Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-03-01
Aureester @atIp spp.
THE FUR-DEALERs CLERK.
From Chambers journal.
CONCLUDED.

CONCLUDED.
! copied the passage and went to the party.
the footnIan received ME at the back gate. and
showed me to the dressing ROOM | got ar
rayed, rang the bell, and was inspected by the
countess. in another rich evening dress, was
approved of, conducted to the drawing room,
Presented TO scores of more company set TO
dance, play cards, and hand ladies, and allow.
ed to go home in my old clothes, and creep IN
at the conservatory window as had done be-
fore.
There were believe, two or three more in
vltations by notes brought me by dirty boy,
frOm the tea shop; but my first evening at the
palace serves SO completely for all that follow
ed, that have no additional particulars TO re-
cord.
An inexperienced person would scarcely be.
lieve how rapidly the charms OF the scene IA
ded away, or rather became tresome. The
mere sight of grandeur and tinery which
seemed SO dazzling and fary-like at first, on
the second or third repetition lost its novelty.
AS could not understand word that was
said the real amusement of company was lost
to me. Playing the mute's part for so many
hours, and going home with nothing but a
glare OF lights and jewery in ones eyes, and
getting up to business after an hour or two of
broken slOep to doze over the desk all the day,
seemed all cost and no profit. If madame had
given me quiet interview with herself in one
of the back rooms, where one might get up
ones courage and make ones declaration, it
would have been somethinT worth losing
sleeep, bribing porters, and Sinking Hardstai
for but the lady called me hersdear young
friend, presented me to her company, and gave
me hints on department. What better signs
ola tender interest could any man expect
l was weighing the Whole subject in my
mental balance one day in the countiug-house
had not missed llardstaff but the creak,
the rustic, and the light knock brought me out
OF my own barricades to see that his own desk
was vacant and Madame Rozenki had taken
possession of the only chair that we kept ior
strangers.
The usual remarks and enquiries about her
last party having passed, she began to compi.
ment me on the elegance OF my handwrit-
ing as exhibited in her album, countess
dOwager and two heiresses from Moscow had
admired ii, aud made bold attempt to di.
rect her attention to the meaning of the pass
age written, and its suitability to my peculiar
case, by saying, Glow do you like the lines
selected g.
"Ah, they are moving" said the countess,
with very embarrassed look. You should
not have written them; must not hear such
things; you know not all | am an unhappy
woman" Here she sighed Geeply."
"You unhappy, madame @. said |, coming
step or Two nearer, Tor the opportunity was
one not to be lost
Eyes" said the countess, casting her eye TO
the ground, "but do not ask me, l cannot tell
you; yet you are the only person HON can
depend on" Her eyes were raised now, and
looked me keenly in the face "Will YOU do
me a service 2"
cat the risk of my life, madame" said l
and the offer was honestly made.
'Well, l believe you, but fortunately there
is no such risk requisite all | want you to do
is to make Il fair copy OF This paper = and she
neatly folded. you see, she continued,
spreading it open before me ait is law paper
absolutely necessary in very important suil
-One which may result in riches or ruin. L
must give it up to the court but as it might
be lost, or get into my enemy's hands, an ac-
curate copy would be Of the greatest mpOr-
lance to me- Family reasons make it unadvi-
sable to entrust such paper to any clerk or
lawyer, but can trust you. If you wall take
the trouble of copying it, word for word letter
for letter, in your own clear, beautiful hand, /
will never forget the obligation.
An instantaneous offer to do that or any
thing else she wanted, was the only reply !
could make.
"rhank you, thank you" said the countess
placing the paper in my hand, which, by the
by she pressed. You are the only man in
tile world from whom could ask such ser.
vice, and to your honor and discretion can
trust for keeping the secret | know it, know
it," she continued, cutting short my protesta
tions OF prudence in all That concerned her.
"When do you think you can get it finished 2"
"ro-morrow, said | glancing hastily over
the paper it was large, a TOTO sheet OF parcli-
ment and written i'll the old Scalvonic char
acter, which is still employed in Russian law
ami theology.
"Well, tomorrow evening bring it to my
house. the i0otman will admit you at the back
gate, and will explain every thing to you in
my boudor. Be particular in copy ing this -
and she pointed 10 some words like sigma
ture at the end OF the paper. Good bye l
must GO Come between seven and eight -
and the countess was out of the door before
she could hear my pre- mise to be punctual.
l copied the paper with great attention to
accurate transcription and strict secrecy.
Word for word, letter for letter, as Madame
Rozenki directed, l traced out in the privacy
of my own room, SO as not 10 be seen by Hard
staff, the curious SclavOuc writing, of which
did not understand syllable.
The work cost me Seepless night, but it
was finished in good time. No eye could
have told the difference between The copy and
the original nobody had cause TO suspect
what l was about and with the service done,
aud the great opportunity in the boudoir in
prospect, l repaired to the back gale OF Ro-
zenki palace between seven and eight.
The same iootman admitted me, and with
the accustomed look, motionless and stold
but instead OF leading on to the boudoir, as
expected, he handed me sealed note, and
stood by in the passage until l read il. That
process did not occnpy much time. The bill
let, which was dated 10 A. NJ, contained only
this -
MY Dear Young Friend - Unforeseen cir
cumsIances Oblige me 10 set out Immediately
for Archangel; must therefore lose tbs
pleasure oil receiving you this evening: but
we will meet again al my return, when hone