The mountain Democrat., 1863-12-05


men are problems, madame"
In the midst of the laugh that succeed
ed, | moved away with tingling ears. A
glance at Sophie's face, as she sat in the
centre of blooming group of girls of her
own age, pratting of dances and their
partners. made me ashamed Of my sus-
picions. If ever candor sat enthroned on
fair forehead, surely, surely it was man
ifest on hers. l approached and she
greeted me with smile, as asked if she
had been caritsdle enough to keep an
early dance for me.
"You are to late, NJ Charles; my roor
little book is terribly full of names
have promised to dance with Roganmof,
and Oginski, and your great friend Bar,
on Galitzin of the Guard, and oh, so many
more :"
"And with your cousin, Chcvalier
Gliska ?" asked the question in ap-
parent playfulness, but | suppose there
was something harsh and hostile.in my
tone, in spite Of myself, which grated on
the quick ear Of a woman, for Sophie
glanced rapidly at me with the look of n
frightened fawn.
"No!" she said, and her lip trembled
slightly as she spoke.
Ncxed with myself for my own unjust
peevishness, | tried to make amends, and
so far succeeded that Sophie recovered
her cheerful composure, and accorded me
a waltz. 1t was in one of the pauses Of
that giddy whirl, in the midst of light
and glitter, the sparkle and CLEAN Of gold
epaulettes and jeweled hcad-gear, and
the dying fall Of music, that Sophie sud.
denly turned her eyes on mine, and said,
with abrupt frankneSS
IN. Charles, avow that you are jeal-
Gus Of my poor cousin Demetrius, and
that you hate him."
| forget what | answered in my sur
prise, but | know that Sophie conuivcd
to convey to me the impression that she
had ssterly affection for the companion
Of her childhood; that she regretted his
misfortuncs, and admired his patotism
that she was only anxious to see him safe
from future perils, ard once more in the
good graces Of the Russian Government.
Poor DemetriuS | cannCt forget,
dear NJ Charles, how good and patient
he was to ne when | was spoiled, sick
ly child full of fancies and hard to please.
Poor Dcmctrius has suffered so much
for our afflicted country. !, as you know,
am a rebel at heart hate the Musco-
vitcs-l hope that frightful Colonel Anne,
k0tf heard that last remark-but | can
do so safely, because | am too young and
weak to be dangerous to the Car. 1t is
for a man. You should not be
jealous or cross, NJ. Charles, because |
wish to. prevent poor pemctrlus from
ending his days in Siberia"
| said something about her cousins Sc
curity, since his pardon, unless he were
rash enough to enter into fresh intligucs
against the Emperor. spoke with more
and colGncss than would other
wise have been the case, because | saw
Gliska leaning against pillar, at dis
tancc, and regarding US with peculiar
look OF watchtul interest. When his eyes
met mine, lie seemed to shrink back, and
was soon lost in the glitteriHg crowd Of
guests.
That night, as our sedges vert whirl-
ing over the hard beaten snow Of the
streets, there was great hustle and CON
fusion, and the startled horse were sharp
ly checked by the rein and thrown on
their launches in front of double rank
Of soldiers drawn up across the principal
\ harsh voice bade the
drivers hat, ana number Of policemen,
accompanied by several officers muiilcd
in gray watch-coatS, went round from
carriage to carriage, throwing the red
glare Of lantern on the faces Of the be-
lated guests Of the Prince Minister, and
asked with polished but imperious court
esy the names Of those present, which
were entered hastily in book. There
was much shouting and lashing of whips,
plunging of frightened horses, and scream
ing of terrified ladies, as the mass of We
Licles came to an abrupt halt; but some
of the cid residents took the matter very
coolly.
The first time this year," said the
senior attache, who had taken a seat in
my carriage; Il began to wonder if the
police had gone TO sleep. Two years ago,
remember four such storpagcS in SIN
gic winter. wonder if they'll make
mauy captions tonight :"
And |, who had been but eight months
in ST. Petersburg, learned with some sur
prise that the favorite time for the secret
police to select for a raZzia against the in
Vulnerable plotters, Russian or Polish,
vas that Of some great festivity or public
reception. IIaf the conspiracies of the
empire were hatched, my informant said,
in the saloons of the higher aristocracy,
under the very noses of the Emperor and
his ministers; and the best paid and most
valuable spies were those who from their
rank and position could enter such assem-
blies without provoking remark or dis
trust. No doubt something had trans
pired at the Prince Minister'S ball which
had aroused the vigilance of the lynx-eyed
pretect of police, and hence the impedi-
ment TO our progress homewards.
The explanation had got to this point,
when plotnik said civilly to our driver
that he might "go on as fast as he liked" -"
at the same time taking off his hat and
extending his open palm Significantly
Ny companion dropped few copecks in
it, aud the man bowed low as he suffered
US to pass by HIM and strike off by side
street to the Admiralty quay.
"They have caught their birds, no
doubt !" said the more experienced senior
attache, treating the whole affair as thing
of course.
The next day We heard vague rumors
Of detcctions and arrests, some said of
many, others of only one or two persons.
When l called, next morning, at the Lee
Einzka palace, l found the old Prince ner-
vous and irritable, the Princess agitated,
and Sophie not to be seen. She had a
frightful headache, her grandmother said,
and was too unwel to leave her chamber.