Part 19 (1/2)

I fully understand what a terrible blow the apostasy of Wurst[20] must have been to you But however it may minimize the effect, it cannot possibly alter the fact, or its character This you seereat deal could have been accomplished I don't knohether it has been done: your letter is very re on this point Yet it is of supre, at least, I am sure--you will do all that is in your power Perhaps it is not much--but the Twin and part of Orchard Street[21] will be with you

Why that note of disappointub's relation to the Darwinian theory?[22] You e of the intricacies of scientific hypotheses The scientist would justly object to such presumption

I embrace you both The future is dark; but, then, who knows?

Write often Tell me about the movement, yourself and friends

It will help to keep me in touch with the outside world, which daily seems to recede further I clutch desperately at the thread that still binds --it see, one by one My hold is slackening But the Sonya thread, I knoill re I have always called you the Immutable

ALEX

[19] The Girl; also referred to as Sonya, Musick, and Sailor

[20] John Most

[21] 54 Orchard Street--the hall in which the first Jewish Anarchist gatherings were held in New York An allusion to the aid of the Jewish coub--the author's Russian nicknanifies the continued survival of the writer

[Illustration: FACSIMILE OF PRISON LETTER, REDUCED ONE-THIRD]

II

I posted the letter in the prisoners'But the reat longing Oh, if some occult means would transforreen box--with bated breath I'd flatten myself in the darkest recess, and wait for the Chaplain to collect the mail

My heart beats tumultuously as the wild fancy flutters inlines, the sharp commands, the heavy tread

Auto one, two, one pair; three, four, two pair Whose voice is it I hear? I surely know thefaathers the stockings Now he is counting: one, two, one pair; three, four, two pair Just like myself Why, he looks like myself! And the men all seem to think it is I Ha, ha, ha! the officer, also I just heard him say, ”Aleck, work a little faster, can't you? See the piles there, you're falling behind” He thinks it's I What a clever substitution!

And all the while the real ”h the keyhole, on the watch for the postman S-sh!+ I hear a footstep Perhaps it is the Chaplain: he will open the box with his quick, nervous hands, seize a handful of letters, and thrust thee coat There are so e pocket--the Chaplain will not notice me He'll think it's just a letter, ha, ha! He'll scrutinize every word, for it's the letter of a long-timer; his first one, too But I am safe, I'm invisible; and when they call the roll, they will take thatnineteen, twenty, ten pair; twenty-one, twenty-two What was that? Twenty-two--oh, yes, twenty-two, that'sto serve it I'd kill oodness! It was such a lucky thought, this going out in my letter But what has beco?

They htthe stockings--they don't know I am here in the box The Chaplain won't know it, either: I am invisible; he'll think it's a letter when he puts me in his pocket, and then he'll seal me in an envelope and address--I must flatten myself so his hand shouldn't feel--and he'll addressto her--he doesn't knoho she is, either--the _Deckadresse_ is splendid--we must keep it up Keep it up? Why? It will not be necessary: after he mails me, we don't need to write any more--it is well, too--I have so much to tell Sonya--and it wouldn't pass the censor But it's all right now--they'll throw the letters into the eneral letter day I'll hide in the pile, and they'll pass h the post-office, on to New York Dear, dear New York! I have been away so long Only a month? Well, I et to New York, I shall not go at once into the house--Sonya h the onder what she'll be doing--and ill be at home? Yes, Fedya will be there, and perhaps Claus and Sep How surprised they'll all be! Sonya will embrace me--she'll throw her arms around my neck--they'll feel so soft and warm--

”Hey, there! Are you deaf? Fall in line!”

Dazed, bewildered, I see the angry face of the guard before rasp the ”turner” The iron feels cold Chills shake my frame, and the bundle of hosiery drops from my hand

”Fall in line, I tell you!”

”Sucker!” some one hisses behind h in yer twenty-two spot, eh? You sucker, you!”

CHAPTER VII

WINGIE