, 1873-01-05

mister ma 5t be1e t am visitoF; and - such use
nv nr;riIeee to retire" He turned round. and
walked slowly out Of the room.
nrecedinc dav. aTes," said kharlof, "some-
tthinr paased ]ittle serious, but what have
mon nv heart is not the idle words Of Souvenir,
Bit tho bearing of Erlampia. She YVES stone-a
real statue. She feels nothing. Why did she
not ssy 10 herself, my father must bo very i'll,
must feel his end approaching, thus to give us
m ali ha has: but net word, not look; she
bowed to the ground but not in gratitude"
81 Why, Kharlof," said my mother, .. you seem
to complain you begin to repent and be afraid
OF the step you have taken"
This wonnded him to the quick. All his prido
arose. II am not among those who complain
or arc afraid. This earthly globe shall. be dis
solved before I fail in my word, or that fear or
regret what hive done. As for my daughters,
they will never depart from their obedience to
their fnther to all eternity"
The death of her brother-in-law called ny
mother away, and it was three months before VIC
came back to our home.
The first news my servant gave me on my re-
arrived, and that they we're plentiful in the birch
woods OF Jeskoyn, the domain OF hharlof. 1
started directly, and had q good days. sport.
On my way honewa1d aaw q PEASANT plowing
the miserable, starved beast he was belaboring
the favozite animal Kharlof used to drive.
rs Martin Kh.slef ss dead1" inquired "thas
o. 3o. he answered "but but. it hsn,ees has been
during your absence. n. slotkine il master
now"
s.And Martin Petrovitch! I"
"He has BECOME mere CIPHER. some nne
morning he will be turned out-of-doors-
When went N 1enna @ aa3 n,ddagSv NO a.
zinski and said, Send q carriage tomorrow
morning for Mr.. kharlof, and desire him to come
here, as hear he has no Longer one at hs
disposal, and tell him must absolutely see him
Ten, also; s1otkine liz order him to appear before
'taIartin petroyitch will not otoy, whispered
Souvenir; "you cannot imagine what he has
become" ,,
His prediction vas verified. My n mother wrote
answer. written upon piece Of dirty paper:
"Before heaven, cannot-shame would kill
mo. Let me disappear, thank you; do not tor
ment rne.'
6lotkine's interview with my mother did not
occupy quarter. OF an hour. ohe declared he
should never again enter her presenee; and III
Kharlofs daughters dare to present themselves
for they. have impudence for anything" she
said, 'ehow them the door. That miserable
Jev," she continued, "whom have taken out
to tell me have no right to interfere with what
does not concern me, and that Martin PetroV1tch
is treated with too much indulgence-tho un-
grateful little toad!" !.
Determined to seek Kha11of, again set out
With ny gun to Jeskoys: Suddenly h heard ard
steps behind me, and slotklne came 20 out OF the
ous humility with which, four months back, ho
was polishing the curb of my bride when
walking my horse up And down his fathe1-in-
LAWS courtyard. s'Haye you killed many wood
cocks?" he asked. .' You are aware you are
shooting in our wood; hut I give you leave.
Your mother vas very angry with me yesterday,
and would hear of no explanation. ! declare
eolenanIv it ia impossible to treat Martin Petro-
yitch otherwise; he is quite childish
HBut why have YOU sold his horse7"
"Whv7 i fne question What use Was it
ONLY to eat hay without profit. II Martin Pc
troritch wishes to 70 out lie has only to ash
We never refuso h;s:, uslesB the horse is at
work. Then there is that little vagabond
Cossack," he continued. "Martin PetroVitch
couaplains We have taken him from him. What
use Was he to Us ? Now we have apprenticed
him to sadller; and when he hns learned his
trade he will pay US yearly sum.''
s.Who. then. now reads to Martin Petro-
yitch :"
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