, 1873-01-05

Anna and Ey1ampa, which act is to DO accom-
p1isned the day after tomorrow, ct noon, in my
own dominion OF Jcskoya, with the partlcipa-
ton Of tie authorities who have been invited to
attend Kharlof bad great difficulty in deliver
ing this formal speech, which he had evidently
learned by heart. ......,
*'Is it yourself" asked my mother, "who has
prepared this act Of division Z"
Eyes and have sent it in and the tribune
Of the district has received the necessary order
to attend" He rose elowly to go. g But wait, !"
cried my mother "Do you really mako over
everything to your daughters, without any reser-
Yation {"
"Certalnly, without reserve"
"And whcro will you ive!"
sWhere will live? Why, In my own house,
as have done tin now. What change would you
hare7"
"But you're euro Of your daughters and Of
your son-1n-law?"
"Is it Of Volodka you speak Of that bcggar?
I will make him do as will. What power has
he? And my daughters! they Will feed, clotho:
and house me till my death. Is it not their most
sacred duty 7"
tsAssuredly; only-excuse me- for saying 80,
Martin Petrovitch-your eldest daughter ia full
Of pride, nnd the second has the look Of 9 wolf"
'Natalie Nicolhvns!" !" exclaimed hhn1lof. %
my daughters, wanting in obedience! an idea
not to be dreamed Of. What. 1esiBt father,
and incur the curse that would await them!
They who have passed their lives in trembling
cating cough here seized Kharlu, and my moth
er hastened to compose him.
Only cannot understand" :" she urged, why
this immediate division. After you the property
will go to them. suppose your melancholy is
the cause OF all this
Al, :" returned Khar1of, with some irritation,
"you always throw my melancholy in my teeth.
It is perhaps force from above that now acts
upon me. I make this immediate division be-
cause will it. !, Of my own person, by my own
and each Of them having received my gif., shall
1eit fey s5sss1a snseate ths a1, viii ",u a Of their their
father and benefactor." Here Khazlofs voice
fa1tered. IT wish you a good morning, madam,
and you, sir, )" ho said, turning to ne; " 7 shall
morrow at my house"
Nv mother looked ut Kbarlof az he went
away, aud she shook her head, :" This promises
no good, !" she mu1mured.
drawn by four horses and driven BY our head
coachmAn, = stout, partriarcha1 figure, with
long gray beard, drew majestically up to the
door. The Importance Of the act hharlof Was
about to accomplish, and the solemnity Of his
invitation had reacted upon my mother, and
she ordered this state equipage, and desired us
to appear in full dress to do honor to her pro
tege. In half IN hour We reached tho house;
the dog ea1utcd us NTH his bowling, and the
numerous children Of the servants, who gen
orally swarm in the court-ysEds,. With wooden
crosses round their nocks, had all disappeared.
6lotkine received Us at tho threshold. We
entered the room, in, tho middle OF which sat
the motionless form Of Kha1lof; he had put on
his militia Jacket. = bronze medal Was on his
breast, his sword at his side, his left hand waa
pile OF papers on the table. He did not stir,
he appeared even not to breathe. Flo scarcely
sa1utod us, but, pointing to row Of chairs,
desired US to take our places. On the night
we're his two daughters in full dress; Anna in
color and ceriae. On the left Of the priest, an
aged man, whose sad eyes, WON cassock and
ragged boots betokened q life OF poverty and
labor. Next to him we're tho attorney and is
pravnik, or head Of the police Of the district. I
steward, Liziuski. beside me. When We were
all placed, Kharlof raised himself to his
full height and began, II have invited
you, gentlemen, because I feel am
growing old; my infi1mities oppress me. have
received warning, and tho hour Of death, as
you know, comes upon us as thief in the night;
in consequence OF which do not Wish thct death
should take me- unawares I, the slave OF the
Almighty N and he repeated, word for word, the
phrase he had used to my mother. "Conform-
ably to the decision have taken, " ho continued,
pointing to the pile Of papers on the table, this
hear. point by point, my Intentions Approach"
Gays Kharlof to his son-in-law, who stood in IN
humble posture at the door. tread, it would
fatigue me-'
with clear but tremu]ous voice. The shares Of
the sisters we're fixed with the most minute pre-
cision. From time to time Kharlof interrupted
tho reading, Listen Anns, this is for you, Us
reward to your zeal. or that make you 4 pres~
ent, my little Evlampia." The two sisters bow
1,or +13$ $4,aYr ~ rod
gravity. The eeignoria manor Chat is, the
new houee) was assigned to Ey1ampia,
the younger daughter, according to an-
cient usage. Kharlof reserved to himself
habited, and also assigned to himself his COM
pleto maintenance, and an allowance of 10
Toub1es month for his clothing. The last
clause in tho deed he read himself Tint
these wishes Of q father may be accomplished by
law Of the Almighty; for, after Him, nm their
father and their head, and hare no account to
render to any one, any more than I have ever
rendered. And If my daughters carry out my
will, MY father1y benediction shall bo on their
5a he.7ta shsy ta 70 egrss out T
to all eternity" Kharlof closed the paper
and waved it over his head. Anna threw herbef
upon her knees, and struck the ground with her
sAS she Seddened' md nd also bowed he1self to the
earth t'Now rise and sign," said Kharlof;
t'sign here, am grateful and d'accept, Anna
here, I am grateful and accept, ET1ampia." The
two women signed, as directed minutes
baid, in low voice, "Now all is yours" His
daughters and son-in-law exchanged looks, and
kissed him upon the arm between the
elbow and the shoulder. Tho ispravnik thon read
the legal act and advancing upon the dooratop
- 1f14Y1iR