The mountain Democrat., 1863-12-05

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in his bold, keen eyes; but he treated Sc
phie with the same indifferent good hu
NOR as before.
One day, when l was driving out of tn
city with one of the French attaches
young Dumanoir, to whom the sledge be
longed, and who was not little vain o
his heavy apron Of Astracan fur, and o
the spirit and beauty Of his swift horses
with their silver bells, We had an unex
pected reRcounter. We had made shoT
cut through the wretched suburbs inhab
tied by the tshernoi narod, or "black peo
ple," as the illfed poor of st. Petersburg
are called, and were striking across to
ward the broad drive on the bank of tht
Ncva, when we spun round corner, anC
nearly ran over group Of four men il
earnest converse. They started with evi
dent alarm and vexation as they caught
sight of US in that unfrequented quarter
and we on our part were surprised to see
them, for more incongruous companions
could scarcely have met together.
The party consisted Of young Russian
in black clothes, wearing scrap Of color.
ed ribbon at his button-hole, and who was
some Government clerk or other member
Of the privileged bureaucracy of the EN-.
J pre; of sergeant in the Guards, trim and
smart in his well-ftting uniform Of a
long bearded, erizzled peasant, in a torn
caftan and sheepskin boots; and of-Glis.
ka. We nodded to him-the Frenchman
and I--but he was too much startled to
return the salute, and his pale face flush
cd like hot iron as we dashed by
"What an odd quartette!" said |.
every !" said Dumanor, dryly, knit
ting his black eyebrows; then he thawed
into a laugh Of unfeigned mirth, as he
said, " never saw rats SO neatly caught!
You are too guileless and unsuspiciOus,
my dear colleague, for such 'metier' as
our rascally one of diplomacy. We catch
Polish noble, whose very name is as
wormwood in the Empcror's august
mouth. comforting with his friends in this
delightful and civilized quarter; and those
/ friends are discontented sergeant,a sulky
Raskolnik, and hungry understrapper Of
some government bureau and you Won
! der at their confusion on being seen by
us! Fol de Dumanoir! My chief would
never forgive me. if | omitted to inform
him Of what will be welcome news to his
Majesty, Louis Philippe, King of the
French"
could not but own that there was
something suspicious in the affair, though
| with some trouble extorted from Duma-
noir promise that he would not mention
what we had seen to any other than his
ambassador, unwilling as | was that the
( Leczinzka family should be annoyed by
any fresh proceedings against their rela-
tive. But though was not one of those
who see a conspiracy in every gathering
Of men, felt an innate conviction that all
was not right. Gliska's politics were no.
toriouS, and his secret cOmmuning, in Sc
, lonely and barbarous a quarter of the
town, with persons so unlike himself in
rank and bearing, seemed ominouS OF
coming troubles. had heard--as who
had not ?-of disaffection existing among
the Poles, Firms, and Malorossians, who
had been forced into the Muscovite army;
Of disaffected among the educated scry-
ants Of the State, weary Of career in
which corruption and chicanery overrulcd
zeal and merit; and of deadly hatred on
the part of the fanatics of the old Greek
faith--those grim Raskolniks Of whom
Dumanoir had spoken. A junction oI
such malcontcnts with the restless Polish
mobiles, was exactly what the authorities
most dreaded.
When, later in the day, drove to the
Leczinzka palace, | saw Gliska leaving it
on foot. lie seemed to avoid recognition,
/ turning up the collar of his furred over
coat so as nearly to conceal his face, and
hurrying on at quicke pace as he caught
sight Of my vehicle. | found Sophie,
with sparkling eyes and flushed check,
alone in the great drawing-room, the old
Princess coming in as soon as she was in
formed Of my arrival. Never had seen
Sophie look more beautiful but her ex-
citcment, which could not help connect.
ing with GliSka's visit, caused me sen.
saton Of pain as contrasting with her
usual cold resignation, when its cause
was explained: Invitations had just been
issued for a masked ball at residence OF
Prince Wittgenstein, the Austrian Am
bassador; and this ball, long projected,
was to be by far the most splendid of the
season. 1t was to have taken place long
before, but had been postponed, and many
Of the intended guests had their fancy
dresses prepared, while all the town talked
Of the ruinous cost of the decorations and
the skill of the artists who were to turn
the embassy saloons into an cphemera
fairy land. Sophie was wild with pleas
ure at the prospect Of the fetc; it was heI
first season, poor child, and she had truly
"A chlld's delight in the coming treat
Her aged relatives smiled as she talked
with unusual animation Of the fantastic
splcndors that were anticipated. 1t was
said that the Emperor and Empress would
be there. The Grand Duke and the
Grand Duchess Olga would most certain
ly attend. Count DemidoH was to 60 as
a Chinesc-no, as Persian Khan, witt
the Sancv diamond to fasten the plume
on his turban. The four beautiful daugh
ters of the Swedish minister would repre-
sent the seasons; and so on, ,interminably
1t struck me that Sophie's interest il
this ball was more than natural, but i
never slackened during the few interven
; ing days, and her spirits rose and fell il
capriciouS manner. At one time sh
was as happy and light of heart as bir'
on a sun-lit bough; at another, ther
would be tear-drops clinging to her darl
eyelashes, and she had the dropping hea'
and detected look Of that same bird whel
prisoned in a cage. Her old grandparent
did not wonder at these abrupt :ransi
tions.
Lies jeunes files, my dear Acton,
said the aged Prince, lightly tapping hi
f enamelled snuG.box "les Jeunes files
who can reason with them? They hav
whims-that is ALL"
| z:c-h1 ma n.,A III, Il -.