RUSSIAN REVENGE.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 741, 18 October 1870, Page 4

RUSSIAN REVENGE.

[FROM FREE RUSSIA.] A peasant, living in a village near Archangel, killed his father in a quarrel, but iii such a waj* that he was not suspected of the crime ; and he would never have been brought to justice had not a Vanka, a friend and neighbor, been a witness of the deed. Now Vanka was weak and superstitious, and every clay as he passed the image of his angel in the street, he felt an inner yearning to tell what he had ssen. The murderer, watching him day and night, observed that he prayed very often, as though he were troubled in his mind. On asking what ailed him, he heard to his alarm that Vanka could neither eat nor sleep while that terrible secret lay upon his sou.l But what could he do ; nothing ; absolutely nothing. Yes ;he could do for him what he had done by accident for a better man. "Listen to me, Vanka," he said, in a resolute tone ; " you are a f joI ; but you would not like to have a knife in your throat, would you." " God take care of me !" cried Vanka. " Mind me, then," said the murderer ; "if you prate, I will have your blood." Vanka was so much frightened that he went to the police that very night, and told them all he knew, on which his friend was arrested, brought to trial in Archangel, and condemned to labor on the public works for life. Vanka was the main witness, and on his evidence the judge pronounced the sentence. Then a scene arose in court, which those who saw it say they shall not forget. The man in the dock was bold and calm, while Vanka, his accuser, trembled from crown to sole ; and when the sentence of perpetual exile to the mines was read, the murderer turned to his friend and said, in a clear firm voice, "Vanka! remember my words. To-day is yours ; I am going to Siberia ; but I shall come to your house again, and then I shall take your life. You know ! " Year 3 went by, and tho threat, forgotten by every one else, was only remembered by Vanka, who, knowing his old friend too well, expected each passing night would be his last on earth. At length the tragedy came in a ghastly form. Vanka was found dead in his bed, his throat cut from ear to ear ; and in a drinking-den close by lay his murderer snoring in his cups. He had made his escape from the mines ; he had traversed the whole length of Asiatic Russia ; he had climbed the Ural chain ; and walked through the snow a id ice of Perm ; travelling in a pilgrim's garb, and singing the pilgrim's song, until he came to the suburbs of Archangel, where he slipped away from his raft, hid himself in the wood until nightfall, crept to the familiar shed, and drew his knife across Vanka's throat.