The Washington herald., 1919-04-05

found unconscious on the floor, re-
covering my senses only in the hos
pital. Around me stood Yasha, some
nurses, and a physician who was pour
ing something into my throat I
could not speak. although I under
stood all that was gong on in the
room. I had lost SO much blood. tho
doctor explained to Yasha. in reply
to his anxious questions. that my re-
covery was very doubtful. Only an
unusually powerful constitution could
withstand and emerge alive from such
an ordeal" he added.
For two weeks / hovered between
this and, the other world, suffering
agonizing pains, writhing in breath
arresting commissions. Twas fed only
on milk. introduced into my throat
through tube. For a month I re-
mained speechless, at the end of which
time l was out of danger, but had to
spend another month. in the hospital
before / regained my normal health
Yasha could not, at first, understand
the reason for my act. The governor
was SO kind, so generous. He not
| only commuted his sentence, but gave
us 500 rubles for store. Could there
be anything more noble? He finally
arrived sat the conclusion that the
trials Of the last year had resulted in
my temporary mental derangement,
which was responsible for my attempt
at suicide. l did not disillusion him,
although felt like doing 1t when
ever he eulogized the governor.
Upon leaving the hospital, we
opened the butcher shop and immedi-
ately began to do good business. For
several months we led a peaceful life.
Then. one afternoon. the governor
suddenly called at our store, ostensi-
bly, to inquire how we were getting
along with the shop. He stretched
his hand toward me, but l turned
away.
The governor left, and Yasha ragged
at me for my inexplicable conduct
Had 1 gone mad? l must have, to be
| capable of refusing to greet our bene-
factor, the kindest of men, / was
sullen and silent. but Yasha would
not be downed. He demanded an ex-
PLANTATION. There was nothing left foE
me to do but to make a clean breast
of 1t, which l did.
The truth was too shocking and
threw him into spasms. He struck me
with something and felled me to the
| floor. His face turned chalk-w white.
the veins stood out on his temples,
and he was all atrembfe. He seemed
unable to grapple with this nightmare.
The governors hberality was now ex-
planned. The 900 rubles the commu-
tation of his sentence. II was all a
price dearly paid for by his beloved.
Ny attempted suicide now appeared
to him in its true light. He would
take vengeance. He would kill the
governor, he swore, yes, he would
murder that most despicable of vii
lains. / hugged his feet and begged
him not to attempt to carry out his
threat He paid no heed to my
prayers, and talked of the hollowness
of hts life IL he did not avenge me.
He left on his fatefuI errand, all
my efforts to bar his way having
failed. When he appeared at the gov
ernor's office, requesting an audience,
giving his name, the clerks immedi-
ately suspected him of some dark
motive. The secretary reported to the
governor that Buk. the butcher, act
ing in a suspicious manner. desired
an audience. The governor ordered
that he be detained and searched. A
long. sharp knife was found on him.
and he was arrested. under fnstruc-
| tions to have him exiled on the fol-
lowing day to Amiga, a Yakut ham
let within 200 versts of Yakutsk l
/ had only twenty-four hours to dis
pose Of the shop, and was compelled