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DARKEST RUSSIA
JJV II. GRATTAN DONNELLY
I Copyright , 1890. by Street & SmAll rights reserved.
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I . CHAPTER XIV.-Contlnued.
- t y' Among the last to emerge were I
Alexis and Ivan-Ilda , with the women -
. " on , had gone before.
In going to the van in which they
were to be conveyed to the railway
station to begin their long journey to
_ . \ the mines of Siberia , Ivan and Alexia
passed the conveyance where Ilda sat
in company with two other women.
' . They had not seen each other since
, : . . ' they had been taken from the office
_ , 'I' , of the minister of police , when Ivan ,
. < tf. , " torn by the soldiers from the arms of
, I ; ; ; " . Olga , felt , as ho received a last fare-
' , < , 1 : < well embrace , time hapless girl faint in
' his arms.
"Alexis ! "
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" . . ' Hearing the voice , Alexis stopped ,
and with hint Ivan , for they were
Ironed togethcr.
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"Uda !
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Both spoke at once.
. But the one word was the last.
A Cossack guard had overheard
them , and with a rough "Prilmzano no
_ gavarll" ( talking is forbidden ) , ho
pushed them forward with the butt
of his rifle and hustled them _ into the
van with scant ceremony.
- The cortege started , and in less
than half an hour the prisoners had
. been transferred to the long train or
convict cars , the whistle sounded , the
train moved , and the dreary journey
of the exiles to Siberia had begun.
As the train rolled along , Ivan and
, ,
: , Alexis found for the first time an opportunity -
. portunity of exchanging confidences.
, They had been placed in separate
cells in the prison . and knew nothing
of what had transpired during the
- time of their confinement. Of their
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: : ' destination they were both ignorant ,
x- . beyond the fact that they were bound
: , for Sibei ia. They found some consolation -
\'u. . ' ' latlon , however , in being together , and
. , each tried to comfort the other by
: . . . : . , . expressing a hope that when the truth
was known their punishment would
: < , not be so sovero. One fear , however ,
; . . , possessed them both-that on their
: : . - arrival in ISiberla they would be sep-
/ ' : , : ' . arated and unable to communicate
t ! , , , with each other.
; . : t It Is a long journey at best from
: . < SL Petersburg to Saratov ; but in a
" : crowded convict car , with no conven-
: ; . : . fences , with a hot , stifling atmosphere ,
- .Jt < and in the company of some of the
. . I worst characters In Hussia-for with
t refined cruelty the political exiles
r were compelled to associate with
; - - malefactors of all Idnds-it was , as
< Alexis afterward described It , a hor-
' . rible nightmare while awal\O.
Up to their arrival In Sara to v , Ivan
'and Alexis had been allowed to wear
the ordinary dress , although Alexis ,
- immediately after his arrival in the
Petropavlosl prison , had been compelled -
pelled to give up his uniform and
t don the garb of a civilian. Now , how-
" \ , e ! ever they bad arrived at the depot
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'Y.--W.---V&r --v. , . . . .
for these destined for Siberia , and
they were soon made aware that
henceforth they would live under
changed conditions
Two or three clays after their ar-
rival at Saratov , a rumor spread
among the prisoners that time convoy
for Siberia was about to start on the
following morninG , and this proved to
bo true , for time order was issued to
prepare to march. As a preliminary
the convicts were divided into t-t t )
classes-the politicals and the crimI
innIs-other than those convicted of
offenses of a political nl1ture. Of the
first there were two clnsses-tho sylni
or simple exiles , whose offenses were
designated under the general term of i
"untrustworthiness"-and the bl1rd-
labor class , who were convicted of
some overt act against the peace and
dignity of the czar. Some of the pris-
oners were taken to the barber shop ,
where one side of the head was
shaved bare ; and the hair an the
other side being allowed to remain ,
they presented , when their caps were
removed , a pitifully grotcrquo appcar.
ance. To the strong leather bolt
which confined their greatcoats at
the waist were attached two chains
which reached to the ankles , where
they were riveted to time ankle irons.
Alexis and Ivan were fortunate in
being exempted from the degradation
of having their hair cut In time man-
ner described , but In all other respects -
spects they were treated as the other
convicts. They tried to gain Information -
tion from the guardS' as to Uda , but
1t was without avail , and they - , were - .
left in uncertainty as to her fate. Hut
they were not long in suspense.
Early on the following morning 0.
bugle sound rang through the prison ,
and a few minutes later all were act- .
ive. Orders were issued in quick ,
sharp tones to the prisoners tb bo
ready to march , and after 0. hasty
breakfast of the regulation faro-
black bread and barIc soup-the
prisoners were drawn up in line in
the courtyarl1. A list lr their names
were called , their Irons examined ,
each prisoner shouldered his canvaS
bag and then , led by a detachment of
soldiers and guarded all both sides ;
and the rear , the column of "unfortu-
llates"-tho general term for exiles In
R'ls < : : ll1-was ordered to march. Time
o'r ' gates ; opened and the prisoners
* ese on their way to the landing
plt\M. ' wbero a steamer was in waiting
to carry them up the Volga to Kasan.
Among the three hunl1red and odd
prisoners there were some thirty-fivo
womon-somo of them being the wives I
of exiles , who elected to share their
husband's fate ; some who were being
deported for political activity , and
others who had been guilty of crime.
As the column started , Alexis and
Ivan who had managed to still be to-
gether-a favor granted to them by
reason of a trifling brIbe to one of
the guards-recognized IIda in her
dress of an exile. That IIl1a also recognized -
ognized them they were sure , although
shc made no sign , fearing to betray
a desire to get nearer to thorn-a
movement that would have been pre-
vented because desired.
But. when they reached the steamer
they were rewarded for their self.de-
nil and for the first time since they
had been separated at the doors of
' time prison in St. Petersburg they
found an opportunity to converse frpe-
ly. This gave them a chance to agree
upon a cypher mode of communication -
Uon which they felt would prove use-
ful In the probable event of their early
separation.
Alexis was by far the most cheerful -
ful of time three , and cUd all in his
power to comfort his companions. "I
feel ) sure , " ho said 'that my father
when he discovers the true facts will
relent and that our pardons are only
a question of time. But I have a
stronger ground for hope. 1 do not
believe that Oen. Cobl\ will desert me ,
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and 1 feel sure that oven now he is
at work on our behalf Keep tip a
bravo heart , dear 1I11a. and ho assured
that happiness is yet In store for us
all "
Time steamer with its land of human
I freight went on U11 the broad Volga
: until Kasnn was reached. Hero 0.
I short delay occurred , hut In a few
hours the exiles wore transferred to
another steamer , their destination ho-
Ing Perm , on the River Kama. They
were now rapidly approaching the SI-
bOl'ian frontier. On their arrival at
I Perm , they were marched to a train
of cars In waiting , and without further -
timer delay were forwarded on their
journey.
At the end of the railway line time
prisoners were disembarked and tal-
(1:1 to t.c : rcc2lviug prison , where they
were to test a few clays before beginning -
ginning their long march of weeks ,
perhaps months , to the mines of Sibo-
ria.
Alexis , Ilda and Ivan learned of their
destinullon. Ivan and Alexis wtJI'e to
go to Chitha the capital of the prov-
Inco of the Trans - Balkal , 0. place on
the bank of the Ingoda river , one of
time tributaries of the Amoor. Jlda
learned that at this point she would
bo separated from her companions.
She was to go some two hundred
miles furthor-to' Stralensl .
We may pass over the long and .
dreary murch of the exiles .JOl' weeks
and months In their journey over the .
great highway of Siberia It Is a
painful 7jtor ' -o. story full of tearR. !
The scanty food , the foul air of the
Immaras or prison pens , the long
marches on foot day hy day-tlwso
need not further he referred to. Suffice -
lice It to say that the journey was accomplished -
complished at last , and the exiles
were at their destination.
Dy great good fortune the com-
mllndant of the district where Ivan
and Alexis found themselves was an
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old soldier who had served under I
Count Nazlmoff In the Turkish war ,
and he fell pity for the son of his' old
commander. Alexis was allowed many
privileges not accorded to ordinary
convicts , nUll the horrors of exile
were , hy his intercession , also. soft-
ened for Ivan. IIda , they heard had
been assigned to duty by time governor
a : . Stralenfll : as a nurse , and she had
also an opportunity to earn something
beyond the scanty government allow-
ance by teaching the governor's chll-
dren.
Ucla had been hut 0. short time in
Stmlensl when an opportunity was
afforded her for materially improving
her condition. A violent epidemic of
typhus fever had broken out , not only
among the convicts , hut among time
officials thems.elves. With a noble
disregard of her own safety , Ilda exposed -
posed herself to every risk , and to her
watchful care and skillful nursing was
due the saving of the lives of the
governor's wife and chlll1ren. The
gratitude of the governor's wife knew
no bounds , and It was at her sl1Jges- :
tlon that Ucla was given quarters , Instead -
stead of being confined In time wom-
on's department of the prison , in time
governor's , ! mouse. She had been hero
now two months , and was regarded
with 'feolings of grateful esteem by
all classs-prisoners and officials
aIl1cc. Str\len Is on the main road .
to the mines of Nertchenslc , and i
since the arrival of Uda several con-
vo's of prisoners had passed through
the place on route to the destination
at the mines. As the long columns of
unfortunates wound their weary way
along the valley of the Nertcha Uda
had many opportunities to perform
little acts of kindness ! to suffering
prisoners It was while binding the
bruised foot ot a poor woman who
had suffered terribly on the march
that Ihla was startled hy the sufferer
asking If she knew any prisoner
named Ilda Oarosly.
Ucla's heart beat fast. She had not
heard from Alexis or Ivan since she
was separatm from them to continuo
her journey , and while she knew
that they had been stopped at Chillm , '
she believed that time ) had only been
halted there , preparatory to being sent
further Into the Interior perhaps to
the dreaded mines of Karc. 1I'ln revealed .
vealed her name to the stranger. who
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produced a pUller. It proved to bo but
R single work "Nnd shlla" ( Hope ) , but
It was as a very message at future
ha)1plness ) for time girl , for she rocoa
nlzed the hand of Aloxls. Slum learned
that Limo scrap of paper hail boon
Illlnded to time woman at R point some
three h\1ndred mlles away , where a
survey was being made for a new .
road , and hy further questioning
found out that Alexis 'l\Jlll Ivan had
been given omptoymont in that way-
so far as the woman could describe
time man who halt given her the scrap
of paper , und who had hut 0. moment
to music her to deliver It to Ilda Bitro
slQ' , Ie they should meot. ,
'fhus the months passed away-tbo
exiles waiting , J'atchlng , with anxious
hearts for a word of hOl10 from tholo
nearest ! and dearest to them. In SIberia .
herla , they know that they could Dot
oven , If they so desired , hope to 1'0-
main as they willed for any length 01
time In the place In which they 'Were.
The whim of an ofeer In authority :
the command of au 1Bp'avulk-the
suh.govcrnor 01' mayor of the smaller
towns ; a draft for more laborers for
time mines-any of these causes might
compel them to change their residence
at 0. momont's notice , anti go to a
point , hundreds , If not thousands , or
miles distunt. Hence our friends wore
kept In a constant state or fear and
suspense lest at any moment an order .
dOl' might Issue which would place
them further apart-perhaps never to
meet nJaln. :
It must not be supposed that Alexis
and Ivan had calmly reconciled , thorn-
solves to their fate , and had passively
accepted the misfortune that It had
been their lot to enllure. The thought"
hy day and the dreams by night of
exiles of Siberia are of escape , and
Ivan and Alexis were no exceptions to
the rule. They hall discussed many
plans , but one after another had been
dismissed as hnpractlcablo. For It was
not alone for themselves that they
planned. They had determined never
i1kWt'll '
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to leave Siberia without llda and tba
hapless Olga.
In spite of every effort , no word oJ
the fate of Olga had reached thOM ,
and Ivan was in an agony of apprehension .
sion regarding her. But one thought
COllsolel1 him. He knew that the Baroness -
roness van Ilhincberg would do everything -
thing In her power to mitigate time
sufferings or the unhappy girl , and he
lmew , too , that he would certainly
hear some news as soon us any Infor-
mation ot his location l could reach the . .
baroness-If it ever did.
( 't'o be continued. )
. . - -
Laid by Lincoln Admirer.
A Michigan man is preparing to 1'0-
shingle his louse ! for time first time
since 18GO , the year Lincoln was elect.
ed. In renlOina the old hand.sha
shingles on one , protected uy the over.
lap of Its neighbor , were found the
words : "Hurrah for old Abe ! "
Spared for Years of Usefulness.
Owen Wister , author of "Tho Vir
glnlan" and other successful works
has just recovered from an operation
for appendicitis performed EoveraJ
woels ago at the ronns 'lva:1ia Med.
leal college of PhlladClphin.
