Page:Ossendowski - From President to Prison.djvu/308

296 The woman in the opposite cell felt it also, for the dominating will of the robber lured her to the window. She pushed back the curtain a little and saw his face, full of love, admiration and prayer.

The whistling ceased. The Eagle stretched his manacled hands out toward the woman and whispered:

"I cannot live without seeing you. I cannot!"

The woman remained silent, and he continued to whisper:

"Such a man as I can also love, perhaps, even more deeply and warmly than those of the free life!"

"I am sad &hellip;"

"What is it that troubles you? Ease your soul, for I shall understand everything, because I myself have passed through the fire of torture &hellip; and I love," came back from the Eagle in unmistakable syllables of warmth and enthusiasm.

The woman, perhaps for the first and last time, told the story of her life and finished with a sigh.

"Just one day of freedom to see my little daughter, and afterwards even death would be endurable."

The Eagle thought profoundly and then said to her:

"Why death? I shall arrange an escape for you, and for this remember the Eagle sometimes and say a prayer for him."

"An escape for me?" she queried, unable to believe her ears.

"Yes," said the Eagle. "Demand that they take you on Saturday to see the magistrate. Such is the law, and they cannot refuse you. The rest will be done for you by others."

"I will never forget you, never, if you do this for me. God will hear the prayers of my innocent child."