Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1880-04-15
STALKING HIS LIFE.
A Characteristic Story of a Dissipa-
a. tediYoung Russian Noble.

Among the subalterns who
tjoinedI the Slowatstartinc Gren.
adiers just in time to 60 through
1.-THE Russo Turkish war and to
Twin a medal was young Alexis
Kaertkinc, the SON of "a needy
baring, whoselestate lies on-the
border of one of the steppes of
hherson. He was by birth, a
baron-one of six hundred or so
bearing the same, family name
and title as himseIf-but he
could claim only the most dis
tant connection, and consequent-
Fly had no fayors at all to expect
from the princely Karetkines Of
ST. Petersburg, who although
poor in lands and cattle, have
talwaysr been nrichin court influ-
Ience, GOvernmentl posts, dia-
monds and moneyiinI the funds,
and who belong to the nhighest
rank IN the Tsehinn. These po-
tent Karetkines would have dis
owned Alexis if Ire had gone to
[St: Petersburg. simply to pay
them, his respects without beg
fging, for money. They would
in such 4 Case have invited him
Tto oStheir parties, and procured
him invitations tohother festiyi-
ties But in this respect OF
Having distant wealthy cohnec-
ltionsJAlexis was not the SUPERB
or Of all his brother subalterns,
most of whom owned unremun-
Leraiige kinslIip, with some great
family of namesakes., The Slow
atstartlnes had a Colonel swbO
was q PRINCE pEofnsely idecora-
ted, and aboutthirty years old;
and a LieutcnantsColoHel Jseme
three years younger. Both these
fgeptlepen lived for The most
Part Of their time ii st, Peters
burg, but occasioalty they hon
ored their regiment with a visit,
and graciously accepted a ban
quiet at the tea hodse;, after
which they would Join in the
gam bling and fix 1.-THE stakes
high enough TO give themselves
u arelish iBIihe ganes. o2On one
of these gala nights our friend
Alexis, dressed III his best uni
form and excited byltoo much
Gcrmanuwine, lost the whole of
ii quarters pay he had just
drawn, then his watch, and after
that a pet Livoniaf woll-hound
of which he. was very fond, and
Had refused to sell to the Col.
'onel. .ulfIIe hal nothing more TO
sfake, lahdistood &ith.tAEitching
lips at the card table, almost
ready TO Cry, when the, Colonel
said TO him in jest:
"Why don't you stake your
life, Karetkine?7 iii5H -'iFlDa2
9df'I f'IiwilL,p said the Captain hot-
ly.nsI stake it against all /
have lost and a thousand rou-
bles.pFob ln7H -unL boz 4f -3'3
b9"The odds are all in your fa-
voi', . Aifesponlcd the Colonel,
dryly. ',IIowever, here goes"
and he played. nd Hii7rm|
.eaKaretkine won. b aa
-n"Well, now,n said the rich
Colonel, as heilaughinglyl paid
the'Imoney, "whati should you.
hayeIfdone, * Karetkine, if you
lIad9lpst?pi olUhH -iilr 9'E5I
H II shouIdhave gone home and
blowhoi my lbrains,'' answer
cdaAIexis, exoitedly.3 mn. m'9|
% "With what?l,1o2 e
9df'A pistol; lIilhare one at
home" Had|
'n9Yes, he ghas, ,NlihterposerI a
brother officer, shrinking himself
called tlupon to ivouch for his
comrades veraeity; but the Col
6hel remarked politely that he
quite believed .thelCaptaih. Nor
was he wrong, for Karetkine had
a sort of dare devil honor. and
would not have lscrupledto make
his woi1l good. is-iaer .ss'm
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