The Red Cloud chief., 1879-05-15
PRINCE KAMOUTSINE'S WAGER.

lTfoHh II ItHCn Vi utDTy OFcN1ile.t
Though for seven or eight years
Prince Kamoutsine, of the most
brilliant officers of the Imperial Guard,
had been conspicuous at reviews, recep.
tons and official balls, he had attained
TO nothing but the epaulets Of a Cap
tain and the reputation of the most &C
cOmplished c%OncOctOr of practical Jokes
in all the Russias. Twice his talents
had been recognized by Punishment
from Court, and he had received from
very high authority a strong hint that
in peace there's nothing so becomes a
man as modest meekness and humility.
But on a young fellow like Komout-
sine even such a warning as this was
wasted. If it cost him his rank, his
honors and bis fortune he must be up
and "doing !" some one, and no victim
was considered worthy Of his attention
who was not a parsonage of importance.
1t was not long therefore ere he receiv-
ed from the Emperor Nicholas, who had
but an Indifferent sense of humor, an in
junction 10 pass a month on his estates
IN the country, "where he would have
leisure for reflection"
Kamoutsine had three days allowed
him wherein to settle his affairs and
reach his country seat, distant from the
capital a days posting. He began by
spending two days by saying good-by
to his friends. A guard of honor of
four gendarmes had been promised him,
a %precaution justified by his antece.
dents, for he had passed one term of
"exile" at a restaurant much in vogue,
to the knowledge and with the conniv-
nee of his fellOw-guardsmen.
1t vas on the evening of the second
day that he presented himself at the
mansion of the Countess bancroft, one
of the reiguing beauties of the Court.
"You will not stay to dinner?" she
said, with some surprise, as after a 10
minutes visit he rose to go.
"a thousand thanks, but really l
couldn't, unless you were to include my
gendarmes in the invitation"
"Your gendarmesr
"Yes, a body-guard that l owe to the
Emperor's munificence. l presume they
are at my quarters by this time. In an
hour the five of us will be whirling-by
which l mean gliding-towards my an
cestral domain of Kamoutska. The
sleighing is delightful and I shall reach
home tomorrow night in time for din
ner."
"You poor fellow" said the Count
ess, laughing heartily, show silly of
you to 60 and get yourself banished just
at carnival time! You won't be here for
the ball of the Governor of the fortress"
"The Governors ball-the devil! l
had forgotten about it. And it is to-
morrow nightP"
Tomorrow night at 10 o'clock. l
shall be d~ancing-nOt with you. Don't
be moved to 60 out and hang yourself
at the thought"
Kamoutsine twisted his mustache
pensively for a moment and suddenly
asked, "You are goingP"
"And every body else. The new Gov
ernor entertains for the first time; he
has just arrived from Ikutsk and the
balls he gave there were something
wonderful. l expect we shall have a
splendid time. The Imperial family
are all to be present."
Countess" said Kamoutsine tender.
ly, leaning over her chair, "swill you do
me the honor of dancing the first waltz
with me?"
"You are mad" said the Countess,
shrinking back.
"Not more than usually. I repeat
my question, for you have not yet an
sTered it; will You do me-"
"But, my dear Prince, by that time
you will have reached your country seat
and be sleeping the sweet sleep that fol-
lows a long winter journey. Your ven
cradle housekeeper will have made your
tea, YOU will have drank it and"
"The fascinating peasant interior
YOU have sketched is founded, Counters,
on the hypothesis that I shall be at my
country seat. But if | should happen
not to be there, but instead should be at
the Governors, will yon give me the
first waltz?"
A little moved, the Countess looked
narrowly at her interlocutor; he was in
earnest, a thing that so rarely happened
that she was touched by it.
oYes," she said; Isl will"
"Keep it for me, remember; when
the music strikes up I shall be there to
claim it."
"Prince, !" said the young woman, not
without a shHdder, "you risk your own
life pc. haps."
GA waltz with you is worth MORE"
said Kamoutsine as he rose.
81 hope you are only jesting, as usu-
al" said the Countess, smiling, but un-
easily.
viii you wager that l will not be
therea Suppose we do bet upon i'll