The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-04-07
Fragments from
''The Broken Charm"
Free Translation From the Russian of A. Andreviv
By VERA and VIOLET MITKOVSKY

the biting wind, but Tropin's gloom
was not dispelled. Shortly after
wards he told Lucy that he couldn't
see her often, that she had better 90
back to st. Petersburg. None of the
inhabitants were evacuating, vet he
insisted that she go. Were at the
very 'front.'" he told her. There will
be many Inconvenience" Lucy pou-
ted and said, mo one else is going.
Why can't / stay" She stayed but
saw little of Tropin. His thoughts
were always of her, yet the feeling
OF fear and uneasiness oppressed him
more and more.
One day Lucy said, "You have a
prisoner of war here. He is my bro
Their" Tropin remembered, ooh yes!
| thought the surname was a coinci-
dence." mo, he is my brother. What
will they do to him ?" she inquired
anxiously. Tropin was silent. He
knew what they would do to one of
the enemy's scouts. an send him
to the rear of our army" he lied.
None knew of the prisoner save him
self and he could easily have been
sent to the rear flank, as was Gus
tomary with ordinary prisoners. Yet
he knew that he was going to give
orders for the scouts execution on
the following day. "But what will
you do with him ?" she insisted.
Shoot him?" eyes," answered Tro-
pin. mo, no! It's impossible. Oh
my God! You beast! You beast!"
She wept and scolded in frenzy,
finally throwing herself across the
threshold and exclaiming, "You won't
go till you've said yes, unless you
walk over me. Will you walk over
me, your bride ?" He was silent. for
ne knew he would have to step over
her. mo one knows he is here" she
pleaded. "You said so yourself, send
him to the rear. He'll do no harm
to your party there. You'll do it. |
won't you? Come, say yes" With
a great effort he said firmly, "No.p
She clasped his feet. "No, no. You
won't do it. You love me, don't YOU ?"
Il can't. Don't you understand 2" He
explained his duty to her. To him it
was clear. His answer was, mo"
All the uneasiness of the past few
months faded away. His thoughts
cleared and strength flowed into him.
de made step towards the door.
Lucy jumped up. In her eyes, whose
expression Tropin would never for
get, was full knowledge of what he |
was going to do. She whispered,
You don't love me 2" al love Won
out not as | love :" GAS YOU love
what?" He made another step. She
flung open the door. ''Go!" Damn
you, damn you'll" she screamed after
nim and ran out calling, Murderer"
Next day Tropin received two pack
cts. The first was an answer from
.he rear to his report of the capture
and condemnation of the white
lrmy's scout. At the end it said.
Report Immediately sentence is car
ned out" The second was a note
containing the two words, Cursed
Within an hour a little boy. bear
ng note, rushed into his room. The
5oungster had been running and was
painting for breath. "Comrade
Oommissar the lady ."Tro-
PIN looked at the frightened eyes and
Understood. His head swan but he
controlled himself and said, "You are
'lred, little man. Well the
ady?" "She she took poison y
he patted the wet hair. go. NV
lear"
He picked up the portfolio and
wondered, what did l want this
orr" then remembered that in it Law
paper with the words, Report inn
nediately sentence is carried out"
That evening the brigadier asked
Cropin, "Is it true that you Shot the
White scout with your own hand?"
Yes" answered Brigadier-General
'iOpin' The End.