The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1880-12-24
THE PERsoN IN QUESTION:.

Several years passed, when family affairs
Obliged me to exile myself in wretchetl
petty hamlet of the volosta OF Podjaritzki.
Busy though was with my property, |
could not help sighIng wherever thought
at the noisy life, gay and careless. had
led up to that period. In PodjarftzAi one
did not live-did not exist even. one vege-
tated. The greatest trouble had was to
| accustom myself to pass the evenings of
spring and summer In complet solitude.
Until d:nner-hour / succeeded In killing
| time, more or less effectually, by talking
g the starosta. superentending my work
men. Inspecting new buildings and over
! look ing improvements. But as soon as
dusk came on. was at perfect loss to know
/ What to do with myself I c0utl almost
repeat by rOte the few books | had un-
earttscd in the drawers and in a cockloft.
I made my houSekeeper. Kirilovna, tell me
over AMI over again. all the old country
Fait-s she recnilecsed. The songs OF the
peasant-girls made me melancholy. took
Ia drinking, but that gave me the headache.
Yes, l will own It.; for an instant WAS
afraid that I should become n drinlard
through pure spite, the worst of all drum.
kauls. "a INV own district afforded me
only too many proofs. As near neighbors
there were but two or three of these dis
tinguiShed topers. whose conversation con-
sisted principally of yawus and hiceouglls.
} Solitude was lesser evil than their COM
paniohShip. At last made up my mind
TO get 10 bed as early as possible, and &c
J dine as late rs possible; so that I solved
the problem Of shortening the evening.
: aud prolonging the days, and found tina
; to pay hest of any.
Four versts from my place was a very
fine domain, belonging to the Countess
-; but there was nobody there save he
stewart. The Countess had resided in he
chateau bur once-the first year of he
! wedding lite; anfl then she would not re
9 rnain there beyond a month. One day
u during the second spring of my hermit
9 existence, 4 was told that the Counties
e mrauG to pass the summer with her hui
r band I'm the cIlatean. The report was col
rect. They took up their quarters there q
: the beginning of June.
: This arrival ofa rich neighbor is an ever
}. IN rural life. The landed proprietors an
j. their people speak of 1t for two month
% beforehand, and three years afterwars
r As for myself. l candilly avow that Il
e announcement OF the coming of youn
j. and handsome lady neighbor threw n
% into considerable agitation. I was dyil
!. of impatirnce TO see her, and the first Su
- day alter their arrival set out, after al
!. ner, tor her chateau. to present my homal
to Madame la Comics. ia the character
!, her nearest nefgllbor and very humble Sc
s, want.
A Iackey uEhered me into the Count
:, study and went to acquaInt his masr,
!. with my visit. This study WAS spacio
= and furnished in \ very rich style. Alol
i the walls were ranged massive presses Il
- OF books. aud on the top OF each bust
bronze. Over the marble chimney pie
there was AR immense mirror. The DO
:, was hidden by green cloth, upon wll,
:. were spread Persian carpets. had be,
!. divorced from comfort so long In my d.
= that WAS overcome &C the spectacle of
sulnpsuousness-wasp positively seized wi
= timidity. aud waited for the Count We
much in the frame OF being of petition
from the provinces who has obtain
= audience of some powerful Minister. a
= sits In an anlecllamber. The door opene
%. aud gave admission to Young man abe
'ei so. of a charming counte,lance. He
cefved me la the fsankese and most anil
y. manner. made an effort to- recover {
ne calmncss. aud was commencing my co
pliments as neighbor, when he anticil
IN. ted me BY gracefully telling me that
should always be welcome to his ho,
'iy while he WAS there. We seated oursely
FER The conversation. full OF nasuraluess a
no aGabIlity. soon aOothed my savage tisni
u, and / began to feel myself Ia my oF
IN nary groogs, when suddenly the Count