Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1868-04-23


more serious than Nathalie had ever seen
her before.
'tMy poor Nathalie!" she said, twhat
silly girl you must be TO care SO much ior
ball"
''lt is the first have ever given" an
swered Nathalie. ''You know, Marie, how
very anxious papa was that it should take
place, and as it is to take place IL might as
well be successful That is all | thought
about 1t. But you will come that is the
most important thing
81 would much rather not, . answered the
countess; ''and think you will regret il If
| do"
so, how can II" asked Nathalie. 81
would rather any of tnem-all Of them
stayed away, than you.
eyes; If all had stayed away except me,
it would be delightful ball, no doubt"
1T is The first one have ever given. You
must come! Papa will be sure to say that
don't know how to do the honpurs, and il
you were there you will be able to show
me-
MY dear child, was never at ball in
my life. People gave up d.ncing in Poland
ever so long ago before was married; and
| was married when was seventeen"
" But you know what they do at hails?'
s.Oh. yes. They dance, and cat ices, and
dance again after supper; and there are no
more ices, but there are more compliments !;
and IL all finishes with a nnzurke, which
lasts several hours, and sometimes, when
everything seems 1T an end, suddenly begins
again"
CAN that must he very confusing. Dane
ins and supper and compliments and ices all
mixed MP together. would rather have
them separately. But you will Gomez"
Yes answered the countess, with an
absent air.
By-the-by, your partner who was to
have danced the mazurka with you has gone
back 10 Staniiza with Captain. lie left a
card at the palace, and wrote, aUec mile
regrets, on it. am sure, Marie, at least
nine hundred of them were for YOU"
"Sianilza. There will he strange dance
there"
What do you mean ?" asked Nathalie.
Il am 50 troubled by the dreadful thing.
that are taking place, that don't know
what am saying. Were all those Cossack.
sent 10 Sianiiza, then I"
tDnly one troop"
"They will not be there till tomorrow
morning. II is fifty versts from here to Stan
ilza, and don't suppose they will contin
uc their march after dark"
" Ii it hadn't been for the ball they woult
not have marched at ALL said Nathalie
:" 1t is all through that odio,is general" sh,
continued; "and so absurd of him. Iii
sending hem away does not alter him. II
remains just the same, as ugly and disa
srceablc as ever"
''No," sld the countess, she is not ugl,
and he is loi dsagrcoablc in the ordinar.
sense Of the term. But don't like him IL
is vain, and lie has the presumption TO b
jealous without understanding that his jcal
ousy is sheer imperinence.
"lIow is your husband ?" asked Nathalie
suddenly.
II have not seen him since the day be
fore yesterday" said the countess.
"'rhen he really could not come to tn
ball? Z"
"Rcally, positively otherwise he woul
not have refused yon, you may he quite sur
Of that. have had to tell him sever,l time
that he seems very fond you. He says h
is, and that am also-so then have noti
more 10 say"
"What more would you say, you absur
Marie z" said Nathalie, throwing her arm
artdi i her neck and kissing her.
Nothing; at least not on that subject.
On what other subject then 2"
G On the subject Of your ball. Put it OF
Don't LIT it take place at all.
"Oh papa would he frantic, to say notl
ing Of tlat horrid general.
"Your father has been very kind TO i
and 10 every one, as far as his position 4
lowed him to be 50, and we shall not forg,
it,
g Not forget ii, Marie, What do yc
mean z"
. mean what say, Nathalie. But yol
father thinks that BY giving ball at such
time as this he can prove TO every one TN
Wilkovo is perfectly quiet, and that evcl
one in and about Wilkovo is perfectly haI
: py. You know how many Poles sent c.
. cuscs. The others, who have not venture
to send excuses, will stop away all the sam,
or if they do come, it will be so much Il
: worse.
"My dear Marie, do not understand yt
\ in the least this evening
"What mean, said the countess at las
! lis that there ought 10 be no ball to-nigh
I; that the palace ought 10 be shut up; al
$ that you, instead of being at Wilkovo, oug
10 be in Paris or in London--anywhcre e
: ccpt Wilkovo."
!, .You are trying to trighten me"
mo. ! am trying not to brighten you.
81 know what it is" said Nathalie, aft
n slight pause, ''you are mixed up with 4
conspiracy; but you need not be so mystt
|, ious with me. Besides being your devot
friend, | am half II Pole myself; and, if
0 were moi ior my father, should perhaps
as eXaltec as you are.
: "a report has been spread, said 4
c countess-"I quite believe it to be untrue
but report has been spread, that to-nig
r the same thing is to take place here til
t, took place week ago at Warsaw. The c
1t treme party are determined to begin t
" insurrection; and they have crculat
r handbills announcing that the governme
intend to execute the conscription to-nigl
lc or 10 o-morrow morning after the hall. Su
s. thing is incredible, and for that reason
rs will be believed. There is no monstrosi
n which our people do not consider the Ri
" sian government capable Of"
"Oh, heaven! What is to he donc?" c
ef claimed Nathalie. "And the count. Wht
is he 2"
m AT Stanitza."
IN "At Stanitza Then the general had
of reasons for sending troops there 2