Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-12-06
:. ryybet do Won want her foro,

i was convinced that had managed m alters
very badly, that ought never TO have shown
what felt, and said to myself that was nov
too late to play the Indifferent. Two days later.
/ was once more at the ladys house. This time
/ was shown into her private room she was there
herself, stretched nearly fulllength on Won
derful mechanical chair with cushions support
ing her head The old relative who had received
me before was there, and also younger WON an
who had white eyebrows and lasheS. a crooked
mouth, and who wore grass-green dress
1.-THE lady, after inviting me to sit down,
asked me my age, where l had served in the
army, and how / expected to live hencefOrth. I
answered her triple question. She took her
handkerchief and began to fan herself with it,
as II to drive away some Vapor, then, dropping
her words out one by one, she said:
So Katrina Karpovna has made me her report
upon your intentions, although she knows 1
have rule from which never depart. never
allow one of my people to pass into the hands
eyes this is not respectablas but have arranged
everything satisfactorily, and you will have no
further annoyance
90 Annoyance beg your pardon, but don't
understand. Am to infer that the services OF
Matrena are absolutely indispensable to your
"'N Not at all. Ihave no need OF this girl and
her services
..'Then why not consent to sell me Ma
trtna?'
"sBecause do not wish to. do not wish to,
and that is the end OF II; l have given my Or
ders, they are irrevocable, and Matrona goes to
q farm own in the SteppeS
81 thought the lightning had passed through
French to the young person in green, who i'm
mediately left the room.
''' am, you see, woman of firm principles
and my delicate health admits of no agitation.
You are still young and / am old, therefore 1
have right to give you counsel. Would you
not do well to think of settling down, to choose
as: suitable mate. and marry honestly and quiet
ly? Large dots are rare, and, moreover, it Is
mistake for man to marry out of his own posi-
ton. | can find you a good young girl, poor in
purse but rich In heart and virtues.
7 a 7 l00La6
but could make nothing of all this raving. or
course, saw that she had some one to settle in
life before she died. 1t is charitable thing and
less expensive than'a legacy. But she had spoken
OF farm in the steppes, and perhaps, even now
they were dragging Matrena towards it-now,
while they We're talking to me of marriage.
What the devil.
II was choking with anger.
GAS to thai, madame, we are beating around
to no end. 1t is not question of marriage. l
simply wish to know Yes or No If you will sell
me the girl Matrena, your slave?"
'.On this old lady No. 2 rose with threatening
looks and went with solicitude to No. one, who
cried out OH and 'ah = as If were the devel in
person.. .Ah, this man has all upset me! Oh!
there, there, send him away, put him out quick
oh! Ohn No. 2 ScOlded at me so loud and fast
that could not get in word Of explanation
and fairly ran off.
..Pephaps you judge me severely for this
attachment for woman of the lower class. 1
do not pretend to justify my weakness, only
state the facts From this moment l had no
peace. freproached myself with having ruined
The poor girl. 1 imagined her In coarse clothes
guarding geese and grooming under the frightful
insults OF some brutal oyerseer,
could no longer restrain my impatience, so l
made enquiries and succeeded in finding out
where Matrena had been sent mounted my
horse and started off; but with all my diligence
did not reach the place until the evening of the
second day. 1t was easy to see that no such
movement on my part had been expected, no
measures taken to meet such an emergency. l
went straight to the Overseer'S house, as any
court yard the first thing that met my eyes was
MatrGna, sitting in the doorway, her head in her
hands. After the first instant of StupOr she was
just about to utter a cry of Joy, but made her
a sign to be silent, and pointed to the fields on
the west, out of sight OF the hutS. l entered the
house and told the OverSeer some made up story
calculated to deceive him as to my real self, and
when favorable moment came went to meet
Matrena.
l found her easily enough. She chung to my
neck and could not leave Off kissing my hair
and hands. Poor little dove. She was pale,
and had grown so thin.
:" There, there said, have done with your
tears; no tears, do you hear?'
81 said this, but was crying like a woman
myself. However, was ashamed, and went on:
- Matrena, tears are no remedy for a great
wrong. On the contrary you must show reSOlu-
you behind me on my horse; it is the only thing
to be DONE"
9" But think of it! If should do this they
would be SO Infatuated against me that they
would tear me to pieces
s. Foolish child! who would discover your
ION, they would find me out; they would
find me out she said, in terrified voice. Then,
recovering from this emotion to submit to
another, she added: Il thank you, Peotre Petro-
Witch. In all my life shall not forget the love
you have shown to me, but fate has thrown me
here, and here will stay
:" Matrena, thought you full OF character,
and here you are half dead and not showing the
least courage
.'She really had plenty of courage, and her
heart was nurp gold assure Won sir
"' Great Godl why wish to stay here? II your
flight should bring you suffering YOU will have
lost nothing, for you never can be more I'm
happy than in this savage hamlet; and, more
over, am sure this brute of an overseer gives
you kicks and cuffs simply for the pleasure of
beating.'
'Matrena REDEEMED and her teeth chartered:
then, thinking Of the consequences of so decided
a movement
My flight would be the undoing OF all my
.: Do you think that your family would be
My brother would be sent here in my place,
and how hard he would find that. My father
would not be driven away, for he Is the only
good tailor In my ladys court
''Ah, you see! and your brother would not
be here long. Your father will remember every
Gay that the young fellow is innocent, and will
plead for him until they bring him back
:" Perhaps so, but you-,you will be RESPONSE
Bile, you VIII be disturbed; / would rather die
than be the cause OF all that will happen
s. AS to that, that Is my look out, and not
yours
..Matrena turned and returned all her obIec-
lions, but she was already wavering, and finally
carried her on-not this time, but at the en1
OF another visit. came by night, in a wagon.
She had summoned up her courage and carried
her away.
~ got home the next day at dusk and INSTALL
ed her there. l employed but few servants and
my people, say 1t without b0aSting, were so
devoted to me that they would not have betray-
ed me for all the treasure OF the world.
81 was wildly happy. Matr9na, remembering
her past sorrows only to drink deeper OF her
present joy, was not long in getting back her
health and spirits l, seeing her so happy
so beautiful, SO grateful for my care /
grew more and more attached to her. How
charming she was!-eXplain it as you may but
she knew how to sing, dance and play on the
guitar. took care that none OF my neighhors
should see her. for how was to prevent them
from gOSSping? But had one friend, very
intimate friend, GornoStaef. He was devoted
to her. and kissed her hands as If she were a
noble lady. He was very wise and learned and
taught my little Matrena how to write gave
her wardrobe so that, as far as toilette went
she could outshine the wife of his EXeellency
the Governor. She had one coat in particular OF
crimson velvet with collar Of black fox fur.
All, how lovely she looked in hiatt was a
Madame OF Moscow who made it after the lat
est fashion.
sometimes it happened that Matrena would
sit for hours together, dreamy and motionleSS,
her eyes fixed on the floor, and would stay
there fairly devouring her with my eyes as if I
had never seen her so lovely before. II she
smiled my heart would die within me for hap