The Red Cloud chief., 1879-05-15

tache the Countess white wrist aboy
the glove and vanished ere she coul
speak.
AS he had said, his gendarmes wer
IN waiting At his quarters and q closes
and covered kibitka was standing at tn
door. The Prince enteredit withoutgivin,
his guards a chance to dine, whereat the,
grumbled exceedingly, but inwardly. q
was their duty in the presence Of thei
superior, for Kamoutsine for all that b
was their prisoner, vas none the les
their hierarchical superior.
The voyage vas prodigiously enliveu
ed with accidents. The Princes valet
who had been sent on in advance a.
courier, had certainly been drunk OF
mad, for ct every station all went wrong
no horses were in waiting, position:
couldn't be found, and not a morsel OF
food was obtainable. 1t was not until
2 in the morning that an affirmative re-
reply was received TO the eternal ques-
ton "Any thing to eate" and kamout-
sine, who until then had been sleeping
soundly within the kibitka, came ont,
rubbing his eyes, and jOvially invited
his guards To sup with him.
The repast was s%unptuous. 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 bis brandy
flask, charged with pure alcohol, andin
20 minutes, what with the sudden transi.
ton from the icy air without to the
sitting atmosphere within, the weaken
ing 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
his pelisse and ~valise, and stepping to the
door entered a peasants sledge that was
in waiting. The horse, though he look
ed a mere ruckle of bones, set cut At
once at a rapid trOt; relays were wait
ing at every post-house, and at So'clock
in the morning Kamoutsine re-entered
the city which the evening before he had
quilted.
Before the door of the restaurant
where he had, as has been recited, pass
ed one term of Punishment, a kiDitka
was in waiting, battered and travel
stained as if from a long journey. IA
mOutsine entered the restaurant, DOTTED
his uniform and donned a civilians
garb, then entered the vehicle, his faith
full valet seized the reins of the three
horses harnessed abreast, and with bells
jingling and whip cracking drove to the
fortress and halted just before the door
of the Governor.
Out swarmed the lackeys as il to vel
come q long-expected and distinguished
guest. "Announce His Excellency's
said the Prince as he leisure
ly assembled 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 welcomed! We have been expect
ing you for a whole week"
"You will forgive my delay, dear I'M
answered the young man. ''when
| explain -"
"Yes--yes, of course. Bless my soul,
have changed; I'd never have
known you. You must be worm out"
81 have travelled - hours without
so IS to reach you the Soon
err"
"Poor fellow-come and have a cup
of tea. l was just at breakfast. Your
aunt is still in bed. You know we give
q ball tonight"
GA ball; 1 didn't know it; but in
travelling costume [ can't"
"Didn't you bring your dress suit
with youp"
"Of course, but it is in the baggage l
left behind me when l pushed on"
SWELL, then, We'll order one from the
and it'll be ready this evening.
St. Petersburg is different from Odessa,
you know" and the worthy Governor
led his pseudo nephew to the dining
room, where Kamouts inc had not to be
twice to attack the smoking vi
ands and tea.
"Dear Lordi" said the General, gaz-
ing fondly on the young man, show
you have changed! l should never
have known you, and yet in profile you
are the very image Of your poor moth
Dr."
$50 they have always said, uncle;
but of course l can not decide that
"No, no; of course not. The last
time l saw you You were a young shaver
Just the height of this tables years
Did, I think"
"Four years and eight months, I was,
$50 you were, so you we're. 1 recol-
Iect now. And your great-aunt Eliza
"Pray excuse me, uncle, but I am
lead tired. Three nights travelling, as
| told you"
"Why, of course, and I was an old
ass not to remember it. Your room is
ready; go and take agood, sound Sleep"
Sand what if I sleep all day, as l feel
very much like doing at this instant?"
"Never mind how long you sleep, so
Iong as you are ready for the bail to-
night. Give your clothes to the serv-
ant, he will take them to the tailor and
have a dress-suit built for tonight"
In his room and in bed, Kamoutsine
lrew from his pocket book beneath his
pillow a letter he had received two DAYS
and the contents of which had in
'pired him with the idea of the part he
vas now playing.
"We had no end of fun" wrote a fell
ow-guardsman from Moscow, "with q
Of the Governor fresh from
odessa. Some of our fellows have
him at ecarte, and as he lost
more money than he had with him he
has placed himself in pawn till his re-
n~ittances arrive from Odessa. He has
! mortal terror of his distinguished rela.
i've at st. Petersburg, whom be has new
,r cen since the days of his innocent
childhood, and would sooner die than
et the old gentleman know he has g,t-