The Washington herald., 1919-04-07
PART TWO-WAR.
CHAPTER VI.

Enlist by the Grace of the Gar
Nearly two months l travelled home
ward from Yakutsk, by water rail-
and foot The war was everywhere.
The barge on the Lena was filled Win
recruits. In Irkutsk the uniform was
much in evidence, and every now ana
then a regiment of soldiers Woulo
march through the streets on the way
to the station, arousing ones mar
tial spirit. My convoy left me upon
my arrival there, and had to appeal
to the authorities for funds 10 con-
tinue my journey.
My heart was hammerinS when l
reached Tomsk. after an absence OF
about six years. Tears dimmed my
eyes as l walked the familiar streets.
Here, i'm this twO-stoTied house, L had
first learned the fickleness of man
love. That was ten years ago, dur
ing the Russo-Japanese war, and l
was only 10 years old. There, IN
that dilapidated little store, where L
can see the figure of Nastasia Leon
tieyna bent over the counter, l spent
five years of my early youth, waiting
on customers, scrubbing floors, cook
ing, washing and sewing. That long
apprenticeship, under the severe eyes
of Nastasia LeOntievna, served me IN
good stead in later years, l must ad-
nit. The smoking chimney yonder
belongs to the house in which L was
married, some eight years ago, only
to experience at first hand the bru-
tality Of man. And here, in this base
ment, my father and mother have
been dwelling for seventeen years.
l swung open the door. Ny mother
was baking bread and did not turn
Immediately. How old she had grown.
How bent her shoulders, how white
her hair! She veered her head about
and stared at me for a fraction Oh
an instant. A lump rose in my throat
rendering me speechless.
'Mania!" she exclaimed, rushing to-
ward me and locking me in her arms.
We wept, kissed each other, and
wept again. My mother offered
prayers to the Holy Mother and swore
that she would never let me leave her
side again. The bread was almost
burned to charcoal, having been for
gotten in the oven i'm the excitement
OF my return. Father came in, and
he also was greatly aged. He greeted
me tenderly. the years having soft
ened the harshness of his nature.
paid some visits to old friends
Nastasia Leontievna was overjoyed to
see me. The sister OF Afonasi Botch-
karev, my first husband. also well
coined me cordially, in spite of the
fact that I had escaped from her
brother. She realized well enough
how brutal and rough he was. She
told me that Afanasi had been called
in the first draft, and that it was re-
ported that he was among the first
prisoners taken by the Germans. l
have never heard of him again.
1 rested for about three days. The
news from the front was exciting.
Great battles were raging. Our SOL
diers were retreating in some places
and advancing in others. L wished
for wings to fly-to their succor. My
heart yearned and ached.
DO you know what war is?' l
asked myself It's no woman's job.
You must make sure before starting
out, Marusia, that you won't disgrace
yourself. Are you strong enough in
spirit to face all the trials and dang
ers of this colossal war? Are you
strong enough in body to shed blood
and endure the privations of war? Are
you firm enough at heart to withstand
the temptations that will come to
you, living among men2 Search your
soul for an answer of truth and cou--
age"
And 1 found strength enough In me
to answer yes" to all these Ques-
uons- ! suppressed the hidden long