The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-10-20

tolerable repast. Would be charitable
and share what would otherwise be a
solitary meal?
Vassili gave me good dinner, and we
fingered long over our cigars and coffee,
chatting of other scenes and old times.
Then, at length, word was brought that
the train for wilma was in sight.
Now l think of it," said my host, in
his careless way, "on your road to the
Counts chateau you will pass Staritza-
yes!" he added, glancing at the open
map that lay beside me on the table, "of
course you willard change horses
there. wish, if it be not too much to
ask, that you would kindly give
message from me to the village priest,
or papas, there-Pope John Perovitch."
~ will with pleasure" l replied.
" but remember, my Russian is not very
fluent, and presume the priest talks no
French"
Vassili laughingly assured me that the
words were very few and simple, and
suggested that l should pencil them,
from his dictation, on a slip of paper
which he pushed toward me. These
were the words of the message: Your
son" our clergy marry, you know, like
the laity,' interjected Demetrius) "has
been ill; but take comfort. He is doing
well now, and, if he acts promptly, with
the blessing of Panagia, will succeed
He sends his love, faith and duty"
az saw the Pope's son." explained
Demetrius, 1.-THE other day at Odessa.
Young Cyril is corn dealer andhay mer-
chant, pushing, speculative fellow,
but as honest as the day. He was re-
covering from fever, but hoped to fill
his purse by buying up all the-ah! there
is the railway whistle, so we must be
quick! You'll do my errand, then, dear
Arthur, will you not, and gladden. the
heart of the good old MANI"
1t was not until long after Vassili and
had parted that it occurred to me to
wonder why ne should have charged me
with such message. 1t would have
been simpler, surely, and more speedy,
as means of communicating with Pope
John, to have relied on the post. But
then these rustic priests were ignorant
and possibly the eyes of the papas were
not very well accustomed to decipher-
ingmanuscript. Atanyrate Iwould make
point of executing the commission.
Pope John, English lord?" said the
innkeeper at Staritza, falteringly, as |
asked for guide to show me the way to
the parsonage, while the low positions
were embarrassing, in the tardy fashion
in which work is done in Russia the tired
horses from the carriage. ...
Certainly" said l, observing his en-
barrassment. 4" Is the priest in, or what
is there surprising in a travellers i1quir-
ing for him."
The landlord bowed obsequiously
You'll find the papas in good health,
noble gospodin," he said, in sugared ac-
cents. Yonder is the parsonage, with
the white gable"
Then | want no guide to conduct me
there" said l, laughing, and at once
walked across to the garden gate. A
neat, snug little dwelling was the par
sonage, with its white walls, it's tiny gar
den full of humble potherbs and hardy
flowers, and the sacred pigeons cooling
softly as they summed themselves upon
it's red-eaved roof. An ill-looking fell
low opened the door in answer to my
summons, scanning me narrowly, and,
as thought, with suspicion, and after
some colloquy conducted me to what l
guessed, by the few books and the many
pictured saints on the wall, to be the
priests study. Ten minutes elapsed, and
then in came the master of the house,
Pope John.
"Fogive me, noble sir, if I have kept
you waiting" said the priest, with as
low bow as he could have executed in the
presence of his Bishop. "You bring
me news, am told, of my dear SOM"
! cannot say that the reverend gentle
man impressed me very favorably. Pope
John was a corpulent old man, with a
snowy beard that would have done
credit to a hermit; long white locks fall
ing from beneath his black velvet skull
cap, snuffy and frayed cassock and
dark blue glasses, from behind which a
pair of keen though half-shut eyes sur
veyed me with watchfulness that had
in it something feline. The priests
voice, too, at once coarse and wheedling,
grated on my ear, though nothing could
exceed the bland urbanity of his recep-
ton of me. Twice over did repeat the
substance of Vassili's remarks concern
ing the young corn, dealer at Odessa, and
twice, at the old mans request, did
mention every circumstance of my inter-
view with Demetrius, his kind and no.
BILE patron" as he called him; then l
placed the written slip of paper, on
which had penciled the message, in the
priests bands, and, declining his offer of
refrcshment, took my leave of him. AS
l left the parsonage thought l heard
some whispered talk and then low,
sneering laugh. .J.. r.
81 am much mistaken" said l to my
self, as stepped into the carriage and
gave my position the signal to start,
if Pope John, the good old man. as
Vassili called him, be not as consummate
and greasy humbug as any in Mus
covy." Then my thoughts reverted to
rosy dreams of Marie and the future, and
sank into reverie from which only
awakened to perceive that my driver was
proceeding in a leisurely manner that
was most unusual, for if Russians work
slowly they drive fast.
Come, come, my lad," said l, good
humoredly; "surely three good nags and
light kibitka ought not to go at snail's