Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1879-08-06
PRINCE KAnoUTsNE's WAGER.

AAANN - A--4~ - =. - - 80 - -
brilliant officers Of the Imperial
Guards, had been conspicuous at
reviews, receptions and official balls,
be bad attained TO nothing but the
epsulets Of 8 captain and the repu-
tation Of the most accomplished
concocter Of practical jokes in all
the Russias. Twice bis talents had
been recognized by banishmen,from
court, and be had received from
very high authority hint tha, in
peace there's nothing so becomes a
man as modest meekness and hu-
nility.
But on a young fellow ike Kan
Cuisine even such warning as this
was wasted. If it COS, him bis
rank, his honors and his fortune, be
must be up and doing some one.
and 20 victim was considered wor-
thy Of bis attention who was not a
parsonage of importance. II was
not long therefore ere he received
from the Emperor Nicholas, who had
but an indifferent sense Of honor,
az injunction 10 pass q month on
his estate in the country, "where
he would have leisure for refec-
ton"
Kamoutsine had three days al
lowed him wherein to settle his af-
fairs and reach his country seat,
distant from the capital a days
posting. He began by spending
two days in saying good bye to bis
friends. A guard Of honor Of four
gendarmes had been promised him,
a precaution justified by his ante
cedents; for be had passed one
term Of "exile" at restaurant much
in vogue, to the knowledge and
with the conDivance Of his fellow
guardsmen.
II was on the evening Of the sec
cnd day that be presented himself
at the mansion Of the Countess
Dameroff, one of the reigning beau
ties Of the court.
"You will not stay TO dinner =
she said, with some surprise, as af-
ter a ten minutes visit be rose to
60.
"a thousand thanks, but really l
could not unless you were TO include
my gendarmes in your invitation"
"Your gendarmes 7"
ayes, a body guard that ! owe to
the emperor's munifcence. pre-
sumo they are at my quarters by
this time. In an hour the FIVE Of
MS will be whirling-by which /
mean gliding-toward my ancestral
domain of Kamoutska. The sleigh
ing is delightful, and / shall reach
home tomorrow night in time for
dinner
"You poor fellow" said the count
ess, laughing heartily, show silly
you are to 60 and get yourself ban
ished just at carnival time. You
won't be here for the ball of the
governor Of the fortress"
"The governors ball-the devil.
] had forgotten about it. And it is
tomorrow night.
Tomorrow night at 10 o'clock.
] shall be dancing-not with you.
Don't be moved to go out and hang
yourself at the thought
Kamoutsine twisted his mustache
pensively for a moment and sud-
denly asked, "You are going"
~And everybody else. The new
governor entertains for the first
time he has just arrived from TX
utsk and the balls be gave there
were something wonderful. / ex-
pect we shall have a splendid time.
The imperial family are all TO be
there"
"Countess, said Kamoutsine ten
derby, leaning over her chair, evil
you do me the honor Of dancing
the first waltz with mep
"Yq2 are mad, said the countess
shrinking back.
mot more than usually. re-
peat my question, for you have not
answered it yet: evil you do
me-
"But, my dear prince, by that
time you viii have reached your
country seat and be sleeping the
sweet sleep that follows long win
ter journey. Your venerable house
keeper win have made your tea,
yeu win have drank IL and"
"Ths fascinsting peasant interior