The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1877-08-22
IN Rf.AC;i RUssia.
\ STORY.

why, it is Musgrave. ee cher
Arthur thou ght you, mon ami, to
be in Spain sui What good wind,
what wind of fortune, has blown you
to US here, ia Russia?"
Such were the words which reached
my ears, as glovcd grasp was sad
denly laid upon my arm, while
was traveFsing the railway platform
at Minsk I turned to fad myself
confronted by the smiling face Of
Demetrius Vassili, a Russian WHOM
bad known for some three or four
years at ST. Petersburg, Paris, and
wherever diplomatists and birds of
passage congrega,e He, this we'll
" hiskored, glib-tougued yassili. be-
longed to both categories, since,
when | first knew him, in the Cars
capital, be was o Professor of the
University, while in Paris be was an
underling Of the Russian Embassy,
aud at Madrid gentleman at large.
| confess that | did not much like
Demetrius Yassili, though | was
more than half ashamed of my preja-
dice, for the man was friendly, almost
too ostentstiously so; was polite,
genial. and one of those amia Bile per-
sons who are elways taking our
good opinion by storm, as it were,
by the graceful rendering Of some lit
tie service or other. Vassili, when l
was a raw lad new to the Continent,
had been kind TO me once or twice,
and had repaid bis good nature by
taking his part when others spoke
evil of him, in b vague way, behind
his back. for be was not popular,
somehow. There he was at any rate,
and evidently delighted TO see me-
BY the by :" abruptly put ia my
acquaintance, linking bis arm in
mine, IL have 10 congratulate you,
have | not? Is it true that you are
about to marry the beautiful Mile.
Marie, daughter of Count Constan.
tine 0rlotf, the young lady who at
Madrid, when | was there, broke all
hearts ?"
1t was true that | was beirothed
to Marie Orloif; indeed, | was on my
way TO her fither's mansion, at
which il had been arranged that
should he a guest until the wedding
should take place, according 10 both
the English aud Russo-G Greek forms,
al ST. Petersburg. Oar engagement
had come abJut in this wise. |,
Arthur Musgrave, as an attache of
our legation at Madrid, had been
thrown much into the society Of the
daugbte- Of the Russian Eavoy,
had learned to love her, aud had
been lucky enough toteaeh her 10 love
me. Ny chief officially was with the
Count, who vas at FIRST very much an
noyed and displeased. Russia-young-
est Of nations-has au aristocracy that
in pride aad preteasion rivals the blue
blood" of Spain, aod every Muse ,yi,e
noble is convinced that The f lglish
are, as Napoleoi called US, a uai,n /
of shop keepers quite uutt TO mate
with their own upper classes. For
tunately for me. however, ! was heir
to an entailed property, small. indeed, !
bat the reDt-roli of whirh seemed re-
spectacle in Confidential eyes; while !
| was able TO convince Count .lvff /
that my border ancestry had driven
off Scottish cattle. aud ridden in
warden raids, at time when his 4
own forefathers were probsbly un-
baptized Tartsrs, for it is a curious
fact that the titled families OF Russia
are Georgian, Tartar, German, Swed-
isb, anything but Russian.
All now was happily settled, and, I
as | have said, was on my way To
my future father-in-law's country
chateau, a Summer residence in the
lake district OF Ostaschkoi, near Tyer
on the upper Volga. The Counts
estate lay chiefly 10 that neighbor-
hood, and be had lately been sp-
pointed, by one oI those abrupt
from one service TO ano.h-
er, which are common under the
Czar's rule, Governor Of the prov.
ince.
But what chance, NJ Vassili,
brings yon here?" | asked, when
we had shaken hands II heard OF
you last as in Rome"
Here to-day, there Tomorrow"
answered Vassili, airily. Il have
been in Asia lately, shall be at wilma
and in ST. Petersburg
next week. | serve master who
has dealings ia far away places"
"You mean The Emperor ?" | in
luired, and The Russian nodded With
. LOOK of go0d.bumored mystery
At this moment up came p,rter 10
II me. cringingly. that my excellen-
~ must, be feared, be content 10
" AIT six hours or more for a train.
There had been movsme of troops
toward Poland, disordering tie COM
pany's arrangements, aud taking up
he rolliDg-stoek +" |,
The Emperur's .rders. noble
be sddel. With depreca-
.ory shrug. IS be saw my vexed
ace.
Then Demeirius cbimed in. His
rain, too, had been delayed by the