Sharp County record., 1879-05-08

country m seat. But if | should happen
NOT to be there, but instead should be at
the Governors, will you give me the
| first waltz" ,.L..
A little moved, the Countess looked
narrowly at her interlocutori he was IN
earnest, a thing that so rarely happened
that she was touched by it.
"Yes," she said; 81 will"
"Keep it for me, remember; When
the music strikes up shall be there TO
claim it."
"Prince, - said the young woman, not
without q shudder, "you risk your own
| life perhaps" .,,, :,
IA waltz with yol is worth MORE"
said Kamoutsine as he rose.
~ hope you are only jesting, as uSu-
al" said the Countess, smiling, but un-
easily.
"Will you wager that will not be
thereP Suppose we do bet upon it
know you will pay if you lose: A wa
ger it is then, and SC farewell till TO-
morrow night" -,
KamOutsine brushed with his mus
tache the Countess's white wrist above
the glove and vanished ere she could
speak.
AS he had said, his gendarmes were
in waiting at his quarters and closed
and covered kibitka was standing at the
door. The Prince enteredit withOutgiving
his guards chance to dine, whereat they
grumbled exceedingly, but inwardly, as
was their duty in the presence OF their
superior, for Kamoutsine, for all that he
was their prisoner, was none the less
their hierarchical superior.
The voyage was prodigiously enliven-
ed with accidents. The Princes valet,
who had been sent on in advance as
courier, had certainly been drunk or
mad, for ct every station all went wrong
no horses were in waiting, positions
couldn't be found, and not morsel OF
food was obtainabla. 1t was not until
2 in the morning that an affirmative re-
reply was received to the eternal ques-
ton "Any thing to eat?" and Kamout-
sine, who until then had been sleeping
soundly within the kibitka, came out,
rubbing his eyes, and joyially invited
his guards to sup with him.
The repast was sumptuous. The host
served up great mugs OF Kvass that
sparkled like champagne-in fact it was
champagne. slightly modified to suit the
occasion. KamoutSine pressed upon the
gendarmes the contents of his brandy
flask, charged with pure alcohol, andin
20 minutes, what with the sudden transl-
ton from the icy air without to the
sitting atmosphere within, the weaken
inc of their stomachs by their long fast
and the ingeniously compounded liquors
to which they had been copiously treat
ed, the four guards were snoring on
or, to speak more accurately, under the
table.
Making the sign of the cross over the
four sleepers that their slumber might
be free from bad dreams, the Prince toek
10, ,,,,r,'y-y,- '-1.1'
door entered peasants sledge that was
in waiting. The horse, though he look
ed q mere ruckle of bones, set out at
once at rapid trot; relays were wait
ing at every post-house, and at s O'Clock
in the morning Kamoutsine re-entered
the city which the evening before ne had
quilted.
Before the door of the restaurant
where he had, as has been recited, pass
ed one term of banishment, a klbltka
was in waiting, battered and travel
stained as if from long journey. ka-
moutsine entered the restaurant, DOTTED
his uniform and donned civilians
garb, then entered the vehicle, his faith
ful valet seized the reins Of the three
horses harnessed abreast, and with bells
iingling and whip cracking drove to the
fortress and halted just before the door
of the Governor.
Out swarmed the lackeys as if to well
come long-expected and distinguished
guest. Announce His Excellency's
nephew!" said the Prince as he leisure
ly ascended the stairs, up which the
oflicious servants had scurried, contend
ing for the honor of bearing his valise
and cloak.
"My dear nephew!" cried the Cove
nor, embracing him tenderly, "welcome,
thrice welcome! We have been expect
ing you for q whole week.
"You will forgive my delay, dear un-
cle," answered the young man, "when
| explain"
"Yes---yes, of course. Bless my soul,
how you have changed; I'd never have
known you. You must be worn out"
81 have travelled p hours without
resting so as to reach you the soon
er-n ,
"Poor fellow-come and have cup
of tea. was just at breakfast. Your
aunt is still in bed. You know we give
"a ball tonight"
ga ball; l didn't know it; but in
travelling costume l can't"
"Didn't you bring your dress suit
with you?"