Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-12-06
z A r A T A E F
BY IVAN TOURGUENEFF.

back from the chase but had been imprudent
enough to send away my trOika, and now, here
at the post, there were no horses. The inSpec-
'ter of the station, a mOrOSe old man with long
hair hanging ever his nose and with small,
sleepy eyes, answered my entreatieS and COM
plants by grumbling far from courteous as he
walked heavily around, opening and shutting
The doors roughly, as If he was cursing his en-
Payment Three times l ordered tea and
all the notices and witticisrns which travellers
in idleness mischief or stupidity had written on
The windows and walls. and just as was over
whelmed with the monOtony of these amuse-
ments bell jingled small carriage drawn by
three emaciated, jaded horses stopped before the
steps. The traveller threw himself out of the
conveyance and entered the room. SAYING
"Heyi quick, some horseS!"
Whilst he listened to the negative response OF
the inspector, with the strange, blank look
usual in such cases, had time to study, with
the eager curiosity of man who is dying of
ennui the companion in misery which this ILL
Kept house offered me. He appeared to be about
Thirty years of age; his face was of a coppery
yellow, and on it were traces of the ravages
which the smallpox had made His long hair
black as crows wing waved over the collar of
his coat. his small black eyes were piercing but
HnObServant, and on his lip was a short, rough
mOustache. His dress indicated a gentleman
sportsman-an amateur of horse fairs. mot
tied overcOat, thread bare, faded and wrnkled:
a cravat of lilac silk, q vest with brass buttons
gray pantaloOnS very wide at the ankles, and
below them peeped the toes Of boots to whom
the backing brush seemed unknown. On
his fingers were rings of silver and TOula iron,
and he exhaled a bitter Odor of tobacco and
brandy. In short he was one OF the men so
otter, .oaen in Russia who, to tell the TRUTH are
far froIa attractive, II they are not repugnant.
Therefore it was not without an unfavorable
bias that examined my new-found companion,
yet, at the end OF several minutes, l thought
saw in him certain expression of frankneSs
and cordially.
% Here is gentleman who has been waiting
more than an hour" said the inspector point
ing to me.
More than an hour! The wretch was laugh
ing at me in his sleeve. Perhaps the gentle
man is not so hurried as am
"Ah! that is what cannot say.n replied the
inspector, with humor.
And SO there are no horses9 What, not even
pair of hacks?"
Il have not single horse to give you"
Wen, send me some tea, will wait since
can do nothing else"
The bronzed traveller sat down on the bench,
threw off his hat, and ran his fingers through
turning to me; WIN you not have some more
consented, and the huge red Samavar reap
peared for the fourth time. drew out bottle
of good rum and we soon began to talk. In half
an hour he had told me all his circumstances
without reticence or circumlocution. His name
was Peotre Petrovitch Karataef, and had not
bee n mistaken in judging him to be country
gentleman.
NOW" said he, as he tool. his fourth glass Of
tea, Il am going to Moscow. l have nothing
further to do in the country"
Nothing to do?''
"N ching. Everything is insdisorder on my
estates; the peasants are ruined, there have
been several bad years in succession. no har
vests, no happiness-and, moreover, don't un-
GerStand farming"
with little study and a little Wilt
No, no, am made of the same stuff as farm
ers See here. he went on holding his head on
SMOKE know that when you first saw me
you thought here is a-hum-hum-' 1t is true
Know received but slender education, the
money gave out. but am good fellow. STUPID
III allow, and for that reason VOuF-an1 10
made gesture common in Russia and from
which only those who have travelled abroad
abstain.
l said all could to convince him that he was
mistaken as to the opinion had formed of him,
and that was very glad to have met him, and
j added, in order to lead the conversation back
to its starting point, that, to govern a farm,
there was no need of superior education.
Yes" he said, III acknowledge that, but
life. Excuse me, do you come from ST. Peters
burg or Moscow
Il live at st. Petersburg"
My tnterlocutor blew from his nostrils two
long quick streams OF smoke and then said:
work."
81 a1n. , part of the public service will you
81 have no ideal am very much afraid of all
responsibility. have always lived in the coun-
Try and am accustomed to its ways, but neces-
Sity forces me-ah, cursed necessity"
on your land?"
All. YES, uupOSSlDlt, SlSuCu Tile pOOT lellOW,
passing his hand over his face as he pensively
shook. his head, 'but, SIR, I'll not add to my
other mistakes that of complaining that would
be ridiculous and absurd. have loved pleasure
too well, and devil take me, love it yet"
His face nghtensd up with flash of wild
mirth, but, suddenly, he began to twist and
turn on the bench. then he sat quiet and held
out his empty glaSs,-"Give me some more OF
your rum"
But there is no tea" "Never mind, I'll take
1t without-so.n Karatasf put his head In his
hands and his elbows the fable I looked a
him in silence, waiting for one OF those out
bursts of sentiment or even Of tears Of which
men are so prodigal after drinking, and was
so struck by his expression OF detection and
despair that could not help asking him what
was the matter.
Nothing" he answered, "o0ly the past
comes back to my memory, one part OF it in
particular. would willingly tell it to you, but
have some conscience about boring YOU"
"Ch, do tell me-"
"Yes,, he stammered, "there are circum-
stances, for instance-do you really wish 1
should tell your
$50 On. 60 on"
"You see 1 am a country gentleman; you
can't doubt it, and yet. well, first OF all you
must know what happened. / lived ON nay
farm and when / hunted sometimes got into
the neighbortng estates. One day young girl
caught my eye-Oh, what a lovely creature
what beauty, and so much intelligence and
was daughter Of the people-you understand?
q Servant-a slave. She did not belong to me,
and there was the trouble. She was the prop
SItl VI duOlHtT, anu UGTt WAS j lllduly III love
with her. 1t is such strange story! Can you
believe it; she loved me, too, and begged and
prayed me every day to buy her, to 90 to her
mistress pay her price and then take her home
with Inc. Her mistress was q wealthy lady who
belonged TO one OF our Oldest families. One
morning had my finest horses harneSSed to
my drOchka; dressed myself in my best and
drove TO the lady's house, which was some ff-
teen yersteS from mine.
AT a certain turn Matrcna was waiting for
me, She wished TO speak but could only kiss my
hands. l entered the house and a tall lackcy
came forward TO ask Inc how was TO be an
Dounced.
"Say Mr.. Karataef-a neighDoring landlord
come on business!
While waiting said to myself, shall sue
coed, shall fail? ii the old witch should ask too
high price! She is rich. but that makes no
difference; she is none the less capable OF asking
$40 rOubeS for MatrGna!'
The lackey soon came back to show me into
the parlor where, seated in an armchair, was
tiny old woman with bilious complexion and
blinking eyes. AS went up to her, she asked
me polnt-blank what / wanted. You under
stand that without playing the gallant thought
1t proper to say to the old lady that l was glad
to make her acquaintance"
You are mistaken, said she, Il am not the
mistress OF this place; / am relative OF the
lady's. What is ii you would have?
Permit me to say that II is with the lady
must speak
maria Illnichna does not receive to-day
she Is not we'll What do you want?
x-allt