Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1877-04-05
AT MOSCOW.
From All The Year Round.

heaft! DIessed Ot. isaac, mighty ot
Michael. It's all in vain, English lord,
and if your excellency were to have
me knouted to death, | could not get
the sledge up the avenue"
1t was luckily, within a short dis
lance OF the chateau whittier | was
bound, that the binding snow storm,
tie tiereest had ever known during
a three years. experience of Russia,
had come on, and there before me rose
up the gaunt gate posts, topped by
iron spearheads yet bright with tar
nished gold-leaf. which marked the
limits of the baron's demesne The
wild wind was tossing about the dry
snow like so much road dust, and
dashed in our faces not merely flakes
of the fast-falling whiteness. but jag
ged Jumps of ice that cut and bruised
as never did sleet IN England. 1t is
not wonderful that the young, half
broken horses oil the hired sledge that
had brought me the three yersts out
of Moscow should have become un-
manageable in their pain and terror,
at the sudden outburst of the tempest.
"You are quite sure, said I,alight-
ing and grasping my valise, chat
this is the Chateau Oinsky p
81 wish | were as sure of heaven"
answered the lad promptly. "My faith
er was dustek, or soldier servant,to my
lord the baron. and | know the house
as well as | know the Kremlin. noble
sir"
paid the driver his due, and bid.
ding him return and fetch me back 10
Moscow before sunset, should the
storm abate, left him to speed city
wards, and made my own way on foot
among the drifts that had already en-
numbered the ill-kept road, to the
half-ruinous but imposing pile of the
Olinsky chateau. Of the reception
should meet there, armed as | was
with a letter of introduction to the
master of the house, had very little
doubt. Hospitality is literally. even
profusely, extended in Russia, and
the long. established mercantile house
whose errand | was engaged upon
had been for generations past on
friendly terms with the Olinsky fami-
ly.
The baron, a fine looking old man,
with flowing white beard, and with
several crosses and medals tWinkling
on the breast of his tightly-buttoned
coat, gave me cordial greeting.
ANY guest recommended by my
esteemed correspondents, Irvine, klr-
by s. Co., is welcome here, Vaug-
han" he said kindly. 81 will take it
as favor if you will make my poor
house your home, during your stay in
Moscow"
Nor was this mere idle compli-
meut, for the baron would not hear OF
my returning to my hotel in the town,
but insisted that | should take up my
quarters in huge ghostly chamber,
hung with faded tapestry, and adorn-
eddy portentous family portraits, butas
warm as cracking logs and the heat
ed air of the huge central stove could
render it.
The family of Baron Olinsky, who
was a widower, consisted only of a
son, then travelling or residing in
foreign countries, and one daughter,
to whom | was presently introduced,
and whose name was Irene. | had
been accustomed TO see beautiful faces
in the luxurious society of st Pet
ersburg, but l acknowledged to my
self that had never beheld one so
lovely as that of Mademoiselle Olinsky
She seemed quite free, too, from the
naughty listlessness or exactlng CO
ouetry of the Muscuvite bellies whom
had hitherto encountered, and had
much of the gentle simplicity of man
ner of an English girl. She talked
but that in Russia was a matter Of
oourse-French, English, and Ger.
man, equally well, and knew and
liked, as | found with surprise, my "a
vorite authors.
A word as to myself. |, Arthur
Vaughan by name, and related to Mr.
Irvine, our principal, had almost COM
pleted my probation as clerk, and
expected to be shortly received as a
junior partner in the firm of Irvine,
Kirby e Co., in which my modest
patrimony was invested. Ours was
an old aud influential house, we'll con-
sidered throughout the Baltic ports
and the cities of northern Russia. and
my presence in Moscow was now due
20 the fact that overtures had been
made to us to aid in establishing
new commercial bank, intended to
afford greater facilities to improving
landlords than the old Land Banks,
cramped rs to their capital and bound
by fornal rules, could do. The pro
posal had been tempting one, but
before deciding upon it,my chiefs had
resolved upon asking the opinion OF
Baron Olinsky, on whose good will
and shrewduess they could rely, and
hence my mission.
One, two, and three days passed
by. The weather was very bad, and
the frequent and furious snow storms
kept those dwelling in the chateau
Olinsky very much within doors, yet
Twas far from finding the time hang
heavily on my hands. The baron
was constantly in bis study ;now con
Quoting voluminons correspondence,
for he had been diplomatist as well
as soldier, and was an honorary mem
Der of scientific societies in various
lands; now comforting with his stew
ard or farm bailiff, and then giving
audience to strange men, most of whom
wore the caftan aud cared cap of the
peasant, while some were clearly
from distance, and spoke dialect
which the lazy, obsequious servants.
who between them shuffied through
the work OF the country-house, found
it hard to understand. Consequent.
ly was thrown much into the socie
ty of the beautiful Irene.
| fancied, more than once, not only
that something weighed upon the
i'll - Nadamoispiie Olinsky and