The Washington herald., 1919-04-04

I rushed to my lodging, locked my
self in a room and wept all night.
My errand failed. and 1t was now
up TO me to choose between a living
death for Yasha and selling myself.
l had visions of Kolymsk. a settle
ment OF several scattered huts, popu-
lated by natives, lost in the vast ex-
panse of the ice-bound tundra "a
steppe in Northern Siberia) and
buried for months under mountains
OF snow. ] could almost hear the
bowling of the Arctic winds and the
frightful growing of the polar bears.
I pictured Yasha in the, midst of it.
cut OF from our race. slowly languish-
ing in the monotony of inactivity.
Then my thoughts would veer about
to the other alternative. Live and
work with Yssha in outward happi-
ness, and stealthily, in the night. go
to this degenerate governor. And
! what II Yasha learned of my seer.
trips? How would I explain? AL
of what avail would any explanations
be TO him? No, il was impossible
impossible! All, what a terrible night
II was, From hugging the frozen
banks of the Arctic waters, my irnagi-
nation would carry me to the revolt
ing embraces of Governor Kraft, in
a fruitless search for a way out.
Morning finally came and found me
all worn out. When asked by friends
as to the result of my call on tho
governor 1 replied that he had refused
my appeal. In low spirits / went to
see Yasha. He quickly noticed my
downcast appearance and inquired in
to the cause.
II saw the governor. and he would
not change your place of exile" /
informed him. gloomily.
Yasha fiared up. You appealed to
the governor. eh? The governor never
refused yet an appeal of this sort by
a woman. 1 am told. He is the kind
est of men. The warden here just
told me that the governor has long
felt the need of a first class butcher
shop in town, and would never let
us go if properly appealed to. And
I hear that you did not plead suf-
ficiently. You want to get rid of me.
eh? You want to have me sent to
nolymsk to die, so that you can re-
main here alone and carry on with
some other man."
Yasha's words panied me deeply He
always had been very jealous, but
the strain Of the Imprisonment and
journey now made him more excitable
Besides. it was evident that some one
from the governors office had COM
municated to him the intelligence that
had not sufficiently exerted myself
In his behalf. I did not dare to tell
him the truth. for that would have
meant sure exile to Kolymsk, and
still hoped against hope.
"Yasha," 1 implored, how can you
say such things of me? You know
how l love you, and If you go to
Kolymsk I'll go along with you. 1
have been to the governor, and begged
him"
"Then go again. Fall on your
knees before him, and beg harder.
He is said to be such a kind man
that he will surely have merry. Other
wise. we are lost. Think of our des-
tination, a land without the sun, a
colony of three or four shacks, spread
over a space Of ten or fifteen versts,
this is Kolymsk. No horses, no bust
ness. no trades! A land not for the
living. Go. pray to the governor, and
he may take pity"
looked at Yasha, and my heart
was filled with anguish. He was only
twenty-seven, but his hair was al
ready turning gray. He looked pale
and exhausted. / could not keep my
self from breaking out into sobs
Yasha was touched, and. placing his
arm around me, apologized for his
insinuation, assuring me of his devo-
ton and appreciation Of my endeav-
ors to sustain him in his trials. l
left him. with the understanding that
I would call on the governor again.
ITO go or not to co. was the
thought that tormented me on the
way from Yasha- I learned that the
governor was notorious as a libertine.
He had married into a high bureau
Gratis family for career and his
wife was hunchback, spending most
of her time abroad. Plucking up
courage, l went to the governor again,
hoping to win his favor by a passion
ate plea for Yasha- AS 1 entered the
office l saw the clerks wink at one
another significantly. l could scarce
iy keep myself together, trembling in
anticipation Of another meeting with
the governor. AS l was admitted into
his study he arose, smiled benevo-
lently, saying:
"Ah, so finally you did come, my
golubka Qittle dove). Now. don't
be afraid, I won't harm you. Calm
yourself and be seated and, he
helped me to a chair.
Gu Be- sCuntinuedl