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THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A SLANDER
Most happily he laboured on； never dreaming that his careless words had
doomed a fellow…man to a painful and lingering death； never dreaming
that while his fingers flew to and fro over his dainty little keyboard；
describing the clever doings of the unscrupulous foreigner； another man；
the victim of his idle gossip； tapped dying messages on a dreary prison
wall。
For the end had come。
Through the evening Sigismund rested wearily on his truckle…bed。
He could not lie down because of his cough； and； since there were no extra
pillows to prop him up； he had to rest his head and shoulders against the
wall。 There was a gas…burner in the tiny cell； and by its light he looked
round the bare walls of his prison with a blank； hopeless； yet wistful gaze；
there was the stool； there was the table； there were the clothes he should
never wear again； there was the door through which his lifeless body
would soon be carried。 He looked at everything lingeringly； for he knew
that this desolate prison was the last bit of the world he should ever see。
Presently the gas was turned out。
He sighed as he felt the darkness close in upon him； for he knew that
his eyes would never again see lightknew that in this dark lonely cell he
must lie and wait for death。 And he was young and wished to live； and
he was in love and longed most terribly for the presence of the woman he
loved。
The awful desolateness of the cell was more than he could endure； he
tried to think of his past life； he tried to live once again through those
happy weeks with Gertrude； but always he came back to the aching misery
of the presentthe cold and the pain； and the darkness and the terrible
solitude。
His nerveless fingers felt their way to the wall and faintly rapped a
summons。
〃Valerian！〃 he said； 〃I shall not live through the night。 Watch with
me。〃
The faint raps sounded clearly in the stillness of the great building； and
Valerian dreaded lest the warders should hear them； and deal out
punishment for an offence which by day they were forced to wink at。
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THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A SLANDER
But he would not for the world have deserted his friend。 He drew his
stool close to the wall； wrapped himself round in all the clothes he could
muster； and； shivering with cold； kept watch through the long winter night。
〃I am near you；〃 he telegraphed。 〃I will watch with you till
morning。〃
From time to time Sigismund rapped faint messages； and Valerian
replied with comfort and sympathy。 Once he thought to himself； 〃My
friend is better； there is more power in his hand。〃 And indeed he
trembled； fearing that the sharp； emphatic raps must certainly attract notice
and put an end to their communion。
〃Tell my love that the accusation was falsefalse！〃 the word was
vehemently repeated。 〃Tell her I died broken…hearted； loving her to the
end。〃
〃I will tell her all when I am free；〃 said poor Valerian； wondering with
a sigh when his unjust imprisonment would end。 〃Do you suffer much？〃
he asked。
There was a brief interval。 Sigismund hesitated to tell a falsehood in
his last extremity。
〃It will soon be over。 Do not be troubled for me；〃 he replied。 And
after that there was a long； long silence。
Poor fellow！ he died hard； and I wished that those comfortable English
people could have been dragged from their warm beds and brought into
the cold dreary cell where their victim lay； fighting for breath； suffering
cruelly both in mind and body。 Valerian； listening in sad suspense； heard
one more faint word rapped by the dying man。
〃Farewell！〃
〃God be with you！〃 he replied； unable to check the tears which rained
down as he thought of the life so sadly ended； and of his own
bereavement。
He heard no more。 Sigismund's strength failed him； and I； to whom
the darkness made no difference； watched him through the last dread
struggle； there was no one to raise him； or hold him； no one to comfort
him。 Alone in the cold and darkness of that first morning of the year
1887； he died。
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THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A SLANDER
Valerian did not hear through the wall his last faint gasping cry； but I
heard it； and its exceeding bitterness would have made mortals weep。
〃Gertrude！〃 he sobbed。 〃Gertrude！〃
And with that his head sank on his breast； and the life； which but for
me might have been so happy and prosperous； was ended。
Prompted by curiosity； I instantly returned to Muddleton and sought
out Gertrude Morley。 I stole into her room。 She lay asleep； but her
dreams were troubled； and her face； once so fresh and bright； was worn
with pain and anxiety。
Scarcely had I entered the room when； to my amazement； I saw the
spirit of Sigismund Zaluski。
I saw him bend down and kiss the sleeping girl； and for a moment her
sad face lighted up with a radiant smile。
I looked again； he was gone。 Then Gertrude threw up both her arms
and with a bitter cry awoke from her dream。
〃Sigismund！〃 she cried。 〃Oh； Sigismund！ Now I know that you are
dead indeed。〃
For a long； long time she lay in a sort of trance of misery。 It seemed
as if the life had been almost crushed out of her； and it was not until the
bells began to ring for the six o'clock service； merrily pealing out their
welcome of the new year morning； that full consciousness returned to her
again。 But； as she clearly realised what had happened； she broke into
such a passion of tears as I had never before witnessed； while still in the
darkness the new year bells rang gaily； and she knew that they heralded for
her the beginning of a lonely life。
And so my work ended； my part in this world was played out。
Nevertheless I still live； and there will come a day when Sigismund and
Gertrude shall be comforted and the slanderers punished。
For