at her big
husband for a few minutes, then she
sat down quietly at his side. There was
a strange look in his. big blue eyes, the
look of man to whom has come a
vision, the look which came into the
eyes of those shepherds of Judea long,
long ago.
what is it, Ivan?" she murmured
softly, patting his big hand. Tell me-"
And big Ivan of the bridge. slow of
tongue, told of the dream. To no one
else would he have told 1t: Anna un-
derstood. She had a way Of patting his
hands and saying soft things when his
his thoughts.
Ivan told how the dream had come to
him as he plowed. He told her how it
had eprung upon him, a wonderful
sunshine, of the sweet smell of the up
turned sod and of his own strength.
1T wouldn't come to weak men," he
said. barring an arm that showed great
snaky muscles ripping beneath the
clear skin. ut is a dream that comes
only to those who are strong and those
who want-who want something that
they haven't got" Then in 2 lower
voice he said: What is it that we
want, Anna"
The little wife looked out into the
darkness with fear-filled eyes. There
were spies even there in that little viii
lage on the Beresina, and it was dam
gerous to say words that might be con-
strued into a reflection on the govern
ment. But she answered Ivan. She
stopped and whispered one word into
his ear. and he slapped his thigh with
his big hand.
"Ay." he cried. THAT is what we
want! You and I and millions like US
want it. and over there. Anna, over
there we will get it. 1t is the country
where a muzhik is as good as a prince
of the blood!'
Anna stood up. took a small earthen-
carefully and placed it upon the mantel.
From a knotted cloth about her neck
she took a ruble and dropped the coin
into the jar. Big Ivan looked at her
curiously.
ut is to make legs for your dream"
she explained. at is many versts to
America, and one rides on rubles"
You are a good wife," he said. Il
was afraid that you might laugh at me-"
1T is great dream" she murmured.
Come, we will go to Sleep"
The dream maddened Ivan during the
days that followed. 1t pounded within
his brain as he followed the plow. 1t
bred discomfort that made him hate
the little village. the swift-fiowing
Beresina and the gray stretches that
ran toward Mogilev. He wanted to be
moving. but Anna had said that one
rode on rubles, and rubles were hard to
md.
And in some mysterious way the village
became aware of the secret. Donkov, the
tailor, discovered it Donkov lived in one
half OF the cottage occupied by Ivan and
Anna, and Donkov had long ears. The
tailor spread the news, and Poborino. tho
smith, and Yanansk. the baker, would
jeer ut Ivan as he passed.
When are you going to American they
would ask.
'Soon," Ivan would answer
Take US with you" they would cry in
chorus.
TT Is no place for towards" Ivan
would answer. 1T is long way. and
only brave men caIf make the journey"
Are you brave?" the baker screamed
one day as he went by
Il am brave enough to want liberty"
cried Ivan. angrily. Il am brave enough
to want"
BE careful, Be CAREFUL" interrupted
the smith. "A long tongue has given many
man train journey that he never ex-
pected."
That night Ivan and Anna counted the
rubles in the earthenware pot. The giant
looked down at his wife with a gloomy
face. but she smiled and patted his hand.
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