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Article THE COUNTESS AND THE SERF* ← Page 17 of 23 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Countess And The Serf*
there fell incessantly ripon his tortured ear the dull monotonous sound of the degrading knout . Suddenly he paused in his mad career , and a laugh rang rip to Heaven more fearful than a scream . He had just remembered that although a stricken slave he was still free to die . To die—to be at peace—to defy the malice of his tyrant ; for iu his delirium the wretched
victim saw only an executioner in her whom he had once so fondly loved . That should be his vengeance . ' And yet she might not know that he had freed himself ; she might never learn that he was beyond her power , and was her slave no longer . He would not die in the dark forest to pamper the beasts of prey . He would not pass away without wringing the
proud heart ivhich had written its ownership ripon his frame in characters of blood . He would not be hunted through the district as a runaway , seeking to defraud his mistress of her rights—she should see him die—and ivith another discordant laugh ivhich scared the wild birds in the branches , he hurriedly made his way through the forest , and directed his course towards the castle .
It was night , but a lamp still burned in the chamber of the countess . Midnight pealed from the belfry long ere the wanderer reached a postern gate of which he possessed the key ; yet still the dull ancl shaded light gleamed on . Ivan kept his eye fixed upon it as he advanced , until it Avas hidden by the external wall of the building , and then cautiously effecting an entrance
into the court , he hurried to his chamber . All was dark there ; but Ivan did not hesitate an instant . Traversing the floor with a firm and sure tread , he approached the high mantel , and took clown from over it a pair of costly pistols , which had been given to him by Zamoiski ; they were loaded ; and placing them in his breasthe retraced his steps until he stood
, upon the threshold of the chamber appropriated to the countess . The wretched girl was seated near a table with her forehead clasped in her hands , to control the agonizing throbs of her burning temples ; but ei en overwhelmed as she was by grief , her quick ear nevertheless caught the sound of footsteps , ancl she started up , demanding wildly : " Have you found him
at last ? Is he here ?" " He is here , " said Ivan , advancing into the apartment , his long hair matted ancl dripping with the night deiv , his clothes torn and disordered , and with a bright and fierce light in his eye before which the young countess shrank ajjpalled ; " he is here , in order that you may once more feast upon his agony . " As he spoke , he drew forth a pistol , which he was about to dis-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Countess And The Serf*
there fell incessantly ripon his tortured ear the dull monotonous sound of the degrading knout . Suddenly he paused in his mad career , and a laugh rang rip to Heaven more fearful than a scream . He had just remembered that although a stricken slave he was still free to die . To die—to be at peace—to defy the malice of his tyrant ; for iu his delirium the wretched
victim saw only an executioner in her whom he had once so fondly loved . That should be his vengeance . ' And yet she might not know that he had freed himself ; she might never learn that he was beyond her power , and was her slave no longer . He would not die in the dark forest to pamper the beasts of prey . He would not pass away without wringing the
proud heart ivhich had written its ownership ripon his frame in characters of blood . He would not be hunted through the district as a runaway , seeking to defraud his mistress of her rights—she should see him die—and ivith another discordant laugh ivhich scared the wild birds in the branches , he hurriedly made his way through the forest , and directed his course towards the castle .
It was night , but a lamp still burned in the chamber of the countess . Midnight pealed from the belfry long ere the wanderer reached a postern gate of which he possessed the key ; yet still the dull ancl shaded light gleamed on . Ivan kept his eye fixed upon it as he advanced , until it Avas hidden by the external wall of the building , and then cautiously effecting an entrance
into the court , he hurried to his chamber . All was dark there ; but Ivan did not hesitate an instant . Traversing the floor with a firm and sure tread , he approached the high mantel , and took clown from over it a pair of costly pistols , which had been given to him by Zamoiski ; they were loaded ; and placing them in his breasthe retraced his steps until he stood
, upon the threshold of the chamber appropriated to the countess . The wretched girl was seated near a table with her forehead clasped in her hands , to control the agonizing throbs of her burning temples ; but ei en overwhelmed as she was by grief , her quick ear nevertheless caught the sound of footsteps , ancl she started up , demanding wildly : " Have you found him
at last ? Is he here ?" " He is here , " said Ivan , advancing into the apartment , his long hair matted ancl dripping with the night deiv , his clothes torn and disordered , and with a bright and fierce light in his eye before which the young countess shrank ajjpalled ; " he is here , in order that you may once more feast upon his agony . " As he spoke , he drew forth a pistol , which he was about to dis-